Irish buyers are still using the Channel 4 TV guide to follow Spanish holiday-home coverage while continuing to buy in Spain in 2026. The market has not cooled even after prices rose and many regions tightened short-term let licensing rules.
Two-bedroom apartments now start from around €150,000 in some coastal areas, which keeps entry-level demand alive for buyers who want a place near the beach without moving into the top end of the market. The strongest interest is in apartments, modern villas with pools and lock-up-and-leave townhouses.
Alicante and the coast
Alicante, Murcia, Málaga, Marbella, Torrevieja, Benidorm, Estepona and the Canary Islands remain the biggest hotspots for overseas buyers. That spread tells you the demand is not concentrated in one enclave; it runs across several coastal markets where Irish owners can buy, visit and, in some cases, rent under local rules.
Experts say buyers are also looking more closely at energy-efficient features, air conditioning, fibre broadband and outdoor living space. Many owners now split their time between Ireland and Spain or work remotely, so the property has to work as both a holiday base and a practical part-time home.
10 to 15 percent extra
Buying costs do not stop at the asking price. Buyers need to budget for taxes, legal fees and notary costs, which can add around 10 to 15 percent to the purchase price, before annual property taxes, community charges for apartment complexes and ongoing maintenance are added on top.
Exchange rate fluctuations can also change the final bill for overseas buyers. A buyer who thinks in euro still has to price in the full ownership cost, not just the headline number on the listing.
Spain in 2026
Spain still has the basics that pull Irish buyers in: warm weather, excellent healthcare, lower day-to-day living costs in many areas and regular flights from Dublin, Cork, Shannon and Knock. Many regions enjoy more than 300 days of sunshine each year, and the south of Spain can have winter temperatures comparable to summer temperatures in Ireland.
The harder part is the rulebook. Regional rules on rental regulations, planning laws and property taxes vary by location, and tighter licensing rules on short-term lets mean a rental plan that works in one place may not work in another. Buyers who want income from a licensed property in a tourist area need to check the local framework before they commit, not after they sign.
The market answer is blunt: Irish demand is still there, but the easy-money holiday-home play is gone. Anyone buying in Spain now has to treat the purchase as a regulated, higher-cost decision, not a casual lifestyle upgrade.
