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The most popular villages among foreign property buyers in Spain in 2023

Spain is still a very popular country with foreign buyers, who snap up just under 15 percent of the total number of properties here. But, where are the most popular villages for foreigners to buy in 2023?

The most popular villages among foreign property buyers in Spain in 2023
The whitewashed village of Cómpeta in the Axarquía comes in at number seven on the list. Photo: Robert Bovington / Wikimedia Commons

Cities of course are still major draws for foreign property buyers in Spain, but when looking at municipalities of less than 500,000 people it’s interesting to note which ones foreigners prefer. 

According to a study carried out by property giant Idealista, which analysed the visits received to its website during the months of June and July, these 10 villages are the ones that were searched for the most. 

The one element that most of these have in common is that they are located on or within easy reach of the coast. 

1) Benitachell, Alicante (Valencia) 

Benitachell is located 80km from Alicante, northeast along the coast. The village itself is slightly inland, surrounded by mountain views, but there are several urbanisations running all the way down to the sea. It has a population of just 4,481 and is even home to a British International school. According to Idealista the average property price here is €2,965 €/m2. 

Benitachell, Alicante is the most searched-for village to buy a property in Spain. Photo: Joanbanjo / Wikimedia Commons

2) Begur, Girona (Catalonia) 

Located in Catalonia’s Costa Brava region, Begur is a picturesque hilltop town, which also sits slightly inland from the coast. It’s very popular with holidaymakers in summer who come to enjoy the nearby coves. You’ll have to have deep pockets if you want to live here, however, with the average cost of €3,435 /m2. 

The town of Begur in Catalonia is a popular place to buy property. Photo: Myriam Thyes / Wikimedia Commons
 

READ ALSO: The towns in Spain where Brits outnumber locals

3) Pals, Girona (Catalonia)

Located just a short hop from Begur, Pals is an old medieval village that seems to remain frozen in time. It’s quaint and charming, but also extremely popular with tourists and sometimes it may feel like you’re living in a museum. The population is just 2,528. Properties sell for an average of €2,568 / m2. 

The historic picture-postcard village of Pals is a favourite with foreign buyers. Photo: MARIA ROSA FERRE / Wikimedia Commons
 

4) Llançà, Girona (Catalonia)

Situated in the Alt Empordà area of the Costa Brava, Llançà lies between the Cap de Creus Natural Park, above Dalí’s Cadaqués, and the French border at Portbou. It has a population of 4,914. A property here will cost you €2,121 /m2. 

The village of Llançà in Catalonia is the fourth most searched-for place for property. Photo: Turismellançà
 

5) Arenales del Sol, Alicante (Valencia) 

Just 12km south of Alicante city, Arenales del Sol is a residential zone and beach area. It offers seemingly endless stretches of sand that you can enjoy all year round. Just 5km from Alicante-Elche International Airport, it makes a great option for those who want to buy a holiday home here or travel often. A house or apartment here will set you back €2,268 /m2

Arenales del Sol is another popular spot for foreign buyers in Alicante. Photo: Zeisterre / Wikimedia Commons
 

6) Frigiliana, Málaga (Andalusia) 

Situated in the hills above Nerja, 57km east of Málaga, lies the picture postcard village of Frigiliana. One of Spain’s famed white villages, it’s known for its old Moorish quarter and quaint streets decorated with mosaics. Many of its properties even offer spectacular views all the way down to the coast. Properties cost an average of €2,489 /m2

It’s not hard to see why the picturesque whitewashed village of Frigiliana made the list. Photo: niall62 / Wikimedia Commons
 

7) Cómpeta, Malaga (Andalusia) 

Just north of Frigiliana in an area known as the Axarquía, Cómpeta is another charming white village and sits sitting at the foot of the Sierra Almijara. Almost half of its 3,814 residents are in fact foreigners, so you’ll have no problem fitting in. But if your goal is to integrate with local Spaniards, then you may want to look elsewhere. The average property price here is €1,489 /m2. 

The whitewashed village of Cómpeta in the Axarquía comes in at number seven on the list. Photo: Robert Bovington / Wikimedia Commons

8) Ses Salines, Mallorca (Balearics) 

Situated close to the southern tip of the island of Mallorca, Ses Salines municipality is home to around 5,200 residents. Its history is entwined with the production of salt and there are still salt flats found here today. Of course, it goes without saying that it lies within easy reach of one of the island’s most beautiful coastlines. 

