If you are aged 65+ and own your home on the Costa Blanca, the hipoteca inversa lets you release tax-free equity — without selling, without monthly repayments, and while staying in the home you love.
The Costa Blanca stretches along the Alicante province coastline and is home to one of the largest concentrations of foreign-owned property in Spain.
Towns like Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa, Jávea, Moraira, Dénia, Benidorm, Altea, and Calpe have become home to tens of thousands of British, Dutch, German, Belgian, and Nordic residents. Many bought during the 1990s and 2000s and now hold substantial equity in their Spanish properties.
The hipoteca inversa (reverse mortgage) allows eligible homeowners aged 65 and over to release that equity as a tax-free supplement to their pension income — without selling the property and without making monthly repayments. The loan is only repaid when the property is eventually sold, typically after the borrower passes away or moves into long-term care.
247 Expat Insurance works with Caser Helvetia (Grupo Helvetia), one of established insurance and financial services groups in Spain, to help English-speaking expats on the Costa Blanca understand their options and arrange the hipoteca inversa where eligible.
Property values across the Costa Blanca have risen significantly. Many expat homeowners are sitting on considerably more equity than they realise.
The Costa Blanca hosts one of the most diverse and established expat populations in all of Spain — many of whom are now reaching retirement age with significant property assets.
The largest foreign community on the Costa Blanca, with particularly strong concentrations in Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa, Benidorm, and surrounding areas. Many have owned homes here since the 1990s and 2000s.
One of the largest foreign communities on the Costa Blanca. Dutch nationals have a very strong presence in Torrevieja south and throughout Orihuela Costa, with a long-established community of permanent residents.
A strong and well-established presence in the northern and central Costa Blanca, particularly in Jávea (Xàbia), Moraira, Dénia, and Altea — areas known for higher-value properties and scenic locations.
Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish residents form a large community, particularly around Torrevieja and the south Costa Blanca. Nordic nationals have been purchasing property here for decades and many have become permanent residents.
To be eligible for the reverse mortgage through Caser Helvetia (Grupo Helvetia) on the Costa Blanca, you will generally need to meet all of the following criteria:
Not sure if your property qualifies? Contact us and we will confirm your eligibility before you take any further steps.
The amount you can release depends on your age and the appraised value of your property. Older borrowers receive a higher percentage of the property value. The table below shows illustrative figures for Costa Blanca homeowners.
| Age | Property Value | Estimated Releasable Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 67 | €180,000 | €40,000 – €55,000 |
| 70 | €250,000 | €60,000 – €80,000 |
| 74 | €350,000 | €95,000 – €130,000 |
| 78 | €450,000 | €135,000 – €180,000 |
Figures are illustrative only. Caser Helvetia (Grupo Helvetia) calculates the exact amount based on a formal property appraisal and the borrower's age at the time of application. Maximum loan debt is €1,000,000.
Many Costa Blanca expats find that their pension income — whether UK State Pension, Dutch AOW, German Rente, or others — does not comfortably cover all costs of living in Spain. Community fees, annual IBI (property tax), maintenance, healthcare top-ups, and day-to-day living combine to stretch fixed incomes. A reverse mortgage can bridge this gap while allowing the homeowner to stay in the property they love.
For homeowners who have seen their Costa Blanca property value increase substantially since purchase, the hipoteca inversa provides access to that wealth in a tax-efficient way — without the upheaval, cost, and emotional disruption of selling and moving.
Common uses of released equity:
Here are the questions we hear most often from Costa Blanca expats considering the hipoteca inversa.
Provided the villa is your habitual residence (not a holiday home), it is worth at least €150,000, and you meet the age and residency requirements, it may well be eligible. The key eligibility factors are the property type, its location within an eligible municipality, and its use as a habitual residence. Villas (detached houses, or unifamiliar properties) are one of the two accepted property types. Contact us to confirm your specific address.
Eligibility depends on the specific municipality and its population. Orihuela is one of the larger municipalities in the Alicante province and is likely to be covered, but we strongly recommend confirming your exact address with us before taking any action. Contact us to verify eligibility for your specific location.
Yes. EU citizens including Dutch nationals can apply for the hipoteca inversa provided they have the relevant Spanish residency documentation (EU residency certificate or TIE card), are aged 65 or over, and have been registered (empadronado) at the property address for at least 3 years. Dutch nationals are one of the largest foreign communities on the Costa Blanca and we regularly help Dutch homeowners explore their options.
No. That is the central distinction of the hipoteca inversa — you remain the legal owner of your property and continue living in it. You retain the right to remain in the home for life. The reverse mortgage loan is only repaid when the property is eventually sold — typically after the borrower passes away or moves into long-term care.
Your heirs have 12 months after the death of the last surviving borrower to decide what to do. They have three options: repay the outstanding loan amount and keep the property; sell the property and use the proceeds to repay the loan (keeping any surplus); or hand the property to the lender. Crucially, the hipoteca inversa is a non-recourse loan — under Ley 41/2007, heir liability is typically limited to the property's value (confirm exact contract terms before signing), even if the property value has fallen below the outstanding loan.
Navigating a Spanish financial product as an expat can be complex — language barriers, unfamiliar legal requirements, and a product that works very differently from anything available in the UK, Netherlands, or Germany. That is where we come in.
We explain the hipoteca inversa in plain English — no jargon, no confusion about Spanish terminology.
We work with Caser Helvetia, one of established regulated financial services groups in Spain, to arrange the hipoteca inversa.
We are here when you need us — including weekends — to answer your questions and guide you through the process.
We understand the local property market and the specific eligibility nuances that apply across the Costa Blanca municipalities.
Property & location eligibility note: The hipoteca inversa through Caser Helvetia (Grupo Helvetia) is currently available on eligible properties in specific municipalities across mainland Spain, the Canary Islands, and selected other locations. Availability depends on the property's exact location, its type (flat or detached house), its value, and whether it is your habitual residence (vivienda habitual). Properties in some areas — including parts of the Balearic Islands — may have limited or no current availability. Maximum loan debt is €1,000,000. Please contact us to confirm whether your specific property qualifies before taking any action.
Speak to our team today. We will confirm your eligibility, explain the process clearly in English, and help you understand your options — with no obligation.
