The allure of Spain and the Costa Blanca shows every sign of remaining as strong in 2025 as it was in 2024. The property market in 2024 has been strong, prices are rising and sellers are in a good position. Price inflation is manageable and buyers who have done their research regarding area and property type, and have themselves well-organised, are able to secure their dream home.
2025 Buying property on the Costa Blanca
What is it about the area south of Alicante (Costa Blanca South into the Costa Calida) that has been attracting second home owners and retirees for nearly half and century? Here are some of the enduring attractions.
Climate
If you’re North European, Canadian or from certain states of the USA, 300+ days of Costa Blanca sunshine kind of speaks for itself! The climate here is described as Mediterranean. Mild winters (c16 degrees) and hot summers (30+ degrees). But a word about temperature extremes. There are exceptionally hot summer days where the mid-40s can be hit, and people do need to heed weather advisory warnings. Also, in the winter, before the sun gets up and after it goes down, it is not unusual for the temperature to hover between 0 and 5 degrees. However, everyone agrees, that for both mental health and physical health, the Costa Blanca has pretty much a perfect climate.
Connectivity
Air, road and rail – the Costa Blanca is well-connected and the situation just gets better. Two airports (Alicante (ALC) and Murcia (RMU)) serve the area, bringing people to and from over 100 destinations. The A7, AP7, A30 and A31 motorways offer direct access to Spain’s well-known and largest cities. Less well-know is the high-speed rail system. Alicante, Elche, Orihuela and Murcia are all connected to the rail network, meaning Madrid can now be reached in a little over 2 hrs 30 minutes.
Lifestyle
The lifestyle is the big draw of the Costa Blanca. Championship golf courses, like Las Calinas, pepper the area. For expats, Golf Societies are popular for visiting local courses and these societies are often connected with popular bars e.g., The Stray Sod in La Fuente. Golf, while popular, is not for everyone. A multitude of clubs and societies exists (as well as the U3A) providing opportunities for walking, bowls, cycling, exercise, education, darts, and padel. The list goes on.
Blue flag beaches and boat marinas adorn the Costa Blanca coast, providing water-based activities for some and peaceful, sandy beaches for others. During the summer months chringuitos spring up – beach bars offering cold drinks and fresh tapas. On the subject of food and drink, you could eat out at a different place every night for years, and not go back to the same place twice. Although people in their communities have their favourites that they return to, attracted by the food, atmosphere and above all the price. In 2025, expect to pay €1.30 – €1.50 for a coffee or a small beer. A meal out for two with a bottle of wine can easily come in at around €30. With a good rate of exchange like 1.2 that is £25.00 for those whose native currency is Sterling.
Finally, shopping. Zenia Boulevard received a mult-million Euro facelift in 2024, improving the visitor experience significantly. 150 outlets including Primark, Alcampo, Leroy Merlin, Decathlon, Zara and many other ‘eateries’ make Zenia Boulevard a magnet for expats and natives alike.
Cost of living
We touched on the price of eating out, and the cost of living overall is cheaper than what people coming from Northern Europe will be used to. Your money will go further. Just a word about two things. Supermarket shopping for food (not alcohol) is equivalent to the UK. The price of purchasing a used car will surprise people. Cars go on and on in Spain as they are not exposed to the cold, wind and rain. That means there is a market for older cars (15 years plus) and that means the prices for cars (5-10 years) are higher than people might expect in their home countries.
Healthcare
Healthcare is a key consideration for people choosing to retire and to make Spain and the Costa Blanca their permanent home. Torrevieja is where the main hospitals are located, including the private Quiron hospital. The Saluds in the towns are health centres/surgeries. All UK state pensioners receive healthcare on the same basis as a Spanish citizen as a result of a reciprocal healthcare agreement between the two countries. For non-residents from the UK, it is essential that they arrange their GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) before travelling.
Buying a property on the Costa Blanca
The Number 1 and Number 2 priorities of your lawyer when you are buying a property in Spain is to PROTECT YOU AND PROTECT YOUR MONEY. It’s a new generation buying Spanish real estate now compared to 20+ years ago. The errors of the planning system from the early 2000s have been cleared and cleaned up. The bankruptcies following the financial crash left a long-term stain. But now, developments laid unfinished have been completed, and new ones are now being build under far stricter laws. With bank guarantees underwriting deposits on unbuilt properties, people know their money is safe when buying off-plan.
None of this changes the fundamental purpose of a lawyer – protect their client. That’s why it is wise to choose an independent lawyer, registered and insured. Sun Lawyers has been independent and family-owned since it started, and in 2025 we celebrate 40 years of helping people fulfil their dream of buying property and living on the Spanish Costa Blanca.
If 2025 is your year for buying and/or relocating to the Costa Blanca / Costa Calida – contact us today.
