Buying a Property in Spain

Why Spain?

Spain is one of Europe’s most attractive countries, with much to offer those who settle there, as the hundreds of thousands of Britons who have bought a Spanish property in the last three decades can bear witness.

In recent months, there has been a slowing down of the property market, owing in part to the over-purchase of some Britons acquiring too many off-plan properties and then having problems completing on them. This has led to a surplus of apartments and villas. Other issues that have been well-publicised in Spain revolve around the granting of illegal licenses for property development in certain parts of the country and corruption at the highest levels of local government.

However, property in Spain will always be popular with British buyers who are looking to relocate or who are buying for lifestyle reasons. While investors may choose to look elsewhere in the world, Spain remains one of the best countries in the world for a relaxed way of life.

Spain still has much to offer the property purchaser, from small apartments and fincas to palatial frontline beach properties and golf villas.

Popular locations in Spain

Since the 1960s, when Britons first started travelling to Spain, the Costas have been among the most popular destinations. During the 1970s and 80s, Marbella, among other resorts, became very shabby, and it took the arrival of Mayor Jesus Gil for it to clean up its act. Many areas along the Spanish coastline have since followed suit, and today things have changed very much for the better.

The Spanish islands, including the Balaeric and Canary Islands, have long been popular tourist destinations, and are proving to be great locations in which expats can settle. In the Canaries in particular, the climate stays warm and sunny throughout the year, but anywhere in Spain is likely to be warmer than the UK for most of the year.

Also, in recent years there has been more interest in Spanish cites as destinations for leisure property as well as being a good investment to rent out to tourists on short city breaks. The arrival of low-cost airline flights to many of Spain’s cities has opened up the tourist market, while student properties near universities are also popular investment properties.

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• Spain: An Overview
• Spain Q&A
• Guide to Spanish Cities
• Guide to Spanish Costas
• Guide to Spanish Islands
• Guide to the Costa del Sol
• Guide to the Costa del la Luz
• Guide to the Costa Blanca
• Emigration Fact Sheet
• Retirement Guide