Spanish Capital Madrid Tops the List of Most Sought-After Cities
In the second quarter of the year, the Spanish capital, Madrid, has regained its position as the most sought-after city among those with a large stock on idealista. This shift in demand pressure in the property market has allowed provincial cities to reclaim the prominence that nearby cities like Alcalá de Henares (2nd) and Torrent (4th) had previously seized. Valencia, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Zaragoza, Seville, Barcelona, and Santander continue to be among the top 10 most sought-after locations from April to June.
Major Cities Highlighted in Idealista’s Property Demand Ranking
Between April and June, idealista’s property demand ranking emphasized major cities as the primary focus of searches and interactions by users of the southern European real estate marketplace. Madrid leads the list, followed by the neighbouring town of Alcala de Henares, and Valencia, accompanied by Torrent.
Spain’s Largest Cities and Canary Island Capitals Dominate the List
Some of Spain’s largest cities, including Zaragoza (7th), Seville (8th), and Barcelona (9th), are closely followed by the two Canary Island capitals. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria ranks fifth, and Santa Cruz de Tenerife holds the sixth place. Both island cities alternate as the top choice in the archipelago due to growing interest from homebuyers.
Top 10 Most Sought-After Places: A Mix of Provincial Capitals and Outskirts
Santander completes the top 10 of the most sought-after places, which consists of eight provincial capitals and only two cities on the outskirts of big cities.
Second Tier of High Demand Places: A Balanced Distribution
In the second tier of places with the highest relative demand, there is a more balanced distribution between provincial capitals and their surrounding areas. For example, Reus (Tarragona), Hospitalet de Llobregat and Badalona (17th) and Sant Cugat del Valles (20th) also appear – all three in Barcelona. However, Gijon (14th) is one of the most prominent towns outside the provincial capitals.
Coastal Destinations Begin to Stand Out
Coastal destinations throughout Spain are beginning to stand out, such as San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Gran Canaria (23rd), Rincon de la Victoria in Malaga (24th), Gandia (26th), Valencia, and Vilanova i la Geltrú (27th) in Barcelona, together with seaside capitals such as San Sebastian (21st), Alicante (22nd) or Tarragona (30th), and large cities around Barcelona such as Manresa (25th) or Terrassa (28th).
Most In-Demand Locations Priced Below Average
The second-quarter ranking for property demand in Spain includes 104 cities that meet the requirements for relevant stock on the market and prices over €1,100 per square metre. The average price, with locations that can exceed €2 million compared to the more affordable €130,000, is close to €365,000.
Most Expensive Places Led by Old Costa del Sol Favourites
The most expensive places on the list are led by old Costa del Sol favourites, such as Benahavis, priced at an average of almost €2.3 million and Marbella (€1.6 million), although second only to the Mallorcan municipality of Calvia (€1.7 million). Joining this select million-euro club are Sotogrande (€1.17 million) and Altea (€1.1 million).
Most Affordable Places Among the 100 Most Sought-After
At the other end of the spectrum, among the 100 most sought-after places on the market, are others with average prices below €150,000, such as Manresa (€130,500), Roquetas de Mar (€133,250), Huelva (€136,000), Palencia (€136,400) and the Murcian town of Aguilas (€138,000).
