Young buyers offered €10,800 housing aid

Young people hoping to purchase their first home in smaller towns across the province of Alicante could benefit from a new financial aid scheme launched by the Generalitat Valenciana. The programme, announced in March and published in the Diario Oficial de la Generalitat Valenciana (DOGV), is designed to support buyers under the age of 35 who want to settle in municipalities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants.

The subsidy offers up to €10,800 per applicant, covering as much as 20% of the property’s purchase price. To qualify, the home must not exceed a value of €120,000, and it must serve as the buyer’s habitual residence. Officials have confirmed that the initiative forms part of wider measures aimed at encouraging younger residents to remain in or relocate to smaller municipalities, countering the depopulation that many rural areas have faced in recent years. The Generalitat explained that the measure aligns with the objectives of the Plan Estatal de Vivienda 2026–2030, which has been co-financed by both the national and regional governments. It specifically targets municipalities considered at risk of demographic decline, where population levels have been steadily decreasing due to limited job opportunities and higher housing demand in urban centres.

According to regional housing sources, hundreds of towns across the Comunitat Valenciana meet the eligibility criteria, including many in the province of Alicante. While the exact list of municipalities has not been detailed publicly in full, the scheme is expected to benefit residents in dozens of rural and semi-rural locations.

To apply, candidates must be under 35 years old at the time of submitting their application, hold Spanish or EU citizenship (or legal residence in Spain), and prove that the home will be used as their primary residence. The property must also be located in an eligible municipality and comply with the established price limits. Applications will be managed through the Conselleria de Vivienda of the Generalitat Valenciana, which will oversee the allocation of funds and ensure compliance with the scheme’s requirements. Officials have urged interested applicants to prepare necessary documentation early, as the number of grants available will be limited by budgetary constraints.

Housing experts note that while the aid will not eliminate the financial burden of buying a property, it could provide a significant boost for young people hoping to purchase their first home, particularly in towns where property prices are lower than in larger coastal cities such as Alicante, Orihuela costa or Torrevieja. The Generalitat has stressed that the aid is part of a broader commitment to making housing more accessible for young residents while revitalising smaller towns across the region.