Is It Better to Buy a Villa or an Apartment on the Costa Blanca?
Walk around any Costa Blanca town and you’ll hear it — the question buyers ask agents, neighbours, even the waiter who brings their café con leche when they are visiting:
“Should I buy a villa or an apartment?”
It’s a really fair question. And the answer, like most things in property, depends on your budget, your lifestyle, and what you’re really hoping to get out of your move to Spain.
But after nearly 30 years in the market, we’ve noticed some patterns. Some decisions that make life easier down the line. Some that don’t.
So, let’s break it down — not with buzzwords or wishful thinking, but with what we’ve actually seen buyers choose, regret, and recommend.
Villas: Space, Privacy, and Long-Term Potential
There’s a reason so many international buyers come here looking for villas — and a reason they rarely go back to apartments once they’ve lived in one.
You get more. More space. More light. More independence. More privacy.
In towns like Javea, Moraira, and Denia, many villas are built on plots with sea views, gardens, and private pools. You’re not negotiating shared walls or split parking. You can host guests, grow lemons, or just enjoy the peace of your own terrace at sunset — no community rules about how late your friends can stay.
“The three-bedroom villa with a pool is still the sweet spot,” says Paul our Sales Director. “Especially for Northern European buyers planning long stays or early retirement.”
And that’s not just anecdotal. Villas tend to hold value more steadily, especially in established areas like Montgó, Cap Marti, or Pinosol in Javea — or El Portet in Moraira. Scarcity plays a role. There’s only so much land, and most of the best plots were built on years ago.
Of course, villas aren’t perfect. With more space comes more responsibility — and cost.
You’re looking at higher maintenance: pools need upkeep, gardens need watering (and trimming), and things like fencing, gates, and roofing aren’t shared with a community — they’re yours alone. Energy bills can also be steeper, especially in older builds without modern insulation or solar.
And while a villa gives you privacy, it also means you’re the one calling the plumber, the gardener, and the pool guy — or handling it yourself if you’re here part-time. For some, that independence is freedom. For others, it’s just more on the to-do list.
Apartments: Low-Maintenance, Well-Located, and Surprisingly Practical
Apartments offer something that many buyers — especially second-home owners or early-stage relocators — truly value: simplicity. There’s no garden to water, no pool pump to monitor, and no steep driveway to repaint after the summer heat. For those who come and go, or who prefer to spend their time on the beach rather than fixing things around the house, that peace of mind is worth a lot.
Most apartments on the Costa Blanca are built with holiday living in mind. Think shared pools, low-rise buildings with lifts, and terraces angled for late afternoon sun. You’ll often find them just a short walk from the sea — especially in areas like the Arenal in Javea, Las Marinas in Denia, or central Calpe, where villas simply aren’t an option due to space.
“If you’re looking for a place to spend a few months a year without worrying about who’s trimming the hedge or servicing the boiler, apartments make a lot of sense,” says one of our team who works closely with seasonal buyers.
They’re also more budget-friendly — not just in purchase price, but in running costs. Lower property taxes (IBI), shared community maintenance, and easier heating/cooling systems can mean a smaller monthly footprint, which appeals to many buyers looking for a foothold in Spain without overcommitting.
That said, apartments do have limits. You’ll be sharing walls, entrances, and perhaps outdoor areas. Customisation is restricted, and privacy isn’t the same as a detached home. Some clients who begin with apartments eventually decide to trade up — especially as they spend more time here, host more guests, or start to imagine Spain as a year-round home.
But as a first step into the lifestyle, or a low-hassle base by the sea, a well-located apartment is still one of the smartest ways to buy on the Costa Blanca.
That said, we often see apartment buyers graduate to villas within a few years — especially those who start to spend more time in Spain.
Who’s Buying What in 2025?
Here’s the part that rarely makes it into glossy guides: buyers often arrive thinking they want one thing… and leave having bought another.
- Dutch and Belgian clients tend to be more deliberate. If they’re buying a villa, they’ve usually already done the spreadsheet. And many are.
- British buyers are often drawn to villas with outdoor kitchens, space for guests, and views. It fits the “move slowly and host often” lifestyle.
- French clients lean toward Denia and Altea — where you’ll find more apartments — but the ones with serious long-term plans? They usually go for villas too.
There’s also the market to consider. We’ve seen increased demand for modernised villas with energy-efficient features — solar panels, heat pumps, insulation. Apartments rarely offer the flexibility to upgrade in that way.
And supply? At Grupo Garcia, we currently have nearly twice as many villas as apartments in our portfolio. That’s not an accident — it reflects what our buyers are asking for.
What About Resale Value and Liquidity?
Villas tend to attract more committed buyers, often with bigger budgets. That means fewer time-wasters, more focused sales cycles.
Apartments? There’s a broader audience, yes — but also more competition. If ten other flats in your block are for sale, you’re negotiating against them all.
That said, well-positioned apartments in prime areas (close to the beach, elevator access, good orientation) sell quickly — especially if priced right.
Villas offer more flexibility to add value. A new kitchen, a smart pool, solar panels — buyers can picture themselves growing into a villa. With apartments, what you buy is often what you sell.
Local Life: How You’ll Actually Live
Think beyond square metres.
- Do you want to garden? Throw dinner parties? Run a guest suite? → Villa.
- Prefer walking to the café, locking up for the winter, or renting it out short-term? → Apartment.
- Planning to live in Spain year-round, or just testing the waters?
- Kids visiting? Dogs? Friends staying for weeks at a time?
These are the things that matter once the novelty of the sea breeze wears off.
“If you’ve ever parked on market day in Javea or heard your neighbour’s TV through the wall in August, you start thinking differently about what ‘ideal’ means.”
So… Villa or Apartment?
Here’s the truth: both work — for the right person.
But if you’re thinking long-term, hoping to spend extended time in Spain, or want your property to evolve with your lifestyle, a villa usually offers more flexibility and value.
And if you’re not sure yet? That’s fine. Many of our clients start with viewings of both — and it’s often the feel, the light, the layout that decides it. Not a checklist.
Want to Talk Through the Options?
We know the floorplans, the microclimates, the internet speeds — and yes, which side of the house gets shade at 4pm in August.
If you’re ready to explore villas (or apartments) in Javea, Moraira, or anywhere along the Costa Blanca North, we’d be happy to show you what fits — without the sales pressure.