Buyers searching for new build punta prima will find a compact but active market: veritySpain currently scores the two analysed developments at an average 7.8/10, with asking prices running from €305,000 to €409,000. That price corridor reflects the area's position on the southern Costa Blanca, where Orihuela Costa's infrastructure and proximity to Alicante–Elche airport give smaller resort enclaves like Punta Prima a genuine convenience advantage over more remote alternatives. The buying process for international purchasers follows a well-established legal framework. Understanding each stage, and the costs it triggers, allows buyers to plan cash flow accurately before signing anything.

Reservation, NIE and pre-contract

Most developers in the Orihuela Costa area require a reservation fee, typically between €3,000 and €6,000, to take a unit off the market while solicitors conduct due diligence. That figure is not fixed by law; negotiate it in writing. Before or alongside this step, every foreign buyer must obtain a Número de Identificación de Extranjero (NIE) from a Spanish consulate or a Comisaría de Policía in Spain. No purchase can complete without it. Once due diligence confirms clean land title and valid building permits, the arras contract follows. Under Spanish civil law, a contrato de arras penitenciales locks in the agreed price, secures the property, and sets the timeline to escritura. This stage typically takes two to six weeks. Choose a solicitor independent of the developer.

Stage payments on off-plan properties

Off-plan new builds, which represent the majority of active projects on the Costa Blanca, are sold under a staged payment structure governed by Law 57/1968 and its successor provisions in the Building Regulation Act. A stage payment of 20–30 percent of the purchase price is usually due at contract exchange, with further instalments tied to construction milestones. Developers are legally required to hold these payments in a separate ring-fenced account and provide a bank guarantee or insurance policy protecting the buyer if the project is not delivered. Always confirm the bank guarantee is in place before transferring any stage payment. Registradores de España registers the developer's charge on the land, giving buyers additional security through the property register.

Taxes and purchase costs

New-build properties in Spain attract IVA (VAT) at 10 percent of the purchase price rather than Transfer Tax (ITP), which applies to resale property. On top of IVA, stamp duty (Actos Jurídicos Documentados, AJD) adds a further 1.5 percent in the Valencian Community. Combined, buyers should budget for tax costs of approximately 11.5 percent of the purchase price. Legal fees for an independent solicitor typically run to 1–1.5 percent. Notary and land-registry fees add a further 0.5–1 percent. Total acquisition costs for a new build in this region therefore generally fall in the range of 13–14 percent on top of the agreed price. Agencia Tributaria publishes guidance on IVA obligations for real estate transactions, including the applicable rates for primary-residence purchases.

Completion and post-completion steps

Completion takes place before a Spanish notary. The notary reads the escritura de compraventa in full; both parties sign; the buyer pays the balance and receives the keys. From that point, the buyer has 30 working days to settle IVA and AJD with the regional tax authority (Generalitat Valenciana). The notary submits the deed to the Land Registry for inscription, a process that can take four to eight weeks. Two further steps follow: transferring utility contracts (water, electricity) into the buyer's name, and registering the property with the local town hall (Padron empadronamiento) if the buyer intends to reside there. For non-residents, opening a Spanish bank account in advance of completion simplifies all of these transfers significantly. veritySpain data on the two current Punta Prima projects indicates licences of first occupation are in order for completions expected in the near term.

Key takeaways

• veritySpain scores Punta Prima's two analysed projects at an average of 7.8/10, with prices from €305,000 to €409,000.
• Obtain your NIE before or at reservation; the purchase cannot legally complete without it.
• New builds attract IVA at 10 percent plus AJD at 1.5 percent in the Valencian Community, not resale Transfer Tax.
• Confirm your developer's bank guarantee for stage payments before transferring any funds above the reservation fee.
• Budget for total acquisition costs of roughly 13–14 percent on top of the agreed purchase price, including taxes and professional fees.