Spain continues to face a serious housing accessibility problem for young families and singles. In Alzira, located 45 kilometers from Valencia, dozens of young people have been forced to spend the night outside a real estate agency in hopes of not missing the chance to buy an apartment at a reduced price. This situation vividly illustrates how high property prices are depriving a new generation of the opportunity to own their own homes.
Early Saturday morning, tents and sleeping bags started appearing outside the agency’s office on the city’s main street. Young couples, friends, and even parents take turns in line to keep their place. For many, this is the only chance to choose from 123 new properties available under a government-supported housing program. With regular apartment prices long out of reach for most, such events spark huge demand and push people to extreme measures.
Night shifts
Miriam Segura and her partner Nico have been living at the agency’s doorstep for several days, taking turns and keeping warm under electric blankets. Other families have joined them, organizing real shifts that last six or seven hours. Neighbors bring coffee and food, and the agency owner has run electricity outside so the young people can charge their phones and keep lamps on at night. Despite the cold and wind, no one plans to give up—the stakes are simply too high.
This time, organizers are strictly monitoring the process: apartment registration will be conducted only through a live queue, and an inspector will ensure that scandals like those in Alicante do not happen again. Each participant will be able to choose a specific apartment, and to complete the transaction, a 10% down payment will be required this spring. The remaining payments will be spread over two years, making the purchase more affordable for young families.
Family strategies
Many of those waiting in line have long lived independently, but are forced to return to their parents to save up for a down payment. Even with stable jobs and permanent contracts, after paying rent and utility bills, young people are left with no more than a couple hundred euros a month. For them, buying an apartment is not just a step towards independence but the only way to stop paying rent, which offers no guarantees for the future.
There are also parents in line who support their adult children. Natalia, a mother of two, notes that even renting a room costs her children 250 euros, and owning their own home seems like an unattainable dream. Some hope to buy small apartments or attics, despite the prices not being particularly low. For many, at least trying to get a chance at housing is important, as such offers are almost nonexistent on the market.
Choices and expectations
Students and young professionals, like 23-year-old Ana, pass the time in line with books to help the long hours go by. They carefully coordinate their moves: some take night shifts, others arrive in the morning to avoid missing their chance to pick the best option. Apartments with terraces are especially in demand, but their number is limited and competition for them is particularly fierce.
The agency owner notes that such a rush hasn’t been seen in years. New apartments with quality finishes and good locations attract even those who hadn’t previously considered buying property. Meanwhile, resale prices in Alzira are already nearing pre-crisis levels, and supply remains extremely limited. For many young people, this is the only real chance to buy their own apartment without taking on overwhelming debt.
Context and trends
In recent years, stories about overnight lines for affordable housing have become increasingly common in Spain. In major cities and suburbs, young people are forced to seek every possible opportunity to avoid being left without a roof over their heads. Such campaigns are gathering momentum, and demand for state-supported housing consistently outpaces supply. In regions where no new social housing has been built for years, the rush is especially intense. This trend reflects a deep crisis in the real estate market and growing social tension among young Spaniards.
