Buying agent on the Costa Blanca, Spain
Your buying agent on the Costa Blanca
Do you want to buy a home in Spain but have no idea where to start? You open Idealista and see beautiful pictures. There is plenty there…
But what do you actually need to watch out for in Spain? We are the independent buying agent on the Costa Blanca, and we are here for you — not for the seller, and not to push a purchase down your throat. We are more than a guide: think of us as a knowledgeable friend who helps you make the right decisions, and who stops you buying a pig in a poke.
In Spain it is entirely normal for an agent to represent the seller's interests. There is no complete file, and you cannot easily request the documents yourself either.
So you don't know exactly what you are buying, or what the risks might be. Buying a house is an exciting search, but it can also be a bumpy road full of pitfalls you had not thought of.
We make sure you know what the risks and the pitfalls are. Sometimes the best advice is to say no. Sometimes we can deal with the risks so that they stop being risks at all. And when we can't — on to the next one.
Buying a home — your agent on the Costa Blanca
Why a buying agent in Spain is essential
In Spain it is normal for the agent to represent the seller. For buyers, that means important questions sometimes go unanswered. We all know the stories: the agent said a pool could be built and the house was legal, and then it turned out no electricity supply was possible — so you are left in the blazing heat with no pool and no utilities.
The selling agent will usually not answer questions about build quality, legal matters, future costs, or whether a property actually suits the life you want to live here.
As a buying agent we look at it from your side. We help you understand what you are seeing — and, more importantly, what you are not. That prevents disappointment, and choices that are hard to undo later.
And let's not forget that a house has to feel right, not just look right on paper.
Our qualified NVM agents are here to help you find the right home. We know the system and we protect your interests. With deep knowledge of the market and years of experience, we help you make the right choices and strike the best deals.
How we work
How we support a purchase
- Honest, personal advice tailored to you, from the first conversation through to the handover of the keys.
- Getting clear together on what you want and what fits your budget — including financing and tax, with specialists we trust.
- A sharp, tailored search, where we keep asking until it is clear what genuinely suits you.
- Access to off-market opportunities, away from the usual portals.
- Visibility of every step of the process, so you know where you stand and what is coming.
- Room for all your questions, with an honest answer or a referral to the right expert.
- A realistic assessment of the property's quality, potential and value.
- Guidance on renovation plans, including introductions to reliable trades and a realistic cost estimate.
- Input on layout and interiors, based on your ideas and your style.
- Careful negotiation to reach a fair — and the best possible — purchase price.
- Support through the legal process, with a good lawyer and contracts explained in plain language.
- Present at the inspection and the handover, so everything is right down to the last moment.
Dutch standards, Spanish market
We work the way you are used to
We work to the professional standards you are used to at home. Gusto Casa is an NVM member firm, and at her swearing-in Lindy was the youngest registered agent and valuer in Utrecht. In Spain, Gé works under API certification. Between us we know both systems, and where the differences and the pitfalls are.
That Dutch way of working goes into every purchase we handle. With years in property and backgrounds in banking and insurance among others, we look beyond the house itself. We guide you from beginning to end, help you sharpen your choices, and make sure you know what to watch for — whether it is a new build, an existing home or a project with potential.
Buying your home — your agent on the Costa Blanca
Not sure where to start?
We see possibilities where others don't. Between five houses in need of work — three in Utrecht, two on the Costa Blanca — a dated office in Moraira and an old warehouse we turned into our Utrecht office, we know what it takes to be creative and get the best out of a situation.
Our previous house in Spain fell outside the standard search filters — no air conditioning, for one, which is enough to make most people click past. A relatively small job fixed it, for under €3,000. Choices like that are what make the difference. Together we look at layout, potential and cost, so you know where you stand up front. We think it through with you, budget realistically and keep it clear. No surprises afterwards.
Whether it is a home with potential or a genuine renovation project, we take the time to lay out the pros and cons. We think practically, introduce you to trades we trust, and help you make choices that fit your budget and the way you live — with an end result you actually look forward to.
If you can't find a property that really fits your wishes and your budget, you are not alone — we know the feeling, we are always after something slightly different ourselves. A home with potential can be the answer: not perfect, but with the right bones. We are glad to think it through with you.
Why choose a home with potential
- You buy more cleverly, and can save towards what you actually want.
- You make the place genuinely your own.
- It can pay off financially, through energy improvements and lower transfer tax — money that can go on better things.
Buying a home — how does it work?
You are looking for the right home, and we understand how much that matters. We have set out the path you will walk. Whether you head straight for your goal or wander off the track now and then, we are here to guide you.
Easy to reach
Negotiating on your new home is nerve-racking. To keep the lines short we set up a WhatsApp group for you, so we can talk things through and keep each other posted. Much easier.
