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GUIDE · BUYING
The true cost of buying on the Costa Blanca
The 10–14% you actually pay on top of the asking price — at a glance.
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The true cost of buying on the Costa Blanca
The 10–14% you actually pay on top of the asking price — at a glance.
By Team Picou · RE/MAX Inmomás II, Finestrat.
The single rule
Asking price ≠ what you write the cheque for.
On the Costa Blanca, budget an extra 10–14% in costs and taxes on top of the purchase price. Resale property lands closer to 13%; new build closer to 14%.
If you remember nothing else from this page, remember the rule. Everything below explains it.
Resale property (you’re buying from a private seller)
| Cost | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| ITP — Transfer Tax | 10% of sale price | Generalitat Valenciana |
| Notary fees | ~0.5–1% (sliding scale, typically €600–1,500) | Notary |
| Land Registry | ~0.4% (sliding scale, typically €400–800) | Registro de la Propiedad |
| Lawyer | 1% or fixed €1,500–2,500 + VAT | Your lawyer |
| Bank fees (if mortgage) | ~1% + property valuation €300–600 | Your bank |
| Typical all-in | ~13% of price |
On a €300,000 resale villa, budget €39,000 in fees on top of the price → €339,000 total outlay before furniture and moving.
New build (you’re buying from a developer)
| Cost | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| IVA — VAT | 10% of sale price | Hacienda (national tax authority) |
| AJD — Stamp Duty | 1.5% of sale price | Generalitat Valenciana |
| Notary fees | ~0.5–1% | Notary |
| Land Registry | ~0.4% | Registro de la Propiedad |
| Lawyer | 1% or fixed €1,500–2,500 + VAT | Your lawyer |
| Bank fees (if mortgage) | ~1% + valuation €300–600 | Your bank |
| Typical all-in | ~14% of price |
On a €300,000 new-build apartment, budget €42,000 in fees → €342,000 total outlay.
The math that changes your search
The 10–14% rule changes your maximum search price, not just your closing-day cheque. Two consequences:
1. Cash required up front (with mortgage)
Spanish banks typically lend non-residents 65% of the lower of price or valuation. You must bring the rest in cash:
| Purchase | 35% deposit | + Costs (13%) | Total cash at signing |
|---|---|---|---|
| €200,000 | €70,000 | €26,000 | €96,000 |
| €300,000 | €105,000 | €39,000 | €144,000 |
| €400,000 | €140,000 | €52,000 | €192,000 |
| €500,000 | €175,000 | €65,000 | €240,000 |
If you’re a cash buyer, costs come out of the same pot — the right ceiling on what you can spend on the price itself is your total budget × 0.88.
2. Negotiating €10k off saves you ~€11k
Reducing the price by €10,000 also reduces ITP by €1,000 (10% of the discount). Real saving on a resale negotiation: €11,000 per €10k off.
Common confusions
These costs usually fall on the seller, not the buyer — verify in your sale contract:
- Plusvalía municipal (town hall tax on the increase in land value). Almost always seller’s in standard contracts.
- Agency commission. Paid by the seller. Be wary of any agent who asks you for a fee.
- Outstanding community fees, IBI arrears, water/electricity bills. Should be cleared by the seller before completion. Your lawyer verifies.
What’s NOT in the 13–14%
Two things to budget separately:
- Furniture, white goods, soft setup — depends entirely on you, but €5–15k for a 2-bed apartment is normal if buying everything new.
- First-year running costs — IBI (
0.4–1.1% of cadastral value), community fees (varies wildly: €50–€400+/month), home insurance (€250–500/year), utilities. The “Cost of living” free guide breaks these down.
Sanity check (do this before you fall in love with a listing)
Take your maximum total cash + mortgage capacity and multiply by 0.88 (resale) or 0.87 (new build). That’s roughly the highest asking price you can realistically commit to.
You have €400,000 you can spend total → realistic resale asking-price ceiling ≈ €352,000.
Run this number before you visit. It cuts the wishful-thinking listings out of your search.
Want the full picture?
This one-pager is the cost-only summary. For the complete process — NIE, mortgage, lawyer selection, the seven-step buyer journey, the pitfalls, and a full glossary — download our flagship guide:
📘 Buying property on the Costa Blanca as a foreigner (EN / ES, gated)
Or message us directly. The first call is always free.
Team Picou · RE/MAX Inmomás II · Finestrat.
General orientation, not legal or tax advice. Spanish rules change. Confirm every figure with your gestor or abogado before acting.
Expert advice · Legal advice
Noël Picou …
Asesor inmobiliario internacional desde 2019, especializado en la zona costera entre Benidorm, Finestrat y Villajoyosa. Atiende compradores y vendedores en espa?ol, franc?s e ingl?s, con experiencia en obra nueva, villas y apartamentos en la Costa Blanca.
7years’ experience
“Buying in Spain is safe — if you run the checks in the right order.”
For an international buyer the essentials are: NIE, a Spanish bank account, and an independent lawyer (not the seller’s). Before the deposit we check the nota simple, that there are no charges or debts, licences and the energy certificate. I coordinate the whole process and explain each step in your language so you sign with complete peace of mind.
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Graciela Iluminada Gelhart …
Asesora inmobiliaria con base en el interior de la Marina Baixa ? Polop, La Nuc?a y Benidorm. Atiende a la comunidad alemana, brit?nica e hispanohablante en su propio idioma.
“Peace of mind lives in the details no one checks.”
I work calmly and methodically. In the interior of the Marina Baixa I see many homes with nuances: a cadastre that doesn’t match, un-legalised extensions, or shared access. I check those details before you fall for the price, so there are no surprises after signing. My job is for you to buy knowing exactly what you’re buying.
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