Spain
Western & Southern Europe15 independent articlesEurope's most liquid sun-belt market — but the STR clampdown is real.
Spain is the continent's largest holiday-home market for Northern Europeans, spanning the Costa del Sol, Balearics, Costa Blanca and the Canary Islands. Foreigners buy freely and yields are solid (5–7%). The critical caveat: many regions (Balearics, Barcelona, parts of the mainland) have frozen or capped tourist-rental licences — verify the STR licence before buying for income.
Can foreigners buy?
Fully open; foreigners buy freehold via NIE number. Golden-visa property route ended in 2025. STR requires a regional tourist licence — increasingly restricted.
Taxes & buying costs
Transfer tax (ITP) 6–10% resale or 10% VAT new; annual IBI; non- resident income tax on rents (19% EU / 24% non-EU); watch STR licence rules.
What makes it unique
Depth, liquidity, sunshine and a huge foreign community — tempered by tightening rental licensing.
1
Most prestigious places to own
Marbella & the Golden Mile (Costa del Sol)
Spain's luxury capital; gated villas and beach penthouses.
€1.5m–€20m+
Villa / beach penthouse
Ibiza & Mallorca (Balearics)
Jet-set island estates (tight STR rules).
€2m–€15m+
Island finca / villa
Madrid (Salamanca) & San Sebastián
Prime-city and Basque-coast prestige.
€800k–€6m
Prime apartment
2
Best income potential from vacation renting
Costa del Sol (Estepona–Fuengirola)
The most liquid, licence-friendlier STR belt.
€300k–€1.2m
5–7% gross
Beach apartment
Costa Blanca (Alicante, Jávea)
Value sunshine coast popular with Northern Europeans.
€250k–€800k
5–7% gross
Villa / apartment
Canary Islands (Tenerife, Gran Canaria)
Year-round winter-sun demand.
€250k–€900k
5–8% gross
Resort apartment
3
Picturesque farms & rural tourism properties
Andalusian interior (Ronda, Alpujarras)
Cortijos and olive/almond fincas with rural-tourism income.
€300k–€2m
Olive / agritourism
Cortijo / finca
Catalonia (Empordà, Priorat)
Farmhouses (masías) and wine estates near the Costa Brava.
€500k–€4m
Wine / agritourism
Masía / vineyard
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Indicative 2025–26 planning bands for screening only, not quotes and not advice. Holiday-let licensing, tax and foreign-buyer rules change frequently — confirm locally with a lawyer and tax adviser before buying.