BENIHOMES · COSTA BLANCA
Buying Off-Plan in Finestrat: Deposits, Deadlines and Risks
An off-plan purchase in Finestrat commits you to a home that cannot yet be inspected as a finished unit. Base the decision on documents for the specific property and development, not only renders, launch prices or a marketing completion date. This guide separates checks before reservation, during construction and before collecting keys. It does not certify any particular development’s licence, guarantees or availability. For a broader choice, see our new-build versus resale comparison.
Before paying: identify the plot, developer and permit
Ask for the developer’s legal name, the signatory’s authority, identification of the plot, evidence of the developer’s interest in the land and the building licence for the particular phase and building. The Spanish Notariado advises checking land ownership and construction permits before buying off-plan. A nota simple helps with registered ownership and charges, but does not replace the municipal or contractual checks.
The Finestrat Town Hall urban-planning department deals with building and occupancy licences and planning reports. Request the relevant case numbers and dates from the developer, then confirm with the Town Hall or a qualified local adviser what they actually authorise. A permit for another plot, phase or drawing is not evidence for your unit. The municipal electronic office lists procedures; its general website does not certify a specific development by itself.
| Before a transfer | Document or answer to obtain | Risk if missing |
|---|---|---|
| Seller’s identity | Company and authorised signatory | Contracting with the wrong party |
| Plot and phase | Registry identification and plans | Confusing developments or phases |
| Building licence | Verifiable case and scope | Assuming the unit is authorised |
| Your unit | Plan, floor area, annexes and specification | Receiving something different |
| Payments | Schedule, special account and guarantee | Unverified deposit protection |
| Handover | Contractual date and delay terms | A timetable with unclear remedies |
Advance payments: special account and individual guarantee
The first additional provision of Spain’s Building Act sets conditions for developers taking money during construction. They include a bank guarantee or surety insurance from the building-licence stage, a special account for advances, and an individual guarantee document for the buyer at the purchase contract. Exact cover and timing must be assessed for the transaction. A brochure saying “guaranteed” is not the document protecting your payments.
Before transferring money, verify account holder, guarantor, covered amount, applicable taxes, statutory interest, handover deadline and unit reference. Have an independent adviser review the contract and guarantee instrument. Treat payment details changed by email or messaging as a fraud risk until checked through an independent channel. If there is no licence or the legally required guarantee is not evidenced, resist sales pressure and obtain case-specific advice before signing or paying.
Put price, specification and dates in writing
The Notariado recommends checking the home’s features, shared services, materials, final price including tax and payment method. Attach dated plans, area and measurement basis, orientation, parking or storage where included, finishes, allowed changes and their cost, payment schedule, expected handover and agreed consequences of modifications or delay. When an image is a render or shows communal space, distinguish that from what belongs to your unit. A marketing perspective cannot guarantee a permanent sea view.
Budget for your own funds, taxes, conveyance, finance, extras and a reserve at handover. The Spanish Tax Agency distinguishes a developer’s first supply from a later transfer. Our Valencian ITP, VAT and AJD guide helps classify the tax, while the purchase-cost guide separates the costs. Do not assume future mortgage approval; the non-resident mortgage guide explains offer comparison.
During construction and before collecting keys
Ask for documented updates on the phase you contracted and keep the contract, annexes, payment evidence and correspondence. Review and formalise a change in deadline or specification: an informal conversation may not safely change the agreement. Before signing the final deed, ask for completion documentation and the occupancy title appropriate to the case. Inspect the unit and annexes, test systems and record visible defects for follow-up. The Building Act provides different liabilities for defined material defects with distinct periods and conditions. A generic “ten-year warranty” is not a complete explanation.
Can I reserve without a firm handover date?
You can negotiate terms, but a promotional estimate is not necessarily a contractual obligation. Ask for a clear date or mechanism, consequences of delay and professional review before paying. Deposit protection and remedies depend on the actual documents and facts.
Does a render confirm the final view or floor area?
No. Compare dated plans and contractual measurements, visit the plot and identify included features and permitted changes. Marketing illustrates an offer; contract and annexes must identify what will be delivered.
Sources checked on 31 October 2026: Finestrat Town Hall, Notariado, BOE, Land Registrars and Spanish Tax Agency. General information, not verification of a development or individual legal or tax advice. Cover is an editorial Benidorm photograph, close to Finestrat; it does not depict the development discussed.