Set your budget
Before you start viewing, we map out clearly what you can and want to spend — not just the purchase price, but taxes, notary fees and any renovation costs. So you start with realistic expectations.
Get your financing approved
If you need financing, arrange it properly up front — Spanish banks work differently from what you are used to. We think it through with you and introduce you to mortgage advisers and tax specialists we trust. Gé's years in the financial sector mean he knows exactly what matters.
Choose a location
The northern Costa Blanca is varied: lively coastal towns, quiet villages, countryside and campo. We talk through what matters to you and advise on places that suit how you live — not just what you typed into a search.
Choose a lawyer
In Spain a specialist lawyer is essential — they check ownership, documents and any risks. An architect matters too. We work with reliable, fast, decisive lawyers who act for you.
Find your house
Now the search begins. We select properties that match what you are after and come with you to viewings. We look at them critically — no rose-tinted glasses here — and talk through what stands out, including what you might not spot yourself. A bonus: the best surveyor around lives in Pedreguer. If the house looks promising, we book him in.
Reserve the house
Once you have found a property it can be reserved. We negotiate hard — as though it were our own money — and make sure the terms are recorded clearly, including the conditions for getting your deposit back if the due diligence goes badly or the seller fails to honour what was agreed.
Run the due diligence
A thorough legal check is crucial: whether any debts, mortgages or legal problems attach to the property. In Spain a lawyer does this for you.
Sign the preliminary contract (Contrato de Arras)
The preliminary contract is a significant agreement between you and the seller, setting out everything agreed — the price, the completion date. Your lawyer draws it up.
Sign at the notary and take ownership
Ownership transfers at the notary. We attend the final inspection and make sure everything is right before you sign. After this step you are officially the owner.
Register the property
After the purchase your lawyer registers the property in the Spanish Land Registry. This is essential to protect your ownership rights.
Pay the taxes and costs
After the purchase there are taxes such as transfer tax, plus notary fees, legal fees and insurance. The simplest route is to have the gestor handle it, so nothing gets missed.
Sort out the practical things
After handover it is time to make the place liveable: connecting utilities, community fees, insurance. We help with the practical side — water, electricity, internet and any policies — so you can enjoy the place without worrying. And time for a glass of something.
Don't buy a pig in a poke
Whether you are buying a house in the countryside or an apartment in a modern block, whether the building is thirty years old or newly finished — the legal status has to be right. And that goes further than an occupancy licence or nice photos in a brochure.
A legality check and the accompanying zoning research reveal the crucial things a buyer has to know beforehand.
Sometimes we run a quick check before signing the reservation contract; sometimes we weigh the risks together and decide what belongs in it as get-out clauses. Sometimes the answer is that the risks are too great and we let the property go. And sometimes you take a considered risk.
You still read the horror stories where a lawyer was involved and serious risks attached to the property anyway. We make sure you know what you are signing and what the risks are.
What should you have checked?
A legality check is not only about whether you may live in the building. It is about the legal and planning basis for what stands there — and whether it is allowed to stand there at all. These are the points to have investigated as standard:
May the building be rebuilt after damage?
The council decides, under the applicable zoning plan, whether a home or building may be rebuilt after a fire, a flood or a wildfire. That is essential for your insurance and your peace of mind. Think back to the flooding in Valencia — horrifying.
Does the building comply?
Do the main building and the outbuildings — the pool included — meet current rules on built area, height, number of storeys and distance to the boundary? If not, that can affect future permits or alterations.
Is living there legally permitted?
This is not the same as an occupancy licence, which only says the building meets minimum standards such as ventilation and sanitation. The legal designation determines whether permanent or temporary occupation is allowed at all.
Were permits issued, and are they still valid?
Some permits have a limited life. It happens regularly that an alteration previously tolerated was never legalised, or would no longer be permitted today.
Could fines be imposed?
If building was done without a permit in the past, the council can still enforce. As the new owner you carry the consequences: legalise it, demolish it, or pay a fine.
Can the zoning plan impose limits?
For example: if the council does not allow rebuilding on that spot, an insurer can refuse to pay out the rebuild value after a loss.
Listen to our podcast on living on the northern Costa Blanca
In our podcast we take you through living and buying on the Costa Blanca. Sometimes blunt, always honest and direct.
No polished talk about returns, no promises of gold. Just how it really is. We may occasionally — kindly — knock you off that cloud, as a reminder that this is not only dreaming but also paying attention, before you get to enjoy it. And we make sure you come away with a realistic plan.
We are glad to share what we know
We take you to the loveliest spots, including the ones that are not yet popular, and let you taste what living here is really like. Our articles cover what is changing, the biggest pitfalls, and what to watch for on tax.
Book an appointment
When do we raise a glass to your new home?
Curious what we could do for you? Get in touch for an informal 30-minute introduction. We would be glad to talk.
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