You have probably read one of all the articles, or seen one of the television programs that recently emphasized that Spain in general and the Costa del Sol in particular are back in the sights of sun-hungry and shopping Swedes. We can only confirm all these reports and state that in 2010 the interest in housing in Spain increased by over 50 percent in terms of the number of visitors and expressions of interest. We expect an increase of roughly the same size, if not even larger, next year as well. Another sign that interest in buying a home in Spain has increased is that the housing fair in Malmö and its exhibition "buying a house abroad" had significantly more visitors this year compared to last year.

Read about the housing market in 2014.

However, there are still many who are "up in the air" and waiting to make an offer. This is exactly what happened the last time it turned around after a recession. First not a sound for a long period, then many who curiously report interest to brokers but wait to strike. Suddenly, however, the market explodes and buying frenzy prevails for a year or so, causing prices to skyrocket again, followed by an inevitable bubble. Things tend to go in circles as people have a bad collective memory (including economists and bank managers...).

What does the situation look like right now for those who want to buy a house or apartment in Spain?

At the end of October, DN wrote an article about the housing situation in Spain and stated that right now there is an excellent situation to buy because there are bargain prices on many properties. Some houses and apartments have dropped by half their price and are roughly at the level they were at in the early 2000s, DN notes, which is completely in line with our own analysis. E24's analysts also state that in many places the price drop has been as high as 50 percent. The extreme numbers are explained by the fact that most homes were incredibly overvalued before the collapse.

How much have the prices of apartments and houses fallen on average?

It is difficult to come up with an exact figure, but most properties in Spain have fallen by 20-30 percent since the crisis in 2008 and, as I said, are currently at a level that corresponds to the year 2000-2001.

Also keep in mind that when the bidding on a house starts in Sweden, the price goes up, but in Spain the price of the home is instead negotiated down during the negotiation ! Still.

The homes that have fallen the most in price are the smaller apartments and houses. The luxury segment has not moved as much as there is always a group of people with strong purchasing power for these objects regardless of times.

Will prices fall further in the Spanish property market?

During the autumn, Spanish TV showed a documentary in which it was speculated that prices will not drop much more. The Spanish economy is admittedly incredibly shaky, but the housing market seems most likely to have already shaken out, even if it will take a few years before sales pick up speed again.

The future of the housing market on the Solkusten

Many properties are now owned by banks as the developers were unable to pay off their loans. It is also more difficult to get a loan now and there is not as much construction. The best and safest purchase is clearly an investment in an object that has a few years behind it. buying process is also much faster and less frustrating for all parties. Therefore, avoid new construction unless it is an extremely good offer.

Interest in buying houses in the south of Spain, and especially as the prized end of the Costa del Sol will continue to be very strong mainly due to Spain's unbeatable climate. Prices have fallen perhaps even more in places like Costa Calida and Costa Blanca , but there the demand is not that high either and probably won't be in the future either, which makes an investment in these areas more uncertain.

The interest in moving abroad is getting stronger among Swedes, and it is expected that in the near future more and more young Swedes will retire in countries such as Turkey, Thailand and France. But the most popular destination for Swedes who want to move abroad is and remains southern Spain.

There are many factors behind why so many Swedes will want to take their pick and pack and escape to Spain, The sun and the relaxing lifestyle have always attracted, but nowadays factors such as the Swedes losing faith in the Swedish model also play into the picture. On the Solkusten, for example, the road network and other infrastructure such as railways are far ahead of Sweden's standard, the housing is getting better and the healthcare is at the same level as here at home. Airline trips to Spain are becoming increasingly cheaper and more frequent, with departures several times a week from a number of airports in both Norway and Sweden. In addition, our membership in the EU has made it easier, both bureaucratically and mentally, to move abroad. There is simply not much that prevents a Swede from taking the step further.

A couple of years ago, Kairos Future a survey of people in their 40s and 50s, which concluded that as many as 300,000 Swedes are considering moving abroad. The number of people in their 60s and 70s is probably even higher given that they became used to traveling at a young age. At Spanska Fastigheter, we even receive several thoughts from 80-somethings who have begun to think about starting up a life in Spain.

If it was only the rich who had the opportunity to move to Spain in the past, new doors have now opened for the less fortunate as well. For example, it is possible to get hold of renovation objects in the countryside for around half a million kroner.

Feel free to email info@panskafastigheter.se if you have any questions about the Spanish housing market.

Read also: Here you can book cheap hotels in Spain. Nerja is perhaps the best place to invest in. Guide to the city. Travel guide to Malaga, the capital of the Costa del Sol.