Renting a holiday home on the Catalan coast this summer will cost an average of €1,370 per week, just €17 above the national average of €1,353.

Barcelona combines established investment districts with emerging neighbourhoods that continue to attract buyers. As the market evolves, long-term residential rentals are becoming a more popular strategy. However, according to Rebeca Pérez, CEO and founder of Inviertis, investors must consider the wider economic and regulatory context before purchasing. With interest rates still relatively high and rental regulations changing, financing costs and local rules remain key factors when assessing opportunities.

One of the areas in Catalonia where house prices have surged is the Barcelona metropolitan area, with Castelldefels emerging as one of the region's most sought-after and expensive towns. Single-family homes and spacious layouts dominate the local housing stock, pushing average property transaction values above those of Barcelona's typically smaller apartments. Depending on the area, residential property prices in Castelldefels can range between €4,000 and €5,000 per square metre.

Problems with the train system are pushing people to alternative transport and affecting the housing market. Experts warn that poor mobility infrastructure worsens the housing shortage, especially in cities and metropolitan areas, limiting buying options for the middle class and deepening the supply and demand imbalance in well-connected areas.

Catalonia’s rental housing market came under intense pressure in 2025 due to a widening gap between supply and demand. Experts agree that little will change in 2026. Limited supply, sustained demand and rising rent are set to persist in a market shaped by ongoing regulation, including the designation of high-demand areas that continue to constrain available stock.

In just a few years, the number of occupied properties offered for sale has grown sharply. A large proportion are located in Catalonia, where transactions are increasing.

Madrid and Barcelona are gaining ground in the international luxury housing market. According to the Savills World Cities Prime Residential Index 2025, both Spanish cities ranked among the European cities with the highest growth in prime asset values during the first half of the year.

A report by OBS Business School on the Real Estate Market in Spain 2025, led by Professor and Eurocofín Director Carlos Balado, highlights some of the trends shaping the property market. Among these, it notes that global warming is influencing the way we live and behave.