Why work with Costa Blanca Advisors
Buying real estate on the Costa Blanca as a foreign investor involves more than choosing the right villa. Spanish purchase taxes, notary procedures, NIE applications, mortgage qualification rules for non-residents, urban classification of the land, energy efficiency certificates, rental licence regimes and the underlying urban plan of each municipality all affect the underlying economics of any deal.
Our team works exclusively on the buy side and integrates legal, financial and renovation expertise so every investment is stress-tested before contract. We never accept commissions from sellers, developers or banks, and we publish our fees in writing before any work begins.
Costa Blanca is one of the most international markets in Spain. Over 50% of property transactions in coastal Alicante municipalities are completed by non-Spanish buyers, with British, German, Dutch, Belgian, French, Russian and Scandinavian buyers being the largest groups. This depth of international demand creates strong long-term capital appreciation and a healthy holiday-rental market, but it also creates information asymmetry that we close on behalf of our clients.
Investment focus areas and buyer profiles
We specialise in three buyer profiles, each with a distinct evaluation framework:
Lifestyle buyers
Primary or holiday villa buyers in Marina Alta and Marina Baixa (Calpe, Moraira, Jávea, Altea, Benissa). Decision factors are weighted toward location, views, plot privacy, urban classification and building licence history. ROI is secondary but never ignored — we still model holiday-rental potential as an optional revenue stream.
Yield-driven investors
Coastal apartments with strong touristic-rental potential in Alicante, El Campello, Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa. We model net rental yield (after Spanish IBI, community fees, IRNR non-resident income tax, management fees, vacancy and maintenance) versus gross yield to give a realistic post-tax return.
Portfolio investors
Investors building multiple properties for short-term and long-term rental. We coordinate with corporate structuring lawyers when SL / SCP / SOCIMI structures are appropriate, and we cross-reference each property against rental-licence availability and municipal limits on new tourist licences.
Step-by-step process from first call to keys
Our standardised engagement runs through six stages, each with a clear deliverable:
- Discovery call (free, 30 min). We map your budget, goals, residency status, tax exposure and the timeline that drives your decision.
- Market mapping and shortlist (1–2 weeks). We curate 5–8 pre-vetted properties matching your brief and walk you through each with photos, plans, location analysis, urban classification and an estimated cost of ownership.
- Viewing programme on Costa Blanca (2–4 days). We design an efficient on-site schedule, attend every viewing with you, introduce a lawyer and a bank if needed, and visit notary offices for orientation if required.
- Offer strategy and due diligence (2–4 weeks). Our lawyer checks the Land Registry (Registro de la Propiedad), the Catastro, charges, debts, urban classification, licence of first occupation, ITE (technical inspection) and rental licence status if relevant.
- Notarial signature and registry filing (1 day signature + ~1 month registry). Power of attorney can be arranged if you cannot attend.
- Optional: renovation project management and property management (ongoing). Our renovation and management teams can take over from key handover for a turnkey experience.
Spanish purchase costs and taxes you need to budget
Beyond the headline price, plan for closing costs of 11–13% on resale and 12–14% on new build:
- ITP (Impuesto de Transmisiones Patrimoniales) — 10% on resale property in the Valencia region.
- IVA + AJD — 10% VAT + 1.5% Actos Jurídicos Documentados on new build.
- Notary, registry and lawyer fees — typically 2–3% combined.
- Bank fees and valuation — €500–€1,500 if mortgage financed.
- Annual: IBI, community fees, basura, garbage, IRNR (non-resident income tax 19%/24%).
We provide each client with a personalised closing-cost spreadsheet for every property considered so the true cash requirement is transparent from day one.
Residency, Golden Visa and Digital Nomad Visa
For non-EU buyers, two main visa routes are relevant:
Spain Digital Nomad Visa — for remote workers and contractors, with the Beckham tax regime offering a 24% flat tax for 6 years on Spanish income up to €600,000. Strict eligibility window during the first six months of Spanish tax residency.
Spain Golden Visa — for property investments of €500,000 or more (the programme is currently undergoing reform; we will confirm latest rules before any commitment). Originally provided residency rights and a path to permanent residence and citizenship.
We coordinate with specialised immigration lawyers and tax advisors so the structure of the purchase aligns with the desired residency path from day one.