A Local Guide for International Property Buyers
Buying a property in Spain is an exciting decision, but when you are purchasing in another country, it is natural to have plenty of questions.
How does the buying process work? What should you consider before making an offer? What is the difference between buying a country villa and a village house? And, perhaps most importantly, how do you know which area is right for you?
At Alicante Maravillas, we have been helping international buyers find homes in inland Alicante since 2002. We are based in Hondón de los Frailes, in the heart of the Hondón Valley, and this is the area where we live and work every day.
Over the years, we have helped buyers from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium and other European countries find their place in this beautiful part of Spain.
If you are thinking about buying a property in inland Alicante, here are some of the things we believe are worth knowing before you start your search.
1. Start with the area, not just the property
One of the most important things when searching for a home in Spain is to think about the location and lifestyle, not just the property itself.
Of course, the house matters. But the location will have an even greater influence on your day-to-day life.
Inland Alicante offers a surprisingly varied choice of environments. You will find traditional Spanish villages, small towns with plenty of services, peaceful valleys, agricultural areas surrounded by vineyards and almond trees, and rural properties where you can enjoy space, privacy and open views.
The Hondón Valley has become particularly popular with international residents looking for a quieter lifestyle while remaining within reasonable travelling distance of the coast and Alicante-Elche Airport.
Nearby areas such as La Romana, Pinoso and Aspe, as well as neighbouring parts of Murcia including Abanilla, Macisvenda and Fortuna, offer different landscapes, property styles and village atmospheres.
Before deciding on a house, spend some time understanding the area around it.
Where will you buy your groceries? Where is the nearest medical centre? How far is the village? Would you prefer to walk to a café in the morning or wake up surrounded by countryside?
These everyday questions often matter more than an extra bedroom or a slightly larger swimming pool.
2. Why local knowledge matters when buying in inland Alicante
Property portals are a useful place to begin your search, but they cannot tell you everything about what it is actually like to live in a particular village or rural area.
This is where local knowledge can make a real difference.
At Alicante Maravillas, we have been based in the area since 2002. We know these villages not only as places where we sell properties, but as places where we live and work every day.
We know the roads, the countryside, the different residential areas and the character of the villages. We also understand the small differences between locations that can be difficult to appreciate when you are searching online from another country.
After more than two decades working with international property buyers, we also understand the questions that naturally arise when buying a home in Spain.
Sometimes our role is to show you a property that could be right for you.
At other times, it is to explain why a particular house or location may not match what you are looking for.
Both are equally important.
Our aim is not simply to help you find a property in Alicante, but to help you understand the area well enough to make the right decision for your life in Spain.
3. Understand the lifestyle of inland Alicante
Life here is different from life on the Costa Blanca coastline.
And for many buyers, that is precisely the attraction.
The pace of life tends to be slower. Villages remain an important part of everyday life, local fiestas bring communities together and it is still normal to visit the weekly market, stop for coffee in the village square or get to know the people who run the local shops and restaurants.
The landscape also changes throughout the year.
Almond blossom, vineyards, olive groves and mountains form part of the scenery and give the interior of Alicante its distinctive character.
The climate allows you to enjoy outdoor living for much of the year, whether that means breakfast on the terrace, walking through the countryside or spending long summer evenings beside the pool.
For international buyers looking for a relaxed Mediterranean lifestyle without necessarily wanting to live in a busy coastal resort, inland Alicante offers a very different way to experience Spain.
4. Decide what type of property really suits you
One of the advantages of buying in inland Alicante is the variety of properties and lifestyles you can choose from.
You might prefer a traditional village house, where you can walk to local shops, cafés, restaurants and the weekly market and become part of everyday village life.
If you are looking for more outdoor space and privacy, a country villa with a swimming pool and garden could be the perfect choice. Many properties enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding mountains, vineyards, olive groves and almond trees.
For those dreaming of even more space, a finca or country property with a larger plot of land offers the opportunity to enjoy nature and the peaceful rural landscape that makes this part of Spain so special.
There is also a growing choice of new-build villas in inland Alicante, combining contemporary design with the tranquillity of the countryside. These homes are particularly attractive to buyers looking for modern layouts, energy-efficient features and the opportunity to personalise certain elements of their future home.
Another option is to buy a plot and build your own villa, creating a home designed around your lifestyle, needs and preferences from the beginning.
At Alicante Maravillas, we work with trusted local builders with extensive experience in the area to develop turnkey new-build projects. This allows our clients to combine the choice of a suitable plot with the construction of a new home, with local professionals guiding the project from the initial planning stages through to completion.
