Buying property in Torrevieja, Spain

What your money buys

Torrevieja’s stock runs from studio flats in the centre to detached villas in Los Balcones. Asking prices rose about 11% in the year to July 2026 on idealista’s figures, so bargains are rarer than the old “cheapest town on the coast” reputation suggests. Roughly: older one-bed flats in the centre are the entry point; two-bed bungalows with a communal pool in Aguas Nuevas or La Mata are the core market; villas with private pools start inland and in Los Balcones.

Which part of Torrevieja?

Choose the district before the property. The centre suits year-round living without a car. La Mata is calmer, with a long beach. Los Balcones and Los Altos give you space and newer housing but need a car. If you want the coastal path and pools, look across the boundary at Punta Prima.

The buying process in brief

1. NIE — every buyer needs a foreigner’s identity number. See getting an NIE.
2. Spanish bank account for taxes and utilities.
3. Reservation — a small deposit takes the property off the market while your lawyer checks it.
4. Private contract (arras) — usually 10% of the price. If you pull out you lose it; if the seller does, they typically repay double.
5. Completion at the notary, where the deed (escritura) is signed and the balance paid. Your lawyer then pays ITP and registers the deed.

Budget roughly 11–12% on top of the price for a resale. Full breakdown: buying costs in Alicante 2026.

Checks that matter in Torrevieja

• Nota simple from the Land Registry: owner, charges and mortgages.
• Catastro vs. reality: enclosed terraces and added rooms are common and often unregistered.
• Community debts and derramas: ask for a certificate of no debt and the last minutes.
• Licence of first occupation / habitability where required for utilities.
• Tourist licence if you plan holiday lets — see holiday let licences.

Use a lawyer who works for you, not one recommended by the seller’s agent. It is the single best protection you have.