Regular Ibiza visitors and Island connoisseurs know that Cala Vadella is one of the best bays for enjoying the island in peace. No noisy clubs, €200 sunbeds, or magnum bottles of champagne here. Families gather in Cala Vadella, and generations pass by, sharing a love for the bay.
Restaurants have had the same regular customers for years, and every now and then a new restaurant opens, like Lupita’s, which is immediately embraced by the locals.
It’s no wonder, then, that new construction in Cala Vadella is so popular. A single poster at a construction site and all the apartments are already reserved. “Wow, just in time!” you think, but then the Spanish adventure begins.
The dream
The reality
New construction in Cala Vadella too good to be true
During the largest project next to Zucco, the neighborhood initially suffered for a year due to the open sewer and the lack of a proper drainage system. Then it was a year of silence. Then work resumed for a few months. And now it’s been again at a standstill for a year and a half.
Those affected look with mixed feelings from the beach at what should once have been the jewel of Cala Vadella. But the developers—in this case, two brothers—fell into a dispute, and one brother decided to run off with the money. Despite numerous lawsuits, the brother remains untraceable, and with him, the money. The story continues.
Another new construction project, a little higher up in the hills, sold out faster than you can order sangria. These apartments, with a private pool and bay views, also boast a beautiful location. A down payment was made, and then it turned out that no permit had been issued for the pools at all. So, they’ll have to demolish them and start over.
New Construction Spain vs. France
Unlike in France, almost anyone can start a new construction project. The unsuspecting buyer sees the beautiful artwork and trusts the seller’s trusting eye. The contract seems solid, and after the 10 or 15% down payment is made, work grinds to a halt. Because there are permit issues. Or worse.
In France, there’s something called a construction guarantee. The developer must take out insurance in advance for an amount equal to the construction costs. This insurance costs approximately 5-7% of the construction costs and serves purely as a guarantee for the buyers. If the developer goes bankrupt, the project is always completed.
This doesn’t exist in Spain, and the only way to avoid a bad purchase is to engage a lawyer beforehand. Or a buyer’s agent who, along with the lawyer, will represent your interests. They can review the permit and the builder’s solvency beforehand. Or they can include a clause in the purchase contract that places your deposit in an escrow account, only to be released once the permit is in order. Therefore, buying new construction in Ibiza always requires self-control and professional guidance.
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