Properties in Torrevieja

What kind of property do they choose in Torrevieja

Apart from standard apartments, a notable share of offerings on the Torrevieja market are duplexes (two‑level apartments with a separate entrance), apart‑hotels with hotel services for rental purposes, and townhouses in gated urbanisations with a shared pool. Duplexes are popular in La Mata and Los Balcones — they give you the floor area of a villa at the price of an apartment, but without a private plot. Apart‑hotels are more common along the coast and are sold as a ready‑made rental business with a management company, rather than as a property for personal residence.

Districts: infrastructure and logistics

All districts of Torrevieja are within 10‑15 minutes of each other, and to the beach — from 3 minutes on foot to 15 minutes by car. The Centre — older housing stock from the 1970s‑1990s, often without a lift, but with the market, bus station and all urban infrastructure right there. Playa del Cura and Playa de los Locos — walking distance to the promenade and seafront, the highest tourist traffic in summer. La Mata — a separate district in the north with its own beach and natural park, 15‑20 minutes to get to the centre. Aguas Nuevas — a commercial zone: furniture and building supply stores, car dealerships, further from the sea.

International community and infrastructure

Torrevieja is one of the most international cities in Spain: permanent residents come from more than 120 countries — Britons, Scandinavians, Moroccans, people from Eastern Europe. Alicante airport is 40‑45 minutes away by car, Murcia about an hour. In shops, banks and real estate agencies, English is understood almost everywhere, and in areas with a high proportion of Russian‑speaking residents, signs and menus in Russian are not uncommon. Everyday matters — insurance, internet, utility bills — are resolved without an interpreter within the first weeks after moving.

Purchase tax reduced to 9% — from 1 June 2026

From 1 June 2026, in the Valencian Community, which includes Torrevieja, Law 5/2025 came into force: the ITP tax on second‑hand housing is reduced from 10% to 9% for properties up to €1,000,000 (above that, the 11% rate remains). The stamp duty AJD fell from 1.5% to 1.4%. When buying an apartment for €150,000, the saving will be about €1,500; for €250,000 — €2,500. The rule does not apply to new builds — VAT 10% plus AJD 1.4%, not ITP. The key date is the date of signing the Escritura before a notary, not the date of reservation.

Mortgage for a non‑resident in 2026

Non‑residents of Spain usually get a mortgage for 60‑70% of the appraised value of the property for a term of up to 25 years; for residents, banks are ready to approve up to 80%. The 12‑month Euribor by summer 2026 is holding at around 2.7%, with the final floating rate for non‑residents at 3‑4.5% per annum. The bank will require confirmed income for the last 2‑3 years, bank statements, a tax return from the country of residence, and a registered NIE — without it, no bank will consider a mortgage application.

Rental yield by district

Long‑term rental on average gives 6‑7.5% per annum, but the spread across districts is noticeable: in Playa del Cura, thanks to year‑round tourist flow, yields reach 8%; in La Mata — more modest, about 6.5%, but rental income is more stable thanks to long‑term expat tenants. Summer weekly rates for apartments are almost double winter monthly ones — a studio by the sea that costs €500 per week in summer may rent for the same €500 but per month in winter. This is worth factoring into the annual yield calculation in advance, not retrospectively.

How the transaction goes: from NIE to the keys

The first step for a foreign buyer is obtaining an NIE — without it, you cannot open a bank account or sign a property contract. Next — a reservation contract with a deposit, property check via Nota Simple (checking for debts, encumbrances and liens), a deposit under the arras contract, and signing the Escritura before a notary with the handover of keys. Without a mortgage, the process takes 4‑8 weeks; with bank approval, up to 10‑12 weeks. On top of the property price, budget an additional 10‑12% for tax, notary, registration and legal fees.

When buying in Torrevieja is not the best idea

Buying property in Spain no longer grants residency rights: the Golden Visa route through property purchase was closed in April 2025, and Torrevieja is no exception — if your goal is residency, an apartment will not solve that. Older housing in the Centre is often sold without a lift, with outdated wiring and without an energy certificate — budget for renovations and legalisation separately from the property price. For properties over €1,000,000, the ITP reduction does not apply — the rate remains 11%; the 2026 reform does not change the budget for buyers in the premium segment.