Buying property through government auctions is often overlooked, yet it represents a real opportunity for savings and smart investments. The Tax Administration now offers reclaimed property auctions that are no longer limited to a handful of experts. More and more individuals are being invited to participate, making it a practical option for buyers who want to acquire real estate at competitive prices. In Alicante province, the agency affiliated with the Ministry of Finance sold a substantial volume of properties through this system last year, totaling 203 items of various kinds.
Although technically any citizen could bid for plots on sale, the process has historically been quite intricate. Discovering when a house or other asset of interest goes up for auction could be challenging, and it often created a bottleneck that restricted the pool of bidders. This limited access frustrated many loyal readers of the Official State Gazette who wanted a simpler path to participate. Recognizing this, the Tax Office developed a more approachable solution by mirroring familiar property portals such as Idealista or Fotocasa. A new application, available on both the website and mobile app, now issues notifications about current offers. Users can search at any time by filtering for features or price, and they can see whether 100% of the property is sold or only a portion, which often happens when an asset is owned by multiple heirs or when debts to the Treasury exist. This makes it easier to understand ownership and any encumbrances tied to the asset. [Source: Tax Office Alicante]
The platform also enables property searches via an integrated map and, more importantly, allows users to set up alerts. Those alerts notify buyers when a property meeting their criteria becomes available—streamlining the process and reducing the need for constant manual checks.
how it works
To place a bid, a bidder must register on the BOE auction portal and obtain an electronic certificate or a user account for the Cl@ve system. An active email address and mobile phone number are required. In most cases, a deposit equal to 5% of the property value must be made, with a refund of the deposit if the auction is not won. If further questions arise, a help line is available at 91 598 63 34. [Source: Official communication channels]
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The auction offers are diverse. For instance, buyers can bid on villas, plots, or commercial spaces; some listings involve properties that are currently leased, affecting expected yields. An example includes a cluster of 16 bungalows within a tourist complex at l’Alfas del Pi, which remains under lease as part of the investment consideration. [Source: Alicante Tax Office]
Another notable listing was a rustic farm in Monforte that includes an old marble factory facility and was offered at 620,000 euros, roughly half of its appraised value. A shop in Alcoy once went for 12,000 euros, despite a 72,800 euros valuation, and a garage near the Calp promenade achieved a maximum bid of 4,000 euros, well below its 24,000 euro appraisal. These examples illustrate the potential for substantial savings when bidding on surplus assets.
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Balance
Last year, the Tax Office auctioned a total of 203 properties in Alicante. The data shows 68 houses, with an average starting price around 82,951 euros. In addition, 62 garages, 18 commercial buildings, and 18 storage rooms were sold, according to the same public sources. For buyers with a countryside preference, up to 23 rustic farms were listed, along with 13 plots added and an industrial warehouse auctioned. The Tax Office also notes that it can seize other assets from defaulters to recover funds, including vehicles, demonstrating the broad scope of the program. [Source: Public Institution Reports]
Overall, the auction process remains a strategic option for those seeking value-driven real estate purchases, provided buyers understand ownership details, encumbrances, and the required registration steps. The system aims to increase participation and transparency, while offering a pathway to acquire diverse assets at compelling prices. [Source: Public Sector Announcements]