The Costa del Sol property market as 2026 begins: a healthy, steady picture

As 2026 gets under way, the Costa del Sol is in one of its healthiest, steadiest cycles in twenty years. For anyone looking between Torremolinos and Estepona, that stability is good news — it makes buying here a considered, unhurried decision rather than a gamble.

The numbers at a glance

The most recent full year of official figures is 2024, and it was a strong one. Málaga province recorded 37,790 home sales in 2024, the second-strongest year on record, with transactions up 7% year on year and 48% over the decade. The average sale price was €315,274, up 9% on the year and 84% over ten years. International buyers made 14,475 purchases — 39% of all transactions.

These are the signs of steady, long-term demand rather than a market at risk of a sudden swing.

What sustains it

The 320 days of sunshine a year are only the start. What keeps demand steady is everything underneath: good healthcare, established international schools, direct flights to every major European city, and two decades of gentle, consistent appreciation.

Málaga–Costa del Sol Airport handled 24.9 million passengers in 2024 and is partway through a €1.5 billion expansion towards 36 million by 2031 — long-term investment that reflects real, lasting demand.

What this means for you now

A steady market is the easiest kind to buy well in. There is no need to rush and no need to wait: good homes are available at fair prices, and with verified comparable-sales data and a clear budget that already includes costs, you can buy calmly and with confidence.

That is the whole of our job — on your side of the table, from the first viewing to the keys, making a healthy market simple to step into.