Selling a house in Calpe or Benissa: steps, costs and pitfalls (2026)

The steps, the costs, the documents and the pitfalls: everything you need to know before you sell, with the real figures included.

How a sale works, step by step

Valuation based on notarial figures

Free and without obligation. In early 2026, 19% of properties in the province of Alicante had their price reduced. Price it right and it sells.

Gathering the documents

Start early: an energy certificate or a missing licencia takes weeks. The checklist is below.

Agreements in writing

Commission, duration and exactly what I do: in black and white before we start.

Photography and presentation

Magazine-grade images through my studio Ausérieux, standard for every property.

Viewings and offers

I receive the candidates, you get every offer in writing. Including the low ones.

Reserva and arras

From the arras contract onwards (usually a 10% deposit) the sale is binding, for both parties.

The notary

The escritura is executed, the balance and the keys change hands. I prepare everything.

After the sale

Plusvalía within 30 days, and for non-residents the 3% retención. I guide you through that part too.

Light Mediterranean interior with sea view

What does selling actually cost you?

Agency commission

a fixed percentage, agreed in writing before we start

fixed %

Plusvalía Calpe

municipal tax on the increase in land value, to be declared within 30 days

29%

Plusvalía Benissa

the same tax, at the rate from Benissa's ordenanza

30%

Energy certificate

mandatory before the property can be advertised

a few hundred euros

Mortgage cancellation

only if a mortgage is still registered on the property

notary + registro

Capital gains tax

non-residents: a flat 19% on the profit

19%

3% retención

non-residents only; an advance payment, refundable

The plusvalía rates come from the official municipal ordenanzas (verified 2026). To work out what you keep net, use my net-proceeds report.

Want to know what this means for your property? Request a valuation

The documents you will need

Escritura (title deed)
Recent nota simple from the property registry
Latest IBI bill (annual property tax)
Energy certificate
Licencia de ocupación or declaración responsable
Certificate from the community of owners confirming there are no arrears (for apartments and urbanisations)
Recent water and electricity bills
For any renovations: the permits, or proof of legalisation
NIE and identity documents of all owners

Missing something? Not a disaster, but something to know now. An unpermitted extension can be legalised, just not in the week before the notary.

Selling as a non-resident

The 3% retención. The buyer is legally required to withhold 3% of the price as an advance on your tax. You can claim it back; expect it to take about a year.

The plusvalía. When the seller is a non-resident, the buyer pays it over by law. I make sure this is clearly set out in the contract beforehand.

Capital gains tax. A flat 19% on the profit. Keep the invoices from your purchase and renovations: they reduce the taxable gain.

You do not need to come to Spain. With a power of attorney, the entire sale goes through while you stay at home.

Terrace with infinity pool and a view of the coastline

The mistakes I see most often

Choosing the agent with the highest number. Always ask what a valuation is based on.
Listing with several agencies at once, at different prices. Buyers see it, and negotiate against you with your own adverts.
Agreeing the commission verbally. Anyone who makes that difficult is telling you something.
Requesting documents only at the compromise stage. Weeks of delay, and sometimes a deal falls apart over it.
"Forgetting" an extension that was never regularised. The buyer's lawyer will find it anyway.

Questions I often get

How long does selling take in Calpe or Benissa?

A correctly priced property here usually sells within a few months. An overpriced one can easily sit for a year, and then still sells lower. The pricing is the timeline.

What is my property worth?

The starting point is the notarial sale prices per m² in your municipality and property type. Then come location, condition and plot. I visit free of charge for a valuation, and you get the calculation with it.

Can I sell while living in Belgium or the Netherlands?

Yes. With a power of attorney I handle the sale from viewing to notary while you stay at home. Many of my sellers only see Spain again at the handover, or not at all.

When do I get the 3% retención back?

After your capital gains tax return has been filed. Expect about a year; it can stretch to around 16 months. I make sure the file is submitted correctly the first time, which helps.

What do you cost me?

My commission is a fixed percentage of the sale price, and it is on paper before we start. You pay nothing upfront, and only if the property actually sells.

Selling your property in Calpe or Benissa