For international buyers, having local professionals coordinating the different stages of a new-build project can make the whole experience much easier to understand and manage from abroad.
Each option offers a different way to experience life in inland Alicante.
The important thing is not simply deciding how many bedrooms or how much land you would like, but thinking about how you imagine your everyday life in Spain.
Village life, countryside, contemporary design or plenty of open space — the right property is the one that feels right for you.
5. Water, electricity and access: understanding country living
When buying a country property in inland Alicante, it is useful to understand how the different services work, as they can vary depending on the location and type of property.
Some country homes have mains drinking water, while others may have agricultural or irrigation water, sometimes combined with water storage tanks.
Electricity may come directly from the mains, while some rural properties use solar energy or a combination of different energy systems.
Access can also vary. Country homes can be reached by everything from conventional roads to traditional rural caminos, depending on their location.
These are simply part of the characteristics of living in the Spanish countryside and can vary considerably from one property to another.
When viewing a home, we can explain these practical aspects so that you have a clear understanding of how the property works in everyday life.
For many buyers, features such as solar energy, water storage or a peaceful country road are simply part of the experience and charm of rural life in Spain.
6. Understand the buying process in Spain
The property buying process in Spain may be different from the system in your home country, but with the right professional guidance it is a straightforward process.
Once you have found the right property and an agreement has been reached with the seller, the next stages normally involve reserving the property, carrying out the necessary legal checks and preparing the private purchase contract before completion at the notary.
International buyers will also normally need a NIE, the identification number used by foreigners for many legal, financial and administrative procedures in Spain.
We always recommend that international buyers appoint an independent Spanish lawyer to represent their interests.
Your lawyer can review the property's documentation, confirm ownership, check the relevant information and contracts and guide you through the legal side of the transaction.
At Alicante Maravillas, we work alongside the different professionals involved in the purchase and help our clients throughout the process, from the initial property search through to the day they receive the keys to their new home.
For international buyers, having people locally who can explain what happens at each stage makes the experience considerably easier.
7. Budget for more than the purchase price
When establishing your budget, remember that the advertised price of the property is not the final amount you will spend.
Buying a property in Spain involves taxes and additional purchase costs, including notary, Land Registry and legal expenses.
The exact amount will depend on the type of property and the individual transaction, but as a general guide, we normally recommend that buyers allow approximately 12 to 13 per cent above the purchase price for the costs associated with buying a property.
Your lawyer can calculate the expected costs more precisely according to your particular purchase.
Establishing a realistic total budget from the beginning also makes the property search much easier.
It allows us to concentrate on homes that genuinely fit your plans rather than simply looking at properties based on their advertised price.
8. Visit properties with an open mind
Online research is extremely useful, particularly when you are starting your Spanish property search from another country.
But photographs cannot tell you everything.
A property that seems perfect online may feel completely different when you arrive. Equally, a house that you almost dismissed from the photographs may surprise you once you experience the location, views, privacy and outdoor space.
When viewing properties, try to look beyond furniture, decoration and cosmetic details.
Pay attention to the orientation, surrounding landscape, outdoor areas and how the property connects with its surroundings.
Consider the distance to the village and the services you are likely to use regularly.
And imagine a normal Tuesday morning there, not just two weeks in August.
That is often when you begin to understand whether a property could really become your home.
9. Take time to imagine your life here
Buying a home in Spain is rarely just a financial decision.
For many international buyers, it represents a change of lifestyle.
Perhaps you are looking forward to escaping colder winters. Maybe you want more outdoor space, a quieter environment or somewhere the family can spend more time together.
You may be planning a permanent move, your retirement, a second home or simply a different rhythm of life.
Whatever your reason, take some time to explore the area before making your decision.
Visit the villages. Have coffee in the local bars. Walk around the weekly market. Drive through the countryside. Come back at a different time of day.
See how the area feels when you are not viewing properties.
Because finding the right house is only part of the decision.
Finding the place where you feel at home is even more important.
Thinking about buying a property in inland Alicante?
If you are considering buying a home in the Hondón Valley or the surrounding inland Alicante area, we would be happy to help you discover the region and understand the buying process.
At Alicante Maravillas, we have been helping international buyers since 2002, combining local knowledge, experience and personal guidance throughout the property search and purchase.
Whether you are looking for a country villa, village house, finca, new-build villa or a plot to create your own home, tell us what you are looking for, your preferred area and how you imagine your life in Spain.
Sometimes finding the right home starts simply with knowing where to look.
