Houses for sale in Spain

What counts as a house

In Spain "house" covers several very different things, and the price depends above all on which one it is.

Townhouse (adosado) — a terraced house sharing walls with its neighbours. Usually two floors, a terrace or small garden of its own, and often a communal pool. The most affordable way to get your own front door and a bit of outdoor space.

Bungalow — on the Costa Blanca this means a house-style apartment on a small complex: ground-floor units come with a small garden, upper-floor ones with a roof solarium. Each has its own entrance.

Villa (chalet) — a detached house on its own plot, almost always with a private pool. The most expensive option, and the most private: no shared walls and no complex rules.

Where to look

Costa Blanca — the widest choice of every type: townhouses and bungalows in the south around Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa, hillside villas in the north in Finestrat, Calpe and Benissa. Mar Menor — houses on Murcia's golf resorts. Costa del Sol — villas and townhouses in the west of Málaga province.

What to check

Off-plan. By law, every payment you make to the developer before completion must be covered by a bank guarantee. Check it before you sign.

Resale. Make sure the actual built area matches what is recorded in the Land Registry and the Cadastre. An extension or terrace added without permission is a common problem, and after completion it becomes yours.

Upkeep. A house with its own plot and pool costs more to look after than an apartment: garden, pool, small repairs. On a townhouse or bungalow complex, the community covers part of this through its fees.

Buying from the UK

Buying does not give you residency. Spain's golden visa for property investors was abolished in April 2025. Anyone can still buy without restriction, but without a visa a UK passport holder can stay up to 90 days in any 180.

Taxes depend on the region. On a new build you pay 10% VAT everywhere, plus stamp duty of 1.4% in the Valencian Community (Costa Blanca), 1.2% in Andalusia (Costa del Sol) and 1.5% in Murcia (Mar Menor). On a resale property you pay transfer tax instead: 9% in the Valencian Community (11% on the whole price above €1,000,000), 7% in Andalusia and 7.75% in Murcia. Notary, land registry and paperwork usually add 0.5–1% of the price.

NIE and a Spanish bank account. You need an NIE, and we handle it for you. For a new build you do not need a Spanish bank account: you can pay the developer from your UK account. For a resale property it is not a legal requirement, but in practice you will want one: the seller is paid at the notary with a Spanish banker's draft, and a transfer from abroad has to leave several days before completion.

Mortgages. Spanish banks usually lend non-residents up to 70% of the valuation, against 80% for residents.