Many people who want to buy a property in Spain first look at the purchase price of the property.
That is logical.
But during the buying process, buyers often discover that there are also several additional costs that determine the real total cost of the purchase.
That is why it is important to have a clear understanding of the purchase costs in advance.
For purchases on the Costa Blanca North (such as Dénia, Jávea, Moraira or Calpe), the rates of the Comunidad Valenciana apply.
When buying an existing property in Spain, you pay a transfer tax called:
Impuesto de Transmisiones Patrimoniales (ITP).
In the Comunidad Valenciana, this rate is usually 10% of the purchase price.
In some situations, a lower rate may apply, for example when the property is purchased as a main residence and certain conditions are met.
Important to know:
The tax is calculated based on the official reference value set by the government. This value can sometimes be higher than the purchase price, which means the final tax amount may be slightly higher than expected.
Notary fees depend on the purchase price stated in the deed.
On average, these costs are between 0.1% and 0.5% of the purchase price.
After signing at the notary, the property must also be registered in the Registro de la Propiedad (the property registry).
Registration costs are usually between 0.3% and 0.7%.
Together, the notary and registration fees represent a relatively small part of the total purchase costs, but they are a mandatory part of the official transfer.
The Catastro contains technical information (surface area and location). The Registro records the legal ownership. When purchasing a property, the Registro is the most important.
A lawyer is not legally required in Spain, but in practice it is strongly recommended.
A specialised real estate lawyer checks, among other things:
whether there are debts or embargoes on the property
whether permits and documents are correct
whether the ownership is legally in order
On average, the costs for legal assistance are between 1% and 2% of the purchase price.
Many international buyers choose this option because it provides additional security during the purchase process.
Even after completion, I remain available. I am happy to assist you with transferring utilities, arranging insurance and handling practical matters so you can start your new life in Costa Blanca North with complete peace of mind.
Suppose you purchase an existing property for €500,000 in the Comunidad Valenciana.
ITP (Transfer Tax – 10%): €50,000
Notary + property registration: approximately €4,000 – €6,000
Legal assistance (±1%): approximately €5,000
Total additional costs: approximately €59,000 – €61,000
This is of course an indicative calculation. The exact amounts may vary depending on factors such as the purchase price, the property itself, and the specific situation of the buyer.
That is why I usually tell buyers:
Take the purchase price of the property and add about 13%.
This usually gives a fairly realistic estimate of the total purchase costs.
When people start calculating the costs, they often realise that the total purchase costs are higher than they initially expected.
That is why many buyers prefer to review in advance what a purchase would roughly mean in their specific situation. This helps them understand better what to take into account before making a decision.
→Read more about meand how I guide buyers when purchasing property on the Costa Blanca North.