PropertinspainBuying in Spain from abroad

Note

Best places in Spain to buy to invest: what the data shows

By Daniel WhitcombeReviewed by Marta Calderón IbáñezPublished Updated Stage 3: Choose where and what

Quick answer

Official figures show where prices and sales have moved, but they are not forecasts. The national statistics institute reports annual price changes for every region, and the registrars report average prices. Rules on lets differ by region, so test your plan against the strictest rule.

Applies toBuyers who want income or growth from a Spanish property and want to use official data with care.

On this page: 10 sections
  1. What data exists
  2. What the price index shows
  3. What the registrars show
  4. Rules decide returns
  5. Liquidity
  6. Costs and taxes
  7. Risk
  8. Use your own numbers
  9. What we could not verify
  10. More on this topic
Checked 26 October 2026by Marta Calderón Ibáñez. Claims on this page are tied to the sources listed at the end.

§ 1What data exists

Two public series help. The national statistics institute publishes a housing price index with annual changes for every region, and the property registrars publish average prices and sales, with figures by region, province and capital city. Neither is a forecast, and neither measures rents. This page belongs to the chapter on best places explained.

§ 2What the price index shows

For the second quarter of 2026 the institute reported an annual rise of 12.2% nationally, and regional rates ranged from 9.5% in Navarre to 15.2% in Ceuta, with 13.0% in the Valencian Community, 11.9% in Andalusia, 12.9% in Madrid and 10.1% in Catalonia. A fast rise in the past says little about the next year, and a region with a slower rise has not necessarily been a worse choice.

§ 3What the registrars show

The registrars report an average price of €3,052 per m² per square metre in the Canary Islands, €4,311 per m² in the Balearic Islands, €2,995 per m² in Catalonia and €947 per m² in Extremadura in the second quarter of 2026. These are averages of registered sales, and they mix flats and houses, new and old. A low average can mean good value or low demand. Do not read it as one or the other.

§ 4Rules decide returns

Tourist-let rules, tenant law and taxes differ by region and change often. The section on renting and investing explains the layers, and the chapters on each coast here summarise the regional rules we could read. A non-resident pays tax on the gross rent in general, which reduces what you keep, and a 2026 decree-law reported changes that we could not read in full. Test your plan against a stricter rule.

§ 5Liquidity

A home in a market with many buyers sells more easily than one in a place with few. Look at how many sales were registered in the area and how long homes stay listed, and ask local agents for recent sales with dates. We found no official data on time to sell, as the section on owning and selling explains.

§ 6Costs and taxes

Purchase costs, running costs and tax on a sale reduce the return. The costs section explains them by region. The resale transfer tax ranges across regions from 6.5% in the Canary Islands to scales above ten per cent elsewhere, so the same price can cost different amounts to acquire.

§ 7Risk

Flood, fire, coastal retreat and building defects can damage value. The location checks section explains how to test a plot. A low price in a risky place is rarely a good deal.

§ 8Use your own numbers

Build a plan from quotes: price, costs, rent you can document, vacancy, taxes and an exit. Best places to buy a holiday home in Spain explains the difference between a holiday home and an investment.

Best areas to buy in Spain for British buyers explains the tax position of British owners.

Best areas to buy in Spain for American buyers explains the tax position of American owners.

§ 9What we could not verify

We found no official forecasts and no official yields by town. The figures above describe the past and come with their dates.

§ 10More on this topic

Places for expats explained explains how expats can choose an area of Spain and places for retirees explained explains the checks a retiree should apply when choosing where to buy in Spain.

Best places to buy property in Spain for families explains what families should check when choosing an area for children.

FAQRelated questions

Where will prices rise most?

Nobody can say. Official series describe the past, and we found no official forecast we could cite. A region with fast growth can also fall, so build your plan around costs and rules you can check.

Do the official figures show rental yields?

No. The registrars and the statistics institute report prices and sales, not yields. Rents differ by street, and tax on rent for non-residents does not follow your costs, as the section on renting and investing explains.

Is a coastal resort a safer investment?

Not necessarily. Resorts rely on tourist rules that can change, and some regions have tightened them. A home that works only under today’s rules carries that risk, so test it against a stricter regime.

Sources

About this page

Written by

Daniel Whitcombe

Writer, buying and living in Spain

Daniel writes the chapters on how a purchase runs, who can buy, where to buy and how to check a location. He writes for readers who are new to the Spanish system and prefers plain explanations that name the official source. He is not a lawyer or adviser.

Reviewed by Marta Calderón Ibáñez, chief editor and source editor, 26 October 2026. Checked: Figures and rules checked against the official texts listed below

Found an error? Report it. Each report gets a dated reply, and confirmed corrections are logged on the updates page.

General information only. This is not legal, tax or financial advice. Check your own situation with a qualified adviser.