The village of Ses Salines is the most searched-for village among property buyers in Mallorca. Photo: Sönke Biehl / Wikimedia Commons

9) Ponga (Asturias)

The only village on the list that lies in northwestern Spain can be found in the region of Asturias. Located right on the border with Castilla y León and surrounded by high peaks, this is also one of the furthest villages on the list from the coast. Ribadesella is located approximately 53km to the north. It’s located in what is known as ‘Empty Spain’ and has just 574 residents. 

Ponga in Asturias is the most popular spot for foreign property buyers in northwestern Spain. Photo: Carmenmoran / Wikimedia Commons

10) Alcossebre, Castellón (Valencia) 

Situated along the Costa Azahar or Orange Blossom Coast in the northern part of Valencia, Alcossebre is a pretty seaside village with lots of colourful houses. Offering a relaxed pace of life, it has around 7,000 residents. Properties cost an average of €1,897 /m2. 

The tenth most popular village for foreign property buyers in Spain is Alcossebre in the Valencia region. Photo: Columbusalbus / Wikimedia Commons

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PROPERTY

How to contest the cadastral value of your Spanish property

The cadastral value and cadastral reference of a property in Spain affect various factors including how much yearly property tax and inheritance tax you'll pay. Here's how to change the valuation Spanish authorities give your home.

How to contest the cadastral value of your Spanish property

When it comes to taxes, everyone wants to know if there are ways to pay less. While it’s not always possible, there are certain factors that affect particularly taxes associated with your Spanish property – namely the cadastral value and the cadastral reference. But, can they be changed or rectified?

What is the cadastral value?

The cadastral value is applied to all properties in Spain. It’s the value applied to your property by the Ministry of Finance or Hacienda and serves as a tax base to determine how much IBI tax or Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles you pay for example. This is a yearly tax for all those who own property in Spain.

READ ALSO: What is Spain’s IBI tax and how do I pay it?

The value will depend on the size of your property, the condition it’s in, the year it was built and the cost of construction, among other factors.

It differs from the cadastral reference, which is an estimate of the market value of a property and is used as a reference for the real estate market. It is also used as a tax base for inheritance and property transfer tax.  

How is it determined?

At the beginning of each year, the cadastral value of homes is reviewed, and as a result, it can increase or decrease. This is why your IBI bill can increase or decrease too. As a general rule, the cadastral value is usually much lower than the market price, but this is not always the case.

How do I find out the cadastral value? 

To know the cadastral value of a property, you must first know the cadastral reference. Then you can find the value in the corresponding public records online. You can find this reference on your IBI bills, as well as on your property deeds.

Once you have this you can go to the electronic headquarters of the Cadastre, and click on ‘reference value’. There you will find all the information about the cadastral reference and the corresponding cadastral value.

Even if you’re not the owner of a property, but want to find out the cadastral value of a property you’re considering buying, you can find it out here.

Can I change the cadastral value of my home?

Yes, it is in fact possible to change the value. If you believe that the cadastral value of your property is too high with respect to the market price of your home, you can request that it be reduced.

You may want to do this in order to lower your IBI bill or if you want to sell your property at a lower price than the market value.

How do I lower the value?

If you believe that you have a case for changing it, you can make a claim to the General Directorate of Cadastre, overseen by the Ministry of Finance. There are two different claims you can make:

  • The procedure for correcting discrepancies
  • The procedure for rectification of material and arithmetic errors.

Procedure for correcting discrepancies

This option is typically used when there is a large difference between the market price and the cadastral value of a property, as well as when there are errors or false data about the characteristics of your home.

To do this, you must go to the Cadastre office in your municipality or apply online at the Cadastre Electronic Headquarters.

Procedure for rectification of material and arithmetic errors

The second option is used when there are errors or incorrect urban planning information, which affects your home. Again you can do this in person or online. In this case, it will have a retroactive effect. If you have paid too much IBI in the past, then it should be returned to you if the application goes in your favour.

Can I change the cadastral reference of my home?

If the reference value of your home is higher than the market value, then you may be wondering if you can change the reference in order to lower your tax base.

Unfortunately, you cannot request changing this in the same way as you can with the cadastral value. But, the good news is that there is a way to challenge it indirectly.

To do this you will need to request an appraisal from a company approved by the Bank of Spain. If the result of this turns out to be lower than the reference, you can try to rectify your self-assessment tax return, providing the appraisal as evidence that you should be on a lower tax base. As mentioned above, this will only affect certain taxes like inheritance or property transfer. 

In order to approve this, the tax office will need a report from the General Directorate of the Cadastre who may be able to rectify the reference and provide a report to settle the matter.

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