What is the best orientation for a house in Spain?

When looking for a property, the first things we tend to focus on are the location, surface area, condition and price. However, there is another determining factor that often goes unnoticed and is especially important when buying a property in Spain. This is knowing how many hours of sunshine the house will get and at what time of the year depending on the orientation. So, what is the best orientation for a house in Spain? Let's find out.

Some orientations are more recommendable than others, depending on the climate and lifestyle of each person. According to Felix Bozal from the real estate agency Biarritz, "if you don't go to work early in the morning, an east orientation will allow you to have a sunny house at the beginning of the day, which will help you to start the day on a better footing. On the other hand, if you leave work at 3 o'clock, in this case a west facing orientation will give you a sunny and cosy living room for the winter", he explains.  

Let's take a look at each orientation to find out which orientation is best in each case when buying property in Spain:

• North facing: If a property in Spain faces north, you will only enjoy the sun's rays in summer, specifically in the early morning and late afternoon. This orientation is recommended in areas with a hot climate for most of the year. If, for example, the house receives the reflection of another building or has a very open space, it can be reasonably bright. 
• North-west facing: This orenientation will allow you to enjoy the sun until midday for most of the year, but not in winter. For this reason, it is not recommended for cold areas.
• East facing: This is the best option for those who want to start the day with a sunny house. In this case, the house receives the sun's rays almost all year round from dawn to midday. It is an option to take into account if the property is located in a hot area and you want to enjoy cooler afternoons with no direct sunlight. 
• Southeast facing: In this case, the sunniest time of the year is winter and, specifically, from before midday until a good part of the afternoon. In the rest of the year, on the other hand, exposure is reduced. This is one of the best orientations, as it warms the house in winter and is not too hot in summer. 
• South facing: The sun shines in autumn, winter and spring, while in summer only in the central hours of the day, that is, when it is the hottest. For this reason, a property with south orientation is recommended for places where it is quite cold all year round and perhaps not the best choice in Spain. 
• South-west facing: In this case, the sun shines from noon to dusk in spring, summer and autumn, while in winter it shines most of the day.
• West facing: This orientation is recommended for moderately cold climates, as the house will receive sun almost all year round from midday to dusk, including summer, once again, perhaps not the best option for the hottest areas of Spain. 
• North-west facing: Between spring and autumn the sun will shine on the property throughout the afternoon until dusk, although in winter it will only shine for a very short time and will only receive the rays at the end of the afternoon.