Property for sale in Alicante

A real city by the sea

Alicante is the capital of Spain's fifth province by population and economic output. It is home to the European Union Intellectual Property Office, the University of Alicante with more than 25,000 students, and a "Digital District" for technology companies.

That matters if you plan to live here rather than holiday: the city runs all year round, and work, hospitals, courts and consulates are here rather than in the next town.

The sea in the centre

Postiguet beach lies in the heart of the city, at the foot of Santa Bárbara castle and beside the Explanada promenade. The castle stands on Mount Benacantil, 169 metres high, and is visible from almost anywhere in town.

From north to south the city's beaches are San Juan, La Almadraba, La Albufereta, Postiguet, Agua Amarga and El Saladar. Offshore lies the island of Tabarca.

The old town, El Barrio, spreads around the co-cathedral of San Nicolás.

Prices by district

The average asking price is €2,721 per square metre (idealista, August 2026), up 6.8% over the year. That covers all homes on the market, new build and resale together.

The most expensive district is Playa de San Juan–El Cabo, by the beach of the same name in the north of the city.

Buying as a UK citizen after Brexit

Since Brexit, UK citizens are non-EU buyers. You can buy property in Spain; what changed is how long you can stay — up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa, and days in other Schengen countries count towards the same limit.

Owning a home does not give you the right to live here: Spain abolished the investor "golden visa" on 3 April 2025. To stay longer without working, the route is the non-lucrative residence visa, applied for in person at the Spanish consulate with proof of sufficient income or savings.

Taxes

Alicante is in the Valencian Community.

New build from a developer: 10% VAT plus 1.4% stamp duty, for deeds signed from 1 June 2026; before that date the duty was 1.5%.

Resale: 9% transfer tax, or 11% for homes over €1 million — charged on the cadastral reference value if that is higher than the price in the deed.

Notary and land registry fees come on top. Allow around 12% above the price in total.

If you buy resale

The property you buy answers for the previous owner's debts to the community for the current year and the three before it. Before paying a deposit, get the administrator's certificate that fees are paid up, and the land registry extract.

Running costs

Community fees usually run €40–120 a month, plus the IBI property tax, refuse collection, utilities and insurance.

The paperwork

You will need an NIE, issued to anyone with economic interests in Spain — at a Spanish consulate in the UK, or in Spain through a representative with a power of attorney. Viewings are done by video and the deed can be signed under power of attorney. Spanish banks typically lend non-residents up to 70% of the valuation.