What are the top five places to buy in Spain?
Spain is yet again our favourite place to buy a home abroad. It’s not just the case on aplaceinthesun.com; in 2022 we were still the biggest group of overseas buyers according to government figures. More particularly, Alicante was the most popular place in Spain to buy a home for all other countries, accounting for 40% of purchases.
But the five most favoured destinations in Spain for online searches and enquiries over the past year for us is a very similar the list to the one for the previous 12 months. So just what is their enduring appeal?
1.Torrevieja
Top of the list is Torrevieja on the Costa Blanca. It’s not the only buzzy resort easily reached from Alicante airport, but it does offer an awful lot of affordable property for sale.
Sitting between two lakes and the Mediterranean Sea, it has beautiful sandy beaches and seafront promenades, several golf clubs, water sports, lots of amenities such as waterparks, and a vibrant nightlife.
You can still find an apartment for €45,000; even a little villa for €55,000; and you can even get a three-bedroom apartment for €65,000. If this busy, cosmopolitan place is your bag, the only problem you’ll have is choosing what to buy.
2. Villamartin
Just a few km south on the Costa Blanca is the inland urbanisation of Villamartin. Buyers love the fact it is within easy reach of Alicante, its prestigious Club de Golf Villamartin and quality restaurants offered at Villamartin Plaza. There’s a vibrant international community of owners and expats, supermarkets, and within easy reach are the beaches of Punta Prima and Playa Flamenca, and the shopping area of La Zenia.
Entry level is around €60,000 for a one/two-bedroom apartment – you’ll find a very good choice of properties if you have €75,000 to spend – and plenty of good villas with a pool if you have €400,000, in fact you might even get up to five bedrooms for that budget.
3. Estepona
The fast-evolving town area of Estepona is your favourite place to search in the Costa del Sol. An hour from Malaga airport, it’s part of the ‘New Golden Mile’ that extends west of Marbella via San Pedro.
Why is it popular? It’s more affordable than Marbella yet it’s not too far away and there’s a lot of new homes being built. The town has had a facelift, new roads, new coastal promenades, carparks and sports facilities; there are new five-star hotels yet it’s got a charming and well-preserved old town and many chiringuitos along the nearby seafront.
You won’t find much for less than €100,000; expect to pay €140,000 plus for a two-bedroom apartment; nearer €170,000 for a new one.
4. Ciudad Quesada
We’re back in the popular province of Alicante on the southern Costa Blanca, with the resort that was created by a developer in the 1970s and is now a buzzing area full of new-build homes. It’s handy for the airport, the bars of Torrevieja (see above) as well as the 12km of sandy beaches of Guardamar del Segura. There’s also La Marquesa golf course (plus three more courses nearby) and plenty of restaurants.
Prices start from around €60,000 and you can get a brand new contemporary villa with a private pool for around €339,000.
5. Marbella
The glittering lustre of Marbs never faded, does it? Whilst a host of influencers might attract Gen Z, the area remains popular with middle-aged property hunters too for its superb entertainment, sporting facilities and convenience.
There’s a caveat – what counts as Marbella on an estate agent’s listing can mean quite an extensive area (even stretching 35km to La Duquesa!) so you’ll wonder how prices can diverge greatly. And that is the appeal: you can find something for less than €100,000 if it’s 20 minutes’ drive away; or a two-bedroom townhouse within a walk of Puerto Banus for €170,000. Research your location wisely.
