The sale of properties illegally occupied by squatters, known locally as okupas, is creating a distinct segment in Spain’s housing market. Data from Idealista for the third quarter of 2025 shows over 23,000 homes listed for sale that are currently squatter-occupied, representing 3% of the total residential properties listed on the portal (Idealista/news). Market Impact and Owner Capitulation The key characteristic of this market is […]
Estate Agents on the Costa del Sol, I have to talk to you. Not about the latest property tax, not about the danger of another bubble forming, but about a corner of your digital domain that has become a graveyard for originality: your “About Us” page. It is, frankly, an atrocity of template-driven banality. Every single one reads like it was churned out by a […]
In the latest episode of the LPA Podcast, host Sean Woolley, a committee member of the LPA, spoke with Carlos Rodríguez, CEO of Sierra Blanca Estates, about branded residences and how Marbella has become one of the key locations for this type of development. The discussion focused on how branded residences work, what makes them attractive to international buyers, and why this model is growing […]
This is huge. Spain’s notaries have taken a significant step forward by launching penotariado.com, the Portal de la Vivienda del Notariado, a free and public platform that provides actual sales prices based on notarised deeds updated monthly with real notarial data. This is the website: https://penotariado.com/inmobiliario You must register to use it, but access is free and instant. Before we get too excited, this is new, […]
Cataluña is considering restricting property purchases to primary residences in areas with high housing demand. This proposal, supported by local authorities including Barcelona City Council, aims to curb speculative buying and ensure housing availability for residents. A legal study commissioned by the Barcelona Metropolitan Strategic Plan (PEMB) suggests that such restrictions are legally feasible if applied exceptionally and with clear territorial and temporal limits. The […]
It’s the kind of glass-half-full story that agents love to tell at the office, even if the coffee is lukewarm. 53% of Spanish real estate agencies are feeling optimistic, or maybe just hopeful, about home sales rising in the final quarter of 2025, according to Idealista, The portals’ sentiment survey Encuesta de Sensibilidad Inmobiliaria survey paints a picture of cautious optimism, a stable market, steady […]
The number of foreign workers contributing to Social Security in Spain now totals about 3.1 million as of September. Official data shows this represents a growth of over 7% in the past year.More than 200,000 foreign workers have joined the system over the past 12 months, representing a 7.07% year-over-year increase. Official data shows that foreign workers make up 14% of all Social Security contributors […]
Being self-employed in Spain may suck even more next year… The Spanish government is preparing to raise the Social Security contributions for self-employed workers (autónomos). The increases would range between €11 and 206 per month starting next year. The percentage hikes vary depending on the self-employed person’s income, up to 35 % in some cases. The proposed hikes would affect the 490,717 foreigners who are […]
Hot on the heels of Malaga City, the mayor of Palma de Mallorca has announced a ban on all new tourist rental licences across the city. Only the 639 legally authorised properties will remain. Once a licence is cancelled, it will not be reissued, so 639 is the max number of tourist licenses which will be in force, the Mayor said. New hostels will also […]
Are you thinking of renting a property in Spain? Whether you are a landlord or a tenant, it’s important to understand the different types of rental contracts available and the rules that apply. Spain’s rental system is primarily governed by the Ley de Arrendamientos Urbanos (LAU), or Urban Leases Act, but there are some key differences depending on whether you are renting for tourism, temporary […]