How much does a property in Alicante cost?
A two-bedroom apartment in the Old Town starts at around €250,000, while seafront apartments on Playa de San Juan range from €400,000 to €900,000 depending on floor and view. Detached villas in Cabo de las Huertas or Albufereta typically sit between €850,000 and €2.5 million, and prime front-line penthouses trade from €1.5 million. Pricing per square metre spans €3,200 to €9,500 depending on barrio and condition, with seafront and Cabo Huertas commanding the top end.
Where are the best neighbourhoods in Alicante for luxury buyers?
Cabo de las Huertas offers the most prestigious villa stock with sea cliffs and gated plots. Playa de San Juan suits buyers wanting beachfront apartment living with a promenade and golf course. El Barrio and the Casco Antiguo appeal to those chasing restored townhouses within walking distance of Santa Bárbara castle. Albufereta, between the two, balances family beaches with quicker city access. San Juan Playa and Campello to the north are preferred by second-home buyers wanting a calmer coast.
Can I still get a Golden Visa buying property in Alicante?
Yes. Spain's residency-by-investment programme is active and requires a minimum €500,000 real estate purchase, free of mortgage debt up to that threshold. Alicante is one of the last prime coastal markets where that budget buys a detached villa or high-floor seafront apartment. The visa grants residency to the investor, spouse and dependent children, with no minimum stay requirement to maintain status, and converts to permanent residency after five years.
How far is Alicante-Elche airport from the city centre?
The airport lies 9 km south-west of the city at Elche, about 15-20 minutes by car via the A-7 motorway and around €20-25 by taxi. Direct flights connect daily with London, Manchester, Dublin, Amsterdam, Brussels, Oslo, Stockholm, Frankfurt and Zurich. The C-6 bus runs every 20 minutes between the airport, Alicante-Luceros station and Playa de San Juan, making a second home here a genuine weekend option for northern European owners.
What rental yields can I expect on an Alicante seafront apartment?
Short-let seafront apartments on Playa de San Juan and Cabo Huertas generate 5.5-7% gross yields, with peak nightly rates of €180-€280 from June through September. Long-term residential lets deliver a steadier 4-5% with lower turnover. The Old Town commands the highest tourist rates per night but requires a municipal VT (vivienda turística) licence; new licences are increasingly restricted, so buying a property that already carries one adds significant value.
What taxes and closing costs apply in Alicante?
Budget 12-14% on top of the purchase price. Resale properties attract 10% ITP transfer tax in the Valencia region. New builds instead pay 10% VAT plus 1.5% stamp duty. Notary, land registry and legal fees total roughly 2-2.5%. Annual holding costs include IBI (local property tax, 0.4-1.1% of cadastral value), rubbish collection and the community of owners' fee. Non-residents additionally pay 24% income tax on rental income.
Do I need a real estate lawyer in Alicante?
We strongly recommend an independent Spanish abogado for any purchase. Your lawyer verifies the nota simple at the Registro de la Propiedad, checks for outstanding debts and community charges, reviews the Licencia de Primera Ocupación, drafts the arras contract and attends notary completion. Typical fees are 1-1.5% of the purchase price, often the cheapest insurance in the entire process. We introduce buyers to bilingual firms in Alicante who work daily with foreign clients.