Buy Property in Alicante

Buy property in Alicante — the property market

Looking to buy property in Alicante? Alicante is located on the Costa Blanca and offers a well-balanced mid-range property market compared with the rest of the coast. The town is characterised by lively spanish city with an impressive castle, a beautiful beach, an international airport and a rich cultural life, which makes buying property in Alicante a natural choice for international buyers looking for a combination of quality of life, climate and a sound return on their investment.

Alicante city offers a genuine Spanish urban living experience at relatively affordable prices. Homes in the historic centre and in neighbourhoods such as San Juan or El Campello near the beach are popular. Alicante also has a growing international expat community.

The market for property in Alicante has seen growing interest from foreign buyers in recent years, particularly from Scandinavia, the UK and Germany. That means healthy demand, but also that the most attractive homes in the best areas often sell quickly — it pays to have your financing and documentation in order before you start looking at property for sale in Alicante.

Property prices when buying in Alicante

Price levels in Alicante naturally vary depending on location, condition and views, but as a general guideline an apartment can be expected to cost 150,000-280,000 EUR, while a house typically falls in the range of 220,000-420,000 EUR. Villas with a pool and private plot start from 400,000-800,000 EUR, depending on size and distance to the coast.

On top of the purchase price itself, you should budget for extra costs for the property transfer tax (ITP at 10% in Valencia region for resale property), notary fees, land registry fees and legal fees. For new-build property, VAT (IVA) at 10% is paid instead.

How to buy property in Alicante — step by step

The process of buying property in Alicante follows the same basic steps as the rest of Spain: you need an NIE tax number, a Spanish bank account and an independent lawyer to check the property before you sign anything at all.

Once you have found the right property in Alicante, you typically sign an arras contract with a deposit of around 10% of the purchase price, before the final notary completion takes place some weeks or months later. Your lawyer will make sure the nota simple (land registry extract) is clean, and that there are no loans or charges on the property.

Who chooses to buy property in Alicante?

Alicante attracts a wide range of international buyers — from families looking for a holiday home they can use themselves and rent out the rest of the year, to retirees dreaming of a life in the sun, and investors who see the potential in a growing market.

What particularly draws people to buy property in Alicante is castillo de santa bárbara — an iconic castle, international airport with many connections and vibrant spanish city life and cuisine — a combination that is hard to find elsewhere on the Spanish coast.

Advantages and pitfalls of buying property in Alicante

The advantages of buying property in Alicante are the attractive combination of price, climate and lifestyle. The town has a well-functioning range of international services — banks, lawyers and agents used to helping international buyers through the process in English or other languages.

The most important consideration is to get a thorough understanding of the ongoing costs (IBI property tax, community fees and utilities) as well as how owning foreign property is treated for tax purposes in your home country, before you buy property in Alicante. We always recommend partnering with an independent advisor who knows the rules of both countries.

Life and culture in Alicante

Alicante celebrates Hogueras de San Juan in June — one of Spain's most spectacular bonfire festivals, where huge artistic figures (hogueras) are burned at midsummer in a tradition similar to Valencia's famous Fallas. Castillo de Santa Bárbara, the impressive Moorish-Christian castle on Mount Benacantil, dominates the city skyline and can be reached by lift directly from the beach.

The Explanada de España, the city's famous mosaic promenade along the harbour, is a favourite meeting spot for locals and visitors alike. Nightlife clusters especially around Barrio (the old town) with its many bars and tapas spots, as well as the lively harbour area — Alicante has a genuine Spanish city life rather than a tourist-resort feel.

Location and infrastructure

Alicante-Elche airport is one of Spain's busiest, with direct flights from Copenhagen, Billund and Aarhus. The airport is just a 10-minute drive from the centre.

There is a TRAM light rail line connecting the centre to the beaches north of the city, as well as regular Renfe train connections south towards Murcia. Taxis and Uber/Cabify are both available in the city, an advantage compared with several smaller Costa Blanca towns.

Tourism & leisure

Alicante has good sandy beaches, both in the city itself (Playa del Postiguet) and a little to the north (San Juan beach, one of the region's best). There are a few golf courses in the surrounding area, but golf is not a defining part of the city's identity the way it is on the Costa del Sol.

The centre and harbour area can be noisy in the evenings, especially in the Barrio district, while the northern beach neighbourhoods are quieter. The climate is slightly drier than the Costa del Sol with less rainfall, and temperatures are typically on par with or a touch below Málaga's — mild winters around 12-17°C and warm summers around 26-30°C.

Everyday costs & what to know before you buy in Alicante

Alicante has one of the more affordable levels for eating out among the larger coastal cities, with a genuine Spanish tapas and restaurant scene rather than tourist pricing. Rent is generally affordable compared with the Costa del Sol's well-known destinations.

Before you buy: the Valencia region's tourist licence rules differ from Andalusia's — research the local requirements carefully if you're planning short-term letting. Alicante has a larger share of Spanish buyers than the more internationalised destinations, which can affect price dynamics.