Top beaches to visit in Spain in summer 2026
Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:26:33
Which are the best Spanish beaches to visit this summer? That's a tough question for an undisputed world blue flag leader with an 8,000-kilometre coastline. It also depends upon your preferences: Scenic, quiet, lively, easily accessible. But Spain's endless incredible beaches (some even several hours' drive from the sea) are always a hit, and not just in summer: Many are equally beautiful in winter.
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Spain's Beckham Law: who qualifies for the flat tax rate, and is it worth it?
Wed, 29 Jul 2026 13:16:04
Spain offers qualifying new residents a significantly reduced income tax rate for their first six years in the country. Officially known as the Régimen Especial para Trabajadores Desplazados and universally referred to as the Beckham Law — after footballer David Beckham, who was among the first to benefit when he joined Real Madrid in 2003 — the regime allows eligible individuals to pay a flat 24% income tax rate on Spanish-sourced income up to €600,000, rather than Spain's standard progressive rates of up to 47%.
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August in Spain: what shuts down and what expats need to plan for
Wed, 29 Jul 2026 13:04:31
Ask anyone who has spent their first August in Spain and you will hear some version of the same story: a shuttered bakery, a bank that closes at two in the afternoon, a handwritten sign reading cerrado por vacaciones taped to a door that was open every other day of the year. It is not a glitch and it is not personal. It is simply August in Spain — and understanding it is one of the more useful things a new resident can learn early.
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Spanish house prices are rising at their fastest pace in 20 years
Tue, 14 Jul 2026 09:18:59
Spanish property prices rose 15.2% in the year to the second quarter of 2026 — the sharpest annual increase since 2006, the final stretch of the pre-crisis boom, according to valuation firm Tinsa. Prices are now within touching distance of their all-time nominal high.
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Annual costs of owning property in Spain: a complete guide
Mon, 13 Jul 2026 15:09:12
Buying a property in Spain is one thing — understanding what it costs to own one each year is another. Running costs vary depending on where the property is located, whether you are a resident or non-resident, and whether the property is a primary home, a holiday home, or a rental investment. This guide covers every annual cost you should budget for, with indicative figures, worked examples, and practical advice on managing each one.
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Costa Blanca vs Costa del Sol: which coast is right for you?
Fri, 10 Jul 2026 09:26:02
The Costa Blanca and the Costa del Sol together account for more international property purchases than any other region in Spain. Both sit on the Mediterranean, both enjoy more than 300 days of sunshine a year, and both have well-established expat communities, international airports, and a wide range of properties at different price points. The question most buyers arrive at is not which one is better in the abstract, but which one is better for them.
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Wake up to the Mediterranean: Sea view properties for sale on the Costa Brava
Fri, 10 Jul 2026 07:46:04
The Costa Brava, stretching along the beautiful Girona coastline in Spain, is famed for its rugged cliffs, hidden coves, and spectacular Mediterranean panoramas. If you are searching for Costa Brava properties for sale, waking up to the sound of the sea is often at the top of the wish list. Whether you want an apartment overlooking a bustling beach or a peaceful clifftop villa, finding a sea view property for sale on the Costa Brava offers the ultimate Spanish coastal lifestyle.
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From Cadaqués to Blanes: The best villages to buy property on the Costa Brava
Wed, 01 Jul 2026 07:54:00
The Costa Brava, stretching from the French border down to Blanes, is arguably Spain’s most visually striking coastline. Defined by its rugged cliffs, hidden turquoise coves, and pine-fringed beaches, this stretch of the Mediterranean has long been a magnet for international buyers.
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Moving to Spain with kids: Where to live near top international schools
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 10:48:29
Relocating to Spain with children requires strategic planning. For most expat families, the choice of school dictates the choice of neighbourhood. While the Spanish public school system assigns places based on your empadronamiento (municipal registration certificate), private international schools operate independently. However, navigating daily school runs in major Spanish hubs means that choosing to live nearby is a practical necessity.
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How to transfer money to Spain safely
Thu, 18 Jun 2026 10:03:38
Transferring a large sum of money internationally is not the same as sending a few hundred euros to a friend. When buying property in Spain, you may need to send anywhere from a few thousand euros for a reservation deposit to several hundred thousand at completion. The amounts are significant, the timing matters, and there are genuine risks to be aware of — from hidden costs to fraud.
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What is a 'traspaso' in Spain? How business transfers work when taking over a commercial property
Thu, 18 Jun 2026 09:39:36
Many international expats dream of running a café, bar, or boutique in Spain. If you are looking to invest in the Spanish commercial sector, you will quickly encounter the term traspaso.
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Where to invest in property in Spain: the best places and what to expect
Wed, 17 Jun 2026 14:22:10
Spain is one of the most active property investment markets in Europe. Foreign buyers account for around 14% of all purchases, property prices have risen in 51 out of 52 provincial capitals over the past year, and rental yields across the country average around 5.5% gross — competitive by European standards and significantly ahead of many northern European markets.
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Abogado vs gestor in Spain: what is the difference, and which do you need?
Wed, 17 Jun 2026 14:03:17
Within your first few weeks in Spain, you will almost certainly hear the word gestor or gestoría. Your estate agent will mention it, the town hall will mention it, and any expat who has lived here for more than a year will tell you to find one. What is less clear is exactly what a gestor does, how this differs from an abogado (lawyer), and which one you actually need for a given task.
