Apartments in Calpe

Calpe — the apartment market on the northern Costa Blanca

According to Idealista, in June 2026 the apartment market in Calpe continued to grow: the average price rose by 2.7% month-on-month and by 6.8% year-on-year, with around 1,950 properties currently listed for sale. This is a fairly deep market for a town with a permanent population of about 30,000, so there is usually a choice within a given budget. New builds cost on average 21% more than second-hand homes. The difference is not just in condition: new properties must meet stricter energy efficiency standards, which lowers electricity bills. For those considering buying to rent out: the average rental rate in Calpe is about €14.1 per m² per month, and apartments yield higher returns than villas.

In brief: Fotocasa gauges the temperature of the Calpe market by listing sale speed. The faster apartments sell in a particular area, the higher the competition among buyers and the less room there is for price negotiation.

What has changed in taxes since 2026

From 1 June 2026, the general ITP tax rate in the Valencian Community has been reduced from 10% to 9% for second-hand homes under one million euros — for more expensive properties, the 11% rate remains. For new builds, instead of ITP, you pay 10% IVA plus the AJD tax, which has also been reduced from 1.5% to 1.4%. There are also reduced rates: 8%, 6%, 4%, 3%. These apply to specific categories of buyers — young people under 35, large families, and people with a disability of 65% or more — provided the property price does not exceed €180,000.

What to check: reduced rates are not applied automatically — you need to provide documentary proof of eligibility: age, family composition, or disability. Otherwise, the notary will process the transaction at the general rate of 9%, and reclaiming the difference afterwards is more difficult than confirming the exemption before signing.

Mortgages for non-residents in 2026

For buying an apartment in Calpe, Spanish banks finance non-residents at 60–70% of the property value. Residents get up to 80%. The difference means a down payment of 30 to 40%. The loan term is usually limited to 20 years instead of 30. Interest rates are higher than for locals: fixed — from 3.20% to 4.30% per annum, variable — Euribor plus 1.00–1.80%. Some banks also charge an arrangement fee of up to 2% of the loan amount, although an increasing number of banks have waived it, and this is worth clarifying before signing the offer. The bank also checks the debt-to-income ratio: it should not exceed 35% of the borrower's net income.

Real case: an application without officially verified foreign income was rejected twice in a row, even though the buyer had funds in the account. Approval only came after providing two years of tax returns from the country of residence.

How to check an apartment in Calpe before buying: nota simple and cargas

Nota simple is an extract from the Registro de la Propiedad (Land Registry) that shows the actual owner of the apartment in Calpe, existing mortgages, liens, and other encumbrances on the property. It costs less than €10 and can be ordered online via the Colegio de Registradores or through a notary. Sometimes an apartment has multiple owners — for example, if the property was inherited by several children. Only those officially registered can sell it. All co-owners must sign the contract together.

Nota simple does not show utility debts (comunidad de propietarios) or IBI tax debts unless a lien has already been placed on them — this must be checked separately by requesting a certificate from the building manager. A mortgage on the property is not a problem in itself: the seller usually settles it with the buyer's funds on the day of signing before the notary, but this arrangement should be written into the contract in advance, not clarified on the spot.

What the purchase actually costs on top of the list price

You need to add 10–14% to the price of the apartment. The main part is ITP or IVA with AJD, followed by notary fees (€600–1,200 depending on the property price), registration in the property register (€400–700), and, if needed, a gestoría (€300–600). For a purchase of €300,000 in Calpe, this means an additional €30,000–42,000 on top. There is a nuance often overlooked: since 2019, under the LCCI law, the costs of notary, registration, and AJD for the mortgage transaction are borne by the bank, not the buyer. You only pay for the purchase-sale itself, not for the loan arrangement.

Spanish law prohibits non-residents from making cash payments exceeding €10,000. Any part of the transaction above this threshold must be made by bank transfer.

Important: factor in the full amount of expenses in advance, not just the advertised price. Buyers who only calculate the property price regularly exceed their budget at the notary signing stage.

What documents will you need for the transaction

Two documents are mandatory: NIE (foreigner identification number) and a Spanish bank account to receive the transfer. Without an NIE, the notary will not complete the transaction. Without a local account, the bank will not open a mortgage or accept utility payments. Both documents can be obtained without travelling to Spain — how exactly is covered in the FAQ below.

Separately, check that the seller has an energy performance certificate (certificado de eficiencia energética) — it is mandatory under Real Decreto 235/2013, and without it the notary may formally refuse to process the transaction. In practice, sellers sometimes forget to renew it, so it is better to request the document in advance rather than on the day of signing.