Housing Demand Shifts to Cooler Regions of Spain Due to Climate

Changes in the real estate market: new trends

In 2025, the Spanish housing market is undergoing significant shifts. According to a study by OBS Business School, buyers are increasingly choosing regions with a moderate climate. Experts attribute this to the ongoing rise in average annual temperatures and lifestyle changes following the pandemic. As a result, the northern provinces of the country are becoming more attractive for property purchases.

Growth in transactions in northern regions

In recent months, there has been a substantial increase in transactions in provinces such as Lugo and Pontevedra, where annual growth exceeds 25%. On the coast of Asturias, in Cantabria, Navarre, Biscay, Ourense, Álava, and A Coruña, the growth rate fluctuates between 15% and 20%. Meanwhile, in regions traditionally popular with tourists and foreigners—such as Murcia, Alicante, Valencia, Malaga, Cadiz, Barcelona, Tarragona, and Girona—growth rates do not exceed 15%.

Experts note that northern regions were previously not in such high demand among foreign buyers. However, these areas are now actively entering the market, offering competitive conditions thanks to a milder climate and affordable housing prices.

Factors driving the appeal of northern regions

One of the main advantages of the northern regions is the average summer temperature of around 20 degrees Celsius, which sets them apart from southern and eastern resorts, where temperatures often rise to 30–40 degrees. Additionally, the price per square meter in these regions usually does not exceed €2,000, whereas in Madrid, Catalonia, the Canary and Balearic Islands, as well as the Basque Country, prices can reach €4,000 per square meter.

Other factors include the development of eco and active tourism, as well as a growing interest in living in cooler, quieter areas. These trends have strengthened since the pandemic, as many people reevaluated their housing priorities.

Catalonia’s position and market outlook

Despite sustained high demand for coastal housing, Catalonia is gradually losing ground to the northern regions in terms of transaction growth. In the first quarter of 2025, the number of operations in Catalonia still significantly exceeds that of Asturias, but in percentage terms, the northern regions are showing more dynamic growth.

Analysts believe that if current climate trends persist, demand for housing in cooler regions will continue to grow. The population of Spain is also expected to increase over the next 15 years, leading to further market expansion and intensified competition among regions.

Overall, experts emphasize that the sustained interest in the north of the country is driven not only by weather conditions, but also by changes in demand structure linked to new buyer preferences and the development of alternative forms of tourism.