With the price of a small Parisian apartment, some French people now have access to premium residences with swimming pool, gym, concierge and integrated services, a few hundred meters from the Spanish beaches. On the Costa Blancathe profile of French buyers is changing: investors tired of French real estate, retirees in search of sun or executives looking for a pied-à-terre on the shores of the Mediterranean now make up the majority of the clientele.
“ The majority of my French clients are primarily looking for a second home. », explains Vincent Jos, real estate agent between Paris and the Costa Blanca. “ Many buy a property that they occupy for a few weeks a year before renting it the rest of the time through a local concierge service. » Alongside these investors, more and more future retirees are preparing to settle permanently in Spain. “ They are preparing their golden years and their future main residence for retirement », summarizes the professional.
Prices still far from the French coast
If the Costa Blanca attracts the French so much, it is firstly because the price gap with the French market remains spectacular. To Deniaseaside resort located between Valencia and Alicante, the average price reaches approximately 3,300 euros per square meter in 2026 according to the Spanish real estate portal Idealista, against more than 9,000 euros per square meter in Paris according to the Notaries of Greater Paris.
“ There are still apartments between 3,000 and 4,000 euros per square meter near the sea, with swimming pool, parking and concierge. Prices remain much lower than those on the French coast », underlines the real estate agent. New residences particularly appeal to French buyers with their integrated amenities: community swimming pool, gym, outdoor spaces and concierge services have become standard in many recent programs.
Spain also benefits from a broader favorable context. According to the 2025 InterNations ranking, the country is among the preferred destinations for European expatriates thanks to its climate, its quality of life and a cost of living often considered more affordable than in France or in several Northern European countries.
Cash payment, Spanish banks: how the French finance
In fact, acquisitions made without credit remain very frequent on the Costa Blanca. “ Purchases between 150,000 and 200,000 euros are often financed in cash for apartments close to the sea », observes Vincent Jos. Retirees who sell their main residence in France regularly reinvest the capital into their future Spanish home.
Others, however, go through a French bank, which generally takes out a guarantee on a property held in France to finance the purchase in Spain. Spanish banks also finance non-residents, but often ask 30% minimum contribution. “ The Spanish bank also mandates a real estate expert to verify the real value of the property before granting financing. », specifies the professional. Buyers must also obtain a NIE, the identification number required to purchase property in Spain.
Airbnb under pressure and real estate pitfalls
But behind residences with swimming pools and attractive prices, the Spanish market also hides several traps. “ In the 1980s and 1990s, many constructions were carried out without fully respecting town planning rules. », explains Vincent Jos. Some extensions or illegal constructions are only discovered at the time of resale, sometimes leading to complex adjustments.
Tourist rental has become the other major point of vigilance. “ The main risk remains buying a property which ultimately cannot be used for seasonal rental. », alerts the real estate agent. In certain areas of the Costa Blanca, obtaining a tourist license is now an obstacle course. Some developers negotiate directly with municipalities to secure these authorizations even before new programs are marketed.
Behind this regulatory tightening, Spain is above all trying to regain control of a real estate market increasingly under pressure, driven by the explosion of second homes and foreign investors on its Mediterranean coast.
