New build Altea properties range from €1,395,000 to €3,450,000, and the 11 projects currently tracked by veritySpain carry an average editorial score of 7.2 out of 10. That combination, premium coastal pricing alongside consistent quality, makes Altea one of the more demanding markets on the Costa Blanca for an international buyer to navigate. The purchase process in Spain differs substantially from northern European or Anglo-Saxon systems. There is no single standardised conveyancing firm acting for both sides; instead, the buyer appoints an independent lawyer (abogado) and a gestor for fiscal matters, while a notary (notario) functions as a neutral public official who authenticates the final deed. Understanding each stage before you reserve protects both budget and timeline.

Reservation and due diligence: the first 30 days

A typical reservation contract (contrato de arras) requires a deposit of around 1 percent of the agreed purchase price, though some Altea developers ask for a fixed sum between €6,000 and €10,000. The deposit is non-refundable if the buyer withdraws without cause, and doubly refundable if the developer defaults. Thirty days is the standard window for due diligence. Your lawyer checks planning licences (licencia de obras), confirms the developer holds a bank guarantee (aval bancario or seguro de caución) covering stage payments, and verifies the plot is registered in the Registro de la Propiedad free of encumbrances. Short sentences matter here: get the bank guarantee in writing before paying anything else. Colegio de Registradores de España publishes guidance on verifying property registration status online, which streamlines this step considerably.

Private purchase contract and stage payments

Once due diligence clears, the parties sign a private purchase contract (contrato privado de compraventa). For off-plan purchases, the contract sets out a payment schedule tied to construction milestones: foundation slab, structure topped out, and handover. Stage payments typically run from 10 percent at contract to 30 percent across construction, with the balance paid on completion at the notary. All stage payments made before completion must be protected by the same aval bancario established at reservation. Spain's consumer protection framework under Ley 57/1968, as updated, makes this guarantee a legal requirement rather than a negotiable term. Altea builds targeting the high end of the price range often include bespoke finish packages that can extend the construction timeline; request a Gantt chart from the developer and build contractual delay penalties into the private contract.

Taxes and purchase costs

Spanish tax law applies IVA (VAT) at 10 percent on new build residential property, which is the figure that applies across Spain and therefore to every new build Altea purchase. In addition, buyers pay Actos Jurídicos Documentados (AJD), the stamp duty on documented legal acts, typically between 1 and 1.5 percent in the Valencian Community, where Altea sits. Legal fees for an independent lawyer generally run between 1 and 1.5 percent of the purchase price; notary and land registry fees follow a regulated tariff scale set by the state. Budget a total acquisition cost of roughly 12 to 14 percent on top of the purchase price to cover all taxes, fees, and ancillary costs such as the gestor's work on obtaining a NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero), which every non-Spanish buyer must hold before signing at the notary. Agencia Tributaria publishes the applicable IVA rates and AJD rules, and checking the current Valencian Community rate on their portal before signing is straightforward.

Completion, title deed, and post-purchase registration

Completion takes place at the notary's office (notaría) where the escritura pública (public deed of sale) is signed and the balance is transferred, typically via certified bank transfer arranged the morning of completion. The notary reads the deed aloud, both parties sign, and the buyer receives a notarised copy on the day. Registration of the escritura in the Registro de la Propiedad usually takes two to six weeks after completion, during which the property is formally listed under the buyer's name. The time from reservation to keys on a new build in Altea runs roughly 18 to 24 months for off-plan launches, though projects near completion can close in under three months. After registration, the gestor transfers utility contracts (water, electricity) and registers the property with the Catastro for annual IBI (municipal property tax) purposes. One practical step: appoint the gestor at the same time as the abogado to avoid delays in the post-completion fiscal queue.

Key takeaways

• New build Altea projects tracked by veritySpain score an average 7.2/10, with prices running from €1,395,000 to €3,450,000.
• Appoint an independent abogado and confirm the developer's bank guarantee before paying any deposit or reservation fee.
• Budget 12 to 14 percent above the purchase price to cover IVA at 10 percent, AJD stamp duty, legal fees, and registration costs.
• Stage payments across construction must be individually protected by the developer's aval bancario under Spanish consumer law.
• Off-plan timelines in Altea typically run 18 to 24 months; secure contractual delay penalties in the private purchase contract.