Mortgages are available in this area at very competitive rates. Normally the lenders will allow up to 80% of the purchase price, subject to the usual ‘subject to status’ clause.

You could, of course, approach your own bank or society for information on buying abroad. They may already have a tie-up with a bank in Spain (like Barclays and the bank Zaragozano, for example), or have an overseas office in one of the major towns on the Costa Blanca.