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Where to buy a holiday home in Spain
Wed, 17 Jun 2026 13:49:34
Spain is consistently one of the most popular countries in the world for holiday home buyers. The combination of reliable sunshine, accessible flights from most of Europe, a wide range of property types, and a well-established international buying market makes it a practical as well as enjoyable choice. The question most buyers arrive at quickly is not whether to buy in Spain, but where.
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Is investing in property in Spain worth it?
Tue, 26 May 2026 08:05:41
Spain has been one of Europe’s most consistently attractive property markets for international investors for decades. A combination of strong tourism, a growing rental market, competitive entry prices relative to comparable European destinations, and a high quality of life continues to draw buyers from across the world.
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Illegal rental registry could cost Spain hundreds of millions in compensation
Sat, 01 Aug 2026 08:29:22 +0000
Spain’s failed short-term rental registry may prove even more expensive than first thought, with the holiday rental sector preparing compensation claims worth almost €500 million after the Supreme Court struck down the scheme. The fallout from Spain’s illegal short-term rental registry continues to grow. The holiday rental sector now claims the failed scheme caused almost […] The post Illegal rental registry could cost Spain hundreds of millions in compensation appeared first on Spanish Property Insight .
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Thoughts on how to cut your air conditioning bill during a heatwave
Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:24:40 +0000
Shocked like me by your latest electricity bill? Before you resign yourself to paying a fortune to stay cool this summer, it’s worth trying a few simple changes that could make a noticeable difference. When my latest electricity bill landed, it came as a bit of a shock. More than €400 for a single month, […] The post Thoughts on how to cut your air conditioning bill during a heatwave appeared first on Spanish Property Insight .
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Can Spanish property owners cut off utilities to squatters?
Fri, 24 Jul 2026 12:54:23 +0000
A new Supreme Court ruling gives Spanish property owners more room to disconnect utilities from illegal squatters—but only in narrowly defined circumstances. The distinction between a squatter and a non-paying tenant remains crucial. Spain’s Supreme Court has clarified that property owners may, in some cases, cancel utility contracts or stop paying bills for a home […] The post Can Spanish property owners cut off utilities to squatters? appeared first on Spanish Property Insight .
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Estate agents expect Spain’s housing market to cool in coming months
Fri, 24 Jul 2026 12:35:14 +0000
A new survey suggests estate agents are becoming more cautious, with fewer expecting sales and prices to rise over the next quarter, while stability is increasingly seen as the most likely outcome. The mood in Spain’s property market is becoming more cautious, with estate agents expecting fewer sales and slower price growth in the months […] The post Estate agents expect Spain’s housing market to cool in coming months appeared first on Spanish Property Insight .
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Lessons from Spain’s last property boom and bust
Fri, 24 Jul 2026 07:55:33 +0000
The Spanish property boom and crash remains one of the most extraordinary episodes in the country’s housing history. Nearly twenty years on, are there lessons that still matter today? I recently sat down with Katherine Walkerdine from Mortgage Direct to discuss exactly that. I was invited by Mortgage Direct, one of Spain’s leading mortgage brokers […] The post Lessons from Spain’s last property boom and bust appeared first on Spanish Property Insight .
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Selling in Catalonia just got slightly easier: One pointless obligation has been scrapped
Thu, 23 Jul 2026 16:44:41 +0000
If you’re selling or renting out a property in Catalonia, there’s a small but welcome reduction in the region’s mountain of housing bureaucracy. You no longer have to include the details of your habitation certificate (cédula de habitabilidad) in property adverts. It’s only a small change, but in Catalonia, where new housing regulations almost always […] The post Selling in Catalonia just got slightly easier: One pointless obligation has been scrapped appeared first on Spanish Property Insight .
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Buyers are pushing back against high house prices in Spain
Fri, 17 Jul 2026 16:54:24 +0000
Spain’s property market is losing some of its momentum as buyers become more cautious and start negotiating harder on price. Homes are taking longer to sell and transactions are falling, but this looks more like a return to normality than the start of a slump. Spain’s housing market is finally showing signs of cooling, with […] The post Buyers are pushing back against high house prices in Spain appeared first on Spanish Property Insight .
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Catalonia’s latest war on “speculators” will make its housing crisis even worse
Thu, 16 Jul 2026 16:31:27 +0000
Catalan politicians are once again targeting an imaginary enemy: property speculators. Their latest proposal risks driving away genuine investors who renovate homes, improve housing stock and provide much-needed supply. A proposed Catalan law designed to limit what politicians call “speculative” home purchases has been delayed until at least October after opposition parties Junts and the […] The post Catalonia’s latest war on “speculators” will make its housing crisis even worse appeared first on Spanish Property Insight .
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Spain forecast to lead European house price growth for years to come
Wed, 15 Jul 2026 15:24:17 +0000
Spain is expected to have one of the fastest-growing housing markets in Europe for the rest of the decade, which is good news for homeowners but increasingly painful for those struggling to get on the property ladder. According to ratings agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P), Spanish house prices will rise by 9.1% this year, followed […] The post Spain forecast to lead European house price growth for years to come appeared first on Spanish Property Insight .
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What Germany’s car crisis could mean for the Spanish property market
Fri, 10 Jul 2026 12:25:11 +0000
Germany’s car industry is in trouble. That matters for Spain because Germans are not just holidaymakers here — they are one of the most important foreign buyer groups in the Spanish second-home market. The crisis unfolding in the German car industry is no longer just a boardroom problem in Wolfsburg, Stuttgart, or Munich. It could […] The post What Germany’s car crisis could mean for the Spanish property market appeared first on Spanish Property Insight .
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