What the Costa Brava &
Empordà property market
actually looks like in 2026.
An evergreen guide for buyers, owners, and agents. Not investment advice — a practical map of where value sits, who is buying, and how a property is presented when it sells.
From the field,
not the spreadsheet.
We are not estate agents, analysts, or tax advisers. We are a creative studio that photographs, films, and brands properties across the Costa Brava, the Empordà, and Girona. This guide is based on what we see from the field: the houses that move quickly, the ones that sit, the buyers who fly in from Northern Europe, and the presentation decisions that change a listing's performance.
Use it as orientation, not a valuation. For exact figures on a specific property, speak to a local agent who knows that street, that building, and that season.
Supply is tight.
Demand is patient.
The Costa Brava and Empordà market is shaped by scarcity. The coastline is largely protected or already built, which means new supply is limited and the best properties trade rarely. A waterfront villa in Aiguablava or a masia with land outside Pals can go years between listings.
Demand is mixed and resilient. Northern European buyers — British, Dutch, German, Belgian, Scandinavian — remain the largest group for coastal second homes. Barcelona buyers drive the weekend market. A growing segment of remote-work families is looking for year-round houses with space, good internet, and proximity to Girona or the coast.
The result is a market that does not crash easily, but also one that does not move quickly for the wrong product. Overpriced properties, poorly presented properties, and properties in the wrong location for their condition all sit.
Where the value
sits.
Cadaqués to S'Agaró.
The narrow strip with sea access, protected views, and genuine scarcity. Begur, Aiguablava, Cadaqués, and the coves around Palamós dominate. Properties here trade on position first, architecture second. Buyers are international and price-insensitive up to a point, but they are also highly visual — the photography has to match the price.
L'Escala, Roses, L'Estartit.
Apartments and smaller houses within walking distance of beaches and services. This is the rental-income market as much as the second-home market. Buyers care about occupancy, proximity to the sea, and low maintenance. Presentation still matters, but the pitch is more about yield and convenience than rarity.
Pals, Peralada, Monells, Verges.
Masia and village-house territory. More land per euro, more privacy, and a different buyer: people who want permanence, gardens, and proximity to Girona. Renovation projects are common; turnkey masias are rare. The value here is often in what the land and outbuildings allow, not just the house.
The old town and Barri Vell.
A separate market driven by local professionals, university staff, and Barcelona commuters. Apartments in the historic centre trade on charm and walkability. The buyer profile is different from the coast — fewer holiday rentals, more primary residence — and the photography needs to feel urban and editorial rather than expansive.
Three buyer
profiles.
The second-home buyer. Northern European, often in their fifties or sixties, looking for a place to use for several weeks a year and possibly rent when absent. They respond to emotion: light, sea, garden, the feeling of escape. They will pay more for a property that is already presented well.
The remote-work family. Younger, often with children, looking for a year-round base within reach of Girona or Barcelona. Space, internet, schools, and a sense of community matter. They are patient and comparison-shop across several towns.
The investor or developer. Less common than the first two, but active in renovation projects and boutique hotel conversions. They care about numbers, permissions, and the cost of bringing a property to market. Presentation matters to them only as it affects resale or rental value.
Price, position,
and presentation.
Price and position are fixed by the market. Presentation is the lever the owner controls — and it is the cheapest way to move a property from the "maybe later" list to the "viewing this weekend" list.
In a market where most buyers first see a property online, the hero photograph is the viewing. A dark interior, an overcast exterior, or a cluttered terrace will filter a property out before a single question is asked. We see this constantly: two similar houses in the same village, one photographed in January on a grey day and one in May at golden hour, produce radically different enquiry rates.
The same applies to boutique hotels and rental portfolios. A well-presented property with professional photography, a clear identity, and a direct-booking website competes above its price bracket. One with phone shots and a generic listing competes below it.
If you are selling or repositioning a property, our real estate photography service and architecture photography service are built around this exact problem: making a property look like the best version of itself before the first buyer arrives.
Ready to present
your property?
We photograph, film, and brand properties across the Costa Brava, the Empordà, and Girona. Whether you are preparing to sell, repositioning a rental, or launching a boutique hotel, we can help you present it. Agency-ready delivery. AESA-certified drone. From €390.