Real Estate Market Outlook for 2026
Michel Paschoud
As always, the beginning of the year makes us look to the future. What will happen in the real estate market of the Costa Brava?
The first thing to be clear is that, barring an unexpected catastrophe, prices will not drop, or will do so very little. A stabilization is expected due to a change in banking policy, as they have granted many mortgages in recent years and will slow down this year. This means they will seek lower-risk profiles and will tighten the conditions for obtaining financing.
If you receive alerts from real estate portals, you may have noticed that in recent weeks there have been more reports of price drops than properties sold. This is due to two factors: first, the winter season is the quietest; we will see the market pick up in March. The second is that news about the real estate boom has led some sellers to get ahead of themselves, bringing properties to market at exorbitant prices that do not receive visits. They are now beginning to adjust and lower prices to align with buyers' purchasing power.
However, there is one element that does not change: there are more buyers looking for their dream home than available properties for sale. And as long as this remains the case, prices will remain stable.
To fully understand the situation, we must segment our market. In the Costa, we have many second homes and foreign buyers. This specific market influences demand volatility, and consequently, price volatility. While it is true that we all need a roof over our heads, a holiday apartment on the coast is not a necessity, as we saw in 2017 when events related to the independence process practically halted foreign buyers from coming. But at the same time, this type of buyer is very interesting because they often have the capital to purchase and are interested in higher-value properties.
Finally, attention must be paid to new builds. When demand is high and supply runs out, there is no choice but to build new properties. What has not been built in 15 years of crisis is now being rushed to completion. The share of new builds in the number of sales has skyrocketed in several municipalities, such as Sant Feliu de Guíxols (from 3.4% in 2021 to 21% in 2024) or Castell-Platja d'Aro (from 2.2% in 2021 to 15.2% in 2024). In other municipalities, the increase has not been as spectacular, but that depends on various factors such as available land and the local government's urban planning policy.
In conclusion, if you are waiting for a price drop to buy, do not count too much on it. And remember that the best time to buy depends more on you than on the market. A difference of a small percentage in price, spread over a lifetime, is not that significant.
House of the Month
This cozy single-family house is located in the quiet urbanization of Mas Ambros, in Calonge i Sant Antoni, specifically at carrer Ripollès 26, a residential area highly regarded for its tranquility and proximity to the town and the coast.
Built in 1972, it has been carefully maintained over the years: the interior has been recently painted, it has heating and aluminum windows with double glazing, which improves thermal and acoustic comfort.
The property has 3 bedrooms, two of which are double, ideal as main rooms or for guests, and a third room perfect as a single bedroom, office, or multifunctional room. All have built-in wardrobes.
The kitchen, while functional, could use a renovation: it is a space with enormous potential where the new owner can design the kitchen to their taste, modern and open if desired. As for the bathrooms, the house offers two bathrooms with showers.
The living-dining room, about 20 m², is divided into two areas separated by a small step, which allows for a clear distinction between the sitting area and the dining room. From here, there is access to a closed terrace, ideal as an additional winter space, game room, reading area, or even as a secondary dining room.
One of the main strengths of this property is its spacious garden of more than 900 m², resulting from the two plots that make up the estate. It is a very generous space with many possibilities:
More details at www.easybrava.com, ref. 01-1107