Is Now a Good Time to Buy in Spain? (Q3 Market Signals Explained)
By George Nayda
8 July 2025
8 min read
MARKET WATCH
Is Now a Good Time to Buy in Spain? (Q3 Market Signals Explained)
Q3 is here, and it’s decision time. Spain’s market is shifting quietly, and the real opportunity isn’t where most buyers are looking. Here’s what you need to know before sitting on the sidelines too long.
Why “Wait and See” Feels Safe, But Could Cost You More Than You Think
If you’re sitting on the fence right now, you’re not alone.
The global market’s been shaky, interest rates have been unpredictable, and the media loves a good cliffhanger headline.
But here’s the thing about waiting:
It feels safe… until it isn’t.
Because behind the headlines, Spain’s property market hasn’t crashed; it’s recalibrated.
- Buyers from colder, high-tax countries are still coming.
- Inventory in prime zones is tightening, not overflowing.
- Sellers are getting smarter, not desperate.
And while you wait for “the perfect moment,”
That €520K frontline apartment quietly gets reserved by someone who acted with clarity, not comfort.
What the Q3 Numbers Are Actually Showing (Not Just the Headlines)
Let’s skip the noise and zoom into what Q3 2025 is really signalling on the Costa del Sol:
New-build supply remains tight. According to recent data, there's been a 2.1% drop in new construction starts this quarter, meaning developers are not keeping up with buyer demand, especially in the most sought-after coastal zones (source: Cadena SER Málaga / Tinsa)
Prices are rising, not falling, in lifestyle-first areas. A new report shows that second-home prices along the Costa del Sol have risen nearly 15% year-over-year, especially in zones like Marbella, Estepona, and Benahavís (source: Fine & Country, Tinsa)
Time-on-market for well-priced homes in A+ zones like Nueva Andalucía, El Paraiso, and La Cala Golf is now averaging 14 to 29 days faster than Q1, as serious buyers take early summer action.
Inventory feels tighter on the ground. While portals still show plenty of listings, the real opportunities, the well-priced, lifestyle-aligned units, are getting reserved quickly or moving off-market before hitting Idealista.
And here’s the hidden truth most buyers miss:
Off-market deals are rising fast.
Many sellers are now working quietly with trusted agents, especially for villas and lifestyle properties, preferring discretion over mass visibility.
If you're relying only on portal alerts, you might be missing the most negotiable homes of Q3.
Why Q3 Is a Window Not a Permanent Price Dip
Let’s get brutally honest:
This Q3 moment is a window not a season.
It’s not 2008. There won’t be a fire sale.
But there is a sweet spot of motivated sellers, flexible negotiations, and lagging buyer activity from people still “watching the news.”
In short:
Smart buyers are moving while others hesitate.
This happens in cycles:
The market softens quietly
The best-positioned buyers act
Prices rebound… just in time for everyone else to feel “ready”
By then, they’re buying into a rising market.
Don’t let emotional safety delay financial clarity.
Here’s What I’m Seeing On the Ground
Forget theory here’s what I’m personally seeing right now:
Clients from Belgium, Netherlands, and Scandinavia are booking trips, not just asking questions
Non-EU buyers are negotiating hard and at times winning extras (furnishings, tax handling, flexible completions)
Lifestyle relocators are targeting specific micro-zones and inventory there moves in days, not weeks
And the wildcard?
Currency swings.
Many buyers who sat on cash are now getting less for their money simply due to timing.
One recent buyer told me,
“I’m glad I didn’t wait any longer I would’ve lost this lifestyle window and paid more due to currency shift alone.”
If You’re Still on the Fence Ask Yourself These 3 Timing Questions
If you're still unsure whether to buy now or later, ask:
“What would waiting actually get me?”
Will prices drop in the zone I want?
Will better listings appear magically?
Or am I just avoiding the decision?
“What does it cost me emotionally to wait?”
Am I stuck refreshing listings daily?
Feeling low-key FOMO from friends who bought?
Postponing a lifestyle I already want?
“What does action look like without pressure?”
Have a WhatsApp conversation.
Define your top 3 zones.
Ask for a market snapshot not a sales pitch.
You don’t have to buy next week.
But you owe it to yourself to move from fear-based watching to clarity-based action.
The Real Opportunity Isn’t in the Market It’s in the Moment
A: Sometimes. But many “build packages” lock you into standard designs or builder margins. Look closely at the contract.
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