Buying property in the Costa Brava
It means wild or rough coast, but buying a property on the Costa Brava can be smooth sailing with the right help.
Part of Catalonia in north-east Spain, the Costa Brava is a beautiful stretch of coastline. It covers around 120 kilometres of Mediterranean coast from Blanes in the south, all the way to the French border.
It’s easy to reach from the UK, western and northern Europe by plane, car or train and is close to Barcelona.
Why buy property in the Costa Brava
International buyers love the Costa Brava for its greenery, defined seasons and aura of Catalonian sophistication. It long ago threw off its lower-value tourism and these days resorts such as Sitges, Cadaques, Palamos and Roses are cosmopolitan, cultural and classy.
Combining seaside and mountains, it’s one of those coasts where at certain times of the year you can ski in the morning and sunbathe on a beach in the afternoon. Yet it’s also green and shady, as the Pyrenees meets the Mediterranean in a series of gorgeous headlands.
The Costa Brava is incredibly scenic. It is made up of rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, charming villages and ancient ruins. If you’re the outdoorsy type, you’ll feel at home here, with its choice of hiking, water sports and golf. Plus, if you ever need the buzz and amenities of a city, Barcelona will be just a drive or train away.
Is property on the Costa Brava a good investment?
Buying a property on the Costa Brava could well be a good investment. Being so easy to reach by various travel methods, all year, it should be guaranteed high tourism numbers for the long term.
It’s popular not just with international residents but also as a holiday home option for wealthy Catalonians from Barcelona and further afield.
However, property prices are already among the highest in Spain, at over €4,000 per square metre.
In Catalonia, purchase tax is levied at 10% for a resale property sold for under a million euros. Over a million, it is levied at 11%. Catalonia has one of the highest purchase taxes out of Spain’s autonomous regions.
The Costa Brava is a desirable holiday destination, and so long as you fully register your property, you can have a successful rental property. Bear in mind that bookings will be sparser outside of the summer, as temperatures are cooler than in the south.
The Costa Brava’s property market
If you look inland and fancy a renovation project, you can find an older home or land plot for well under €100,000. Otherwise, for a small apartment, you will need upwards of €150,000. For a family villa with features such as a private garden and a pool, you will need around €300,000.
As a general rule, properties tend to be resales or refurbs as the coast seems better protected from development than in more southerly parts of Spain. However, it is possible to find new builds for sale too. Given its wealthy clientele, upmarket new-build ‘grand design’ type villas are also popular on the Costa Brava, with prices from €1 million upwards.
The climate of the Costa Brava
The Costa Brava enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate of hot summers and mild winters. However, if the hot temperatures in southern Spain are not for you, Costa Brava temperatures tend to be a little cooler.
June through to August is the hottest time of year, with July seeing an average daily maximum of 30°C. January is the coldest month with an average daily maximum of 9°C, so you’ll the occasional frost. But January also sees the least rain, 4mm. For comparison, London receives 52mm in the same month.
Enjoy a swim from June to October, with average sea temperatures of 23°C.
How to get to the Costa Brava
Dependent on where your property is, one of two airports will be your go-to, Barcelona (El Prat Airport) or Girona (Girona-Costa Brava airport). Both have frequent, budget-friendly international flights from throughout Europe and as the second largest airport in the country Barcelona El Prat receives long-haul flights too.
The Costa Brava is well connected by road and rail, and you can get here from Paris or Switzerland in eight to ten hours.
Where to buy property in the Costa Brava
Roses, Empuirabrava and L’Escala
These three towns sit close to the French border. All three are fantastic for high quality dining (including Michelin restaurants), pretty beaches with superb water sports and natural beauty. The Bay of Roses is particularly beautiful, with a shallow waters and secluded coves. Girona and its airport are just under an hour’s drive away.
Empuriabrava
Foreigners and Catalans alike choose to retire to Empuriabrava. It has one of the largest residential marinas worldwide, with a canal network, which has earned it the nickname “Little Venice”. You can sail, kayak, or take boat tours along the picturesque canals.
The historic centre of Castelló d’Empúries and nearby Greco-Roman acropolis of Sant Martí d’Empúries make intriguing spots to explore. There are also three golf courses.
L’Escala
Thirty minutes south of Empuriabrava, L’Escala is an important fishing port, renowned for its anchovies. It has a population of around 10,000, which swells in summer as it is a tourist favourite. Its large beach, Riells, is especially family friendly.
L’Estartit
A sought-after spot by international buyers, L’Estartit has a lovely, long promenade, a large bay, marina, port and a sandy beach. It has a host of restaurant, bars and golf courses. In the summer, a fantastic jazz festival takes place.
Begur
Begur is a stunning, historic location. Positioned on a hilltop, it has a medieval centre, narrow streets and incredible views. The close by beach of Sa Riera, with its secluded sandy beach, is a great place to look for a home.
Tossa del Mar
With a castle standing above the beach, Tossa del Mar has a pick of shops and delicious eateries. It has 14km of beach and lovely pine woods.
The Costa Brava has many other smaller, quieter villages to buy in too. Some of these go totally quiet in winter though, so you may want to ensure you buy somewhere well-connected to a busy area.
Steps to buy in the Costa Brava
- Search online: Determine what you can buy for your budget, as well as a list of features you would like in a home (close proximity to the beach or golf, mountain or sea views).
- Form a team of experts. Once you have chosen a handful of properties that tick your boxes, reach out to an estate agent. They will be able to talk through the area and what you are looking for in a home in greater detail. You will also need an English-speaking lawyer to ensure that the purchase is legally secure. Plus, a currency specialist like Smart Currency Exchange can help you to transfer your budget over to the Costa Brava. You may also want to connect with a financial advisor and a mortgage specialist.
- Book a viewing trip. Once you have your team in place, head out to the Costa Brava to see your pick of properties. If you haven’t narrowed down to a specific town, check the journey times between each home, it’s quite a large area! If you find a home that ticks your boxes, then reconnect with your professional team and make an offer.
- Once you have made an offer: If the seller accepts your offer, you will sign a reservation contract and pay a fee to take it off the market. Then, you will sign and pay the deposit, around 10% of the purchase price. As you’ve now committed to buying your dream home, lock in your exchange rate to ensure that you do not lose out on thousands. Meanwhile, your lawyer will contact the notary to ensure the legality of the sale.
- Hold the keys in your hand: You will need to sign the sale contract, escritura pública at the notary’s office. Finally, pay the balance of the purchase price, minus the deposit you have paid. You must also pay the relevant taxes (ITP), stamp duty, notary fees and legal fees.