In 2025, the Spanish real estate market resembles a battlefield, where dozens, sometimes even hundreds, of contenders fight for every attractive property. Many investors—both beginners and experienced—make the same mistake: they spend hours scouring popular web portals hoping to catch “the one” apartment. However, according to sector professional Sergio Gutiérrez, real treasures never appear there. Major aggregators are simply shop windows, where listings are already posted at the highest price agreed with the agency or set by the owner. The best deals are snapped up before they ever become public knowledge.
To stay ahead of the competition, a completely different approach is needed—what the expert calls ‘farming.’ This strategy involves systematic work both on the ground and online, aimed at identifying potential sellers before they officially put their property up for sale. The point is to build an entire ecosystem of informants and to take proactive steps. According to Gutiérrez, few investors engage in such an active search, which allows them to discover unique properties without competition and at genuinely attractive prices.
As a clear example, he shares one of his recent deals. He managed to acquire an asset with a market value of €120,000 for just €70,000. This opportunity did not come from a classifieds website, but thanks to a call from one of his contacts—a security system installer. The installer said that one of his clients had just evicted a non-paying tenant and was desperate to get rid of an apartment that had caused so much trouble. Gutiérrez immediately contacted the owner. The owner confirmed his intention to sell the property immediately, even though the price was well below market value. He didn’t care; he just didn’t want to spend another day as the owner of this real estate. Three days later, the parties were signing documents at the notary’s office.
This case perfectly illustrates the two pillars of successful hunting for undervalued properties: a broad and well-nurtured network of contacts, and lightning-fast response. Gutiérrez emphasizes the need to be ready for quick decisions and action. At the same time, he warns against excessive optimism. By his own admission, his methods allow him to find about six truly worthwhile offers a year—a very good result for any investor. According to the expert, this is the real secret: it’s not about the quantity, but the quality and timeliness of the information received.
