The market’s really quite busy at time of writing (21/10/25). Good places go very quickly. You can still get a fair deal if you look like a buyer who is serious, has the funds, and the legals in place. i.e. ready to buy.
Get your bearings in Javea
Take a proper look around the town. It’s a big place in a small area if that makes sense. The Arenal one morning, Port another, Old Town at the weekend. Stand at the agency window or website and look at the listings that suit you. Think about it. Do a drive-by. Imagine living there. Think about amenities. If you’re knocking on the door of your seventies or eighties, think about logistics in later life. It’s worth a thought. Neighbours matter. Keep your sensible hat on rather than staring at a glorious infinity pool and agreeing a price. If you want to live here, think about it. It’s not just a holiday home. Think accessibility, drains, internet, the impact from rare DANA events, and how the local town council runs things. There’s a lot to consider.
Make sure you have
- Proof of funds. The Spanish like assets they can see on paper.
- A local Spanish lawyer instructed. Local if possible, more flexible, nose to the ground.
- If you need an NIE, start it. You’ll end up in Dénia. Tip: there’s a handy tapas bar opposite the office.
- A workable phone, preferably Spanish.
When you offer, keep it short. Don’t go too low. It doesn’t work anymore. Put the price, the completion time you’d prefer, and the bits you want to keep that are already there, like white goods. Add the number you can be contacted on. Be clear about your situation, funds, and readiness.
State that the offer is valid for forty eight hours.
Paperwork bit
Once the price is agreed you sign an arras contract, formally arras penitenciales. Ten percent is usual at this stage. If you walk away without a valid legal reason, you lose it. If the seller walks, they pay back double. That’s what arras penitenciales means in practice.
Your lawyer checks the nota simple, Catastro reference, Land Registry entry, IBI and community fees, and any embargoes. If there’s a pool or an extension, the papers must match the house, i.e. anything tangible needs to be evidenced on the deed. Ask for recent utility bills and the meter numbers so changeover on the day is simple.
Reading the house
View it twice. Morning and evening. Think about the orientation of the naya. A cool breeze in August is lovely, but in February it’s different. We try to spend all year in the naya, we just prefer outdoor life. If it’s north or north-east facing it can get a bit nippy in winter. Have a quick word with a neighbour if you can and ask questions. Five minutes there tells you more than a brochure or an agent.
When to walk
When house and registry docs don’t match. Promises to sort things after the arras. The furniture or white goods list changes a few times. Unpaid community debts. If the papers don’t arrive, stop.
After the handshake
Book the survey or valuation early. Make a simple handover list. Keys, fobs, remotes, manuals, meter readings. One clear email thread so nothing gets mixed up and is easy to trace.
Once you have the keys, go to the town hall and add yourself to the padrón. It makes life easier later.
Then, just enjoy living in Javea, there’s no better place to be!
