Alicante Real Estate: Apartments and Villas on the Costa Blanca

Alicante has a lively port, the Explanada de España promenade, the Santa Bárbara castle, the old quarter of El Barrio (Santa Cruz) and the Postiguet city beach. To the north are Playa de San Juan and Campello, with modern beach apartments; Vistahermosa and Albufereta have villas and sea-view flats. The Alicante-Elche airport is one of Spain's busiest with many direct routes to northern Europe, and trains link the city to Madrid.

Buyers are Spaniards from inland, northern Europeans seeking sun, retirees, and remote workers. Climate is dry and mild, with strong summer heat. Note that Alicante is a working city rather than only a resort, so noise, parking and summer humidity can matter for buildings close to the centre.

Foreigners can buy freely in Spain with an NIE. In the Valencian Community:

• Resale: transfer tax (ITP) is 9% (from 1 June 2026; 11% above €1 million), with lower rates in some cases.
• New build: VAT of 10% plus stamp duty (AJD) of around 1.4%.
• Notary and registry: roughly 1-2%.
• Annual: IBI property tax and non-resident income tax; municipal waste charges.

Spain's golden visa for property was closed in April 2025, so residency should be discussed with a lawyer. Tourist-rental rules in the Valencian region require registration and community approval. See our Spain buying guide and mortgage guide. Non-residents typically obtain 60-70% loan-to-value.

Check the building before the flat. Many Alicante apartment blocks from the 1960s-1980s have no lift, and community fees vary widely depending on pools, lifts and concierge services. In central areas, ask about the Tourist Use Licence and about the municipality's restrictions on holiday lets, which have been tightening across Spain.

For villas, look at the plot classification (urban, developable or rustic), whether the extension or pool is legalised, and water supply. Many coastal developments use shared wells or private water companies. A good local lawyer and an independent surveyor are inexpensive protection. Compare asking prices with our valuation tool and ask for help via the contact page.

Compare Alicante with the resort town of Benidorm, with Marbella and Estepona on the Costa del Sol, or with big cities Madrid and Barcelona. For a high-end hill village, see Benahavís. The Spain page lists more.