New build Benejúzar starts at €131,000, according to veritySpain data, making this compact Alicante municipality one of the more affordable entry points on the Costa Blanca for international buyers seeking a completed, registered property rather than a resale renovation project. Only one development currently sits in the veritySpain portfolio, carrying a score of 7.0 out of 10 against a framework that weights legal compliance, construction quality and location fundamentals. Small supply does not mean weak due diligence. The Spanish purchase process is standardised nationwide, and buyers who understand each stage, from the reservation contract to the final notarial deed, are far less likely to encounter delays or cost surprises on completion day.

The reservation contract and NIE number

Spain requires every foreign buyer to hold a NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) before signing any legally binding document. Getting one typically takes two to four weeks through the nearest Spanish consulate or, faster, at the Comisaría de Policía in Alicante with an appointment. Secure it early. The first formal step in a new-build purchase is the reserva contract, in which the buyer pays a small holding deposit, often €3,000 to €6,000, to take the unit off the market. This deposit is non-refundable if the buyer withdraws without cause, so instruct a Spanish property lawyer before signing anything. Benejúzar falls under the jurisdiction of Alicante province, and a solicitor registered with the Colegio de Abogados de Alicante will be familiar with local registry and land-registry procedures.

Private purchase contract and stage payments

After the reserva, the developer and buyer sign a Contrato de Compraventa Privado, the substantive private purchase contract. In most Costa Blanca new-build schemes this is signed within four to six weeks of the reservation and commits both parties to the agreed price and delivery timeline. Stage payments are common in off-plan sales. Funds paid before completion must, under Spanish law, be covered by a bank guarantee (aval bancario) or insurance policy protecting the buyer in the event the developer cannot complete. This protection was reinforced after the regulatory changes introduced following the lessons of the 2008 downturn, as noted in general commentary by Registradores de España on buyer protection mechanisms. Always confirm the aval is in place before transferring any stage payment.

Taxes and purchase costs

New-build properties in Spain attract IVA (value-added tax) at ten percent of the purchase price, plus Actos Jurídicos Documentados (AJD), the documented-legal-acts stamp duty, at a rate set by the Autonomous Community of Valencia, which currently stands at 1.5 percent. On a €131,000 property that means roughly €13,100 in IVA and approximately €1,965 in AJD, before notary, registry and legal fees. Notary and land registry fees are regulated and typically total €800 to €1,500 for a transaction in this price bracket. A lawyer's fee is usually one percent of the purchase price. Budget for total purchase costs of twelve to fourteen percent on top of the headline price. That figure does not vary much across the province, and the Costa Blanca south has no additional local levies that would change the equation for Benejúzar specifically.

Completion at the notary and handing over keys

Completion in Spain takes place at a notaría, a public notary's office, where both parties, or their representatives under a Power of Attorney (escritura de poder), sign the escritura de compraventa. The balance of the purchase price is settled on the same day, typically by banker's draft (cheque bancario). The notary registers the deed with the Registro de la Propiedad, the Land Registry, and the buyer receives an official copy within a few weeks. At key handover, verify that the developer provides the Licencia de Primera Ocupación (first-occupancy licence) and the Certificado de Fin de Obra (certificate of building completion). Without the first-occupancy licence, connecting utilities to the property can be delayed. For new builds in Alicante province, connection to mains water, electricity and telecoms is normally organised by the developer and transferred to the buyer on completion.

Key takeaways

• New build Benejúzar is priced from €131,000, with veritySpain scoring the available project 7.0 out of 10.
• Obtain your NIE number before signing any contract: allow at least two to four weeks from application.
• Stage payments must be protected by a bank guarantee; always verify the aval before transferring funds.
• Budget twelve to fourteen percent on top of the purchase price to cover IVA, AJD, notary, registry and legal costs.
• At completion, check for the Licencia de Primera Ocupación before agreeing to key handover and utility transfer.