Chapter

Buying a house on the Costa Cálida (Murcia)

§ 1The coast and the region

The Costa Cálida is the Mediterranean coast of the Region of Murcia, between the province of Alicante and Andalusia. It includes the Mar Menor lagoon, long beaches, the port of Cartagena and a dry interior. This chapter belongs to the section on where to buy in detail. It gives only figures we could verify and ranks no town.

§ 2What the registry shows

The property registrars report that foreigners made up 23.71% of home purchases in the Region of Murcia in the second quarter of 2026, against 15.98% nationally. The statistics institute reports an annual price rise of 14.4% in the region in the same quarter. These are regional averages and tell you nothing about the home you are looking at.

§ 3Murcian taxes

The general resale transfer tax rate in the Region of Murcia is 7.75% since 25 July 2025, according to the Ministry of Finance table updated in September 2026, down from eight per cent. The regional tax agency FAQ we read is undated and still shows eight per cent, so treat it as out of date. Confirm the rate on your deed date. The costs section explains the note on the Murcian page.

§ 4Water and floods

The south-east is dry, and heavy autumn rain can fall in a few hours and flood dry ravines. The weather agency reported 771.8 mm on the calendar day at one station in the October 2024 storm, with flooding that reached coastal towns. Check the national flood viewer and the access road for any plot. The location checks section explains wells, drainage and water supply.

§ 5Tourist lets

Tourist lets are a regional competence in Murcia, and municipal planning and community statutes also apply. We did not read the regional decree in full, so ask a local lawyer for the rules on the date of purchase. The section on renting and investing explains the layers.

§ 6Licences and title

Check the registry note and the cadastral record, and ask the town hall for the planning status in writing. A lawyer should verify the title and the licences of extensions and pools. The legal process section explains the checks.

§ 7The places

Murcia city covers Murcia city and the inland market. Mar Menor covers the Mar Menor and its towns.

§ 8Who it may suit

It may suit buyers who want a coast with fewer high-rise resorts than some neighbours, with a sizeable foreign market. It may not suit those who want hills and green countryside.

§ 9Why the figures vary

Regional averages mix cities, resorts and farmland. Use them as context and compare like with like in the town you choose.

§ 10The other chapters

For method, see the section on best places.

For budget, see the basics of affordable places and for setting see what to know about coast, village or city.

Inland Spain is covered in inland Spain for buyers.

§ 11Neighbouring regions

The property market in Costa Blanca covers the Costa Blanca and the Andalusia chapter covers Andalusia.

Buying a home in the Valencian Community covers the Valencian Community.

§ 12The remaining regions

The section on Costa del Sol covers the Costa del Sol and the Catalonia chapter covers Catalonia.

The Balearic Islands chapter covers the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands chapter covers the Canary Islands.

What buying in Madrid involves covers Madrid and what buying in Northern Spain involves covers northern Spain.

§ 13Questions to put to the seller

Ask the seller or agent for the registry note, the cadastral reference, the latest property tax receipt, the energy certificate and the community certificate of debts. Ask about the level of the ground floor, the drainage and the licence of any extension. Put the questions in writing and keep the answers. A seller who cannot produce a basic document before a deposit is telling you something about the sale. The legal process section explains each document and who can supply it.

§ 14Costs beyond the price

Budget for the transfer tax, or VAT and stamp duty on a new home, then the notary, the registry, a lawyer and any bank or valuation costs. After the purchase come the annual property tax, community charges, insurance, utilities and maintenance. Cooling in summer and insurance affect the yearly cost more than the purchase price suggests. The costs section explains each item without giving a single total, because the total depends on the price, the region and the type of home.

§ 15Visiting in more than one season

Visit in summer and after a storm, because heat and flooding are the two seasons that test a home. Go on a weekday and at a weekend, in the morning and at night, and talk to neighbours and local shopkeepers. A viewing arranged by an agent shows the best hour of the best day, so return unannounced if you can. Take photographs of the street, the access and the neighbouring buildings, and compare them with the plans.

§ 16Working with advisers

A lawyer who works for you, and not for the developer or the agent, should check the title, the licences and the charges. A surveyor can check the structure, and a tax adviser can explain your position as a resident or a non-resident. Choose a lawyer who verifies licences, because rural and coastal homes often have unregistered parts. Ask each adviser for a written fee before they start, and keep the fee separate from any commission paid by a seller.

§ 17Deposits and timing

Reservation fees and deposits are common in Spain. Ask what each payment buys, whether it is refundable and under which conditions, and who holds the money. Ask in writing which transfer tax rate your quote uses, and check it against the date of your deed. Do not pay a large sum before the checks above are complete, and do not let an agent hurry you with a story of rival buyers. The legal process section explains the private contract, the deposit and the deed.

§ 18If you plan to let the home

Rental income is never certain, and the rules are layered: national, regional and municipal law, plus the statutes of the community. Letting rules are regional and local, so ask a local lawyer before you count on income. Check what the registry and the community allow before you buy, and budget for periods without tenants. The section on renting and investing explains the layers and what we could not read.

§ 19Reading the figures on this page

The figures here come from official sources and describe averages for a region or a period. They do not describe the home in front of you. Use them to set expectations, then compare with recent sales in the exact street. We record the source of each figure in the list at the foot of the page, and we say where we could not read a rule, so that you know what to ask a professional.

General information only. This is not legal, tax or financial advice. Check your own situation with a qualified adviser.