Buying a 2-Bedroom Apartment in Playa del Cura, Torrevieja With a €160,000 Total Budget

In this case study, I explain how I helped an international buyer purchase a 2-bedroom apartment in Playa del Cura, Torrevieja, with a total budget of around €160,000 including purchase costs. The buyer travelled to Spain to view and choose the property. After that, most of the process was handled with the support of a lawyer who spoke the buyer's language. The buyer returned to Spain around two months later for the final signing at the notary.

This is a good example of how foreign buyers can purchase property in Spain without needing to stay in the country during the entire process.

Key facts

• Buyer profile: international buyer living in France
• Location: Playa del Cura, Torrevieja, Costa Blanca
• Property type: resale apartment
• Bedrooms: 2
• Total budget: around €160,000 including purchase costs
• Main need: a safe purchase process with local support
• Legal support: a lawyer speaking the buyer's language
• NIE: handled through power of attorney
• Bank account: opened in Spain after the buyer came and chose the apartment
• Timeline: the buyer visited Spain, chose the property, then returned around two months later for the notary signing

The buyer's situation

The buyer wanted to purchase a property in Torrevieja, close to Playa del Cura, with a total budget of around €160,000 including taxes and purchase costs.

Like many foreign buyers, the client did not want to stay in Spain for the entire purchase process. The objective was simple: come to Spain, view suitable properties, choose the right apartment, complete the legal steps correctly and return later for the final signing.

The client eventually purchased a 2-bedroom apartment in Playa del Cura, one of the most requested areas of Torrevieja because of its beach access, services, restaurants and year-round activity.

In practice, many foreign buyers believe the most difficult part is finding the property. In reality, the most important part is organising the process correctly after the right property is chosen.

What I helped the buyer with

From the first day, the buyer was accompanied through the practical steps of the purchase process. My role included:

• helping the buyer understand the local area and property options;
• assisting during the property selection stage;
• introducing the buyer to a lawyer who spoke his language;
• coordinating the first steps after the apartment was chosen;
• assisting with the Spanish bank account process;
• accompanying the buyer to sign a power of attorney for the lawyer;
• making sure the buyer understood the reservation, legal and notary process;
• staying involved from the first visit until the final signing at the notary.

This type of support is important because many foreign buyers do not know what needs to be done first: choosing the property, paying the reservation deposit, appointing a lawyer, obtaining the NIE, opening a Spanish bank account and preparing for the notary.

What the buyer avoided

By being guided from the beginning, the buyer avoided several common risks:

• choosing an apartment only from online photos;
• paying a reservation without understanding the next legal steps;
• not knowing when the Spanish bank account was really needed;
• trying to organise the NIE, lawyer, utilities and notary alone;
• losing time with unsuitable properties or unclear procedures.

Legal support and power of attorney

After the buyer chose the apartment, I introduced him to a lawyer who could communicate in his language.

The buyer signed a power of attorney so the lawyer could handle important legal and administrative steps, including the NIE process and representation during the transaction. The lawyer was responsible for checking the property documents, verifying the legal situation and preparing the purchase process correctly before the final signing.

For foreign buyers, this is one of the most important parts of buying property in Spain. A property should not be evaluated only by photos, location or price. The legal documents, ownership, possible debts, community situation and purchase conditions must also be checked.

Reservation deposit and payments

The reservation (arras) payment was made from the buyer's bank account in France.

This is an important point for foreign buyers to understand: in many cases, the initial reservation payment can be made from the buyer's foreign bank account. The Spanish bank account becomes especially important later, close to completion, when final payments and post-purchase services need to be arranged.

In this case, the buyer opened a Spanish bank account after coming to Spain and choosing the apartment. At the end of the process, the Spanish account was also useful for practical matters after the purchase, such as transferring utilities and services into the buyer's name.

Why the Spanish bank account was needed

A Spanish bank account is usually needed toward the final part of the purchase process. In this case, the account was useful for:

• final purchase-related payments;
• utility transfers;
• the water contract;
• the electricity contract;
• internet setup;
• future property-related payments in Spain.

The buyer did not need to manage all these steps alone. The lawyer handled the legal and administrative side of the process, including the necessary checks and post-purchase arrangements.

Every purchase is different. The exact process may vary depending on the buyer's country, the property documents, the bank, the notary and the lawyer's advice. This case study describes one real purchase, not a fixed rule that applies to every transaction.

Timeline of the purchase

1. Visit to Spain — the buyer came to Torrevieja to view properties and choose the apartment.
2. Property selected — the buyer chose a 2-bedroom apartment in Playa del Cura.
3. Lawyer introduced — I introduced the buyer to a lawyer who spoke his language and could represent him during the process.
4. Power of attorney signed — the buyer signed a power of attorney so the lawyer could handle the NIE and represent him.
5. Reservation paid — the reservation (arras) was paid from the buyer's bank account in France.
6. Legal checks completed — the lawyer checked the property documents and prepared the transaction.
7. Spanish bank account opened — mainly needed for the final stage and for services after completion.
8. Notary signing — the buyer returned to Spain around two months later for the signing at the notary.

Result

The buyer successfully purchased a 2-bedroom apartment in Playa del Cura, Torrevieja, with a total budget of around €160,000 including purchase costs.

The client did not need to stay in Spain for the full two-month process. He came to view and choose the property, signed the necessary documents with the lawyer, and returned later for the notary signing. The lawyer handled the legal checks, documentation and administrative steps, while I accompanied the buyer throughout the process from the first day until completion.

Key lesson for foreign buyers

A foreign buyer does not always need to be physically present in Spain during the entire purchase process. What matters is to organise the process correctly from the beginning:

• choose the right property;
• work with a lawyer who speaks your language;
• sign a power of attorney if needed;
• understand when the Spanish bank account is required;
• pay the reservation safely;
• let the lawyer check the legal documents;
• return for the notary signing when everything is ready.

Buying property in Spain is much easier when the buyer is guided from the first viewing to the final signature.

Why this case matters for foreign buyers

This case is important because it shows that buying a property in Spain does not always require the buyer to remain in the country during the full process.

With the right organisation, a foreign buyer can come to Spain, view and choose the property, appoint a lawyer, sign a power of attorney, pay the reservation from a foreign bank account and return later for the notary signing.

The key is not to improvise. The process must be clear from the beginning: property selection, lawyer, NIE, reservation, document checks, Spanish bank account, notary and utility transfers.