Increase In Scandinavian Buyers On The Costa del Sol

Investors from Norway, Sweden and Denmark are taking advantage of favorable exchange rates and low prices to snap up property bargains, with Scandinavian sales surging by over 300 per cent last year.

Under the new deal, buyers from Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark are encouraged to purchase second and holiday homes on Spain’s Costa del Sol – many of which are lying empty as a fallout from Spain’s property crisis.

While the British still account for most sales of Costa del Sol properties, there is no doubt that 2012 has been a watershed year for Scandinavian purchasers. Some of the Costa’s assets expected to impress Nordic buyers are golf, food, culture – as well as the beach and the sunshine.

Scandinavians, particularly those from Sweden and Norway, now make up over a fifth of our buyers in Spain, a huge increase on previous years. While the outlook for the Eurozone remains uncertain thanks to Italy's political stalemate and high unemployment, Scandinavia has withstood the financial downturn, with Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Iceland all suffering less than Europe's ailing economies.

But the Costa del Sol isn't the only area to capture Scandinavian buyers' interest. ‘The scenery and laid back lifestyle of the Costa Blanca are attracting an increasing number of Scandinavian clients. An example of the kind of properties here that are attracting buyers include the new beachfront La Vila Paradís apartments on the Costa Blanca which have direct access to Paraíso beach.

Spain still offers the best mix of quality of lifestyle, low living costs and wonderful weather that appeals to most Europeans and as it is just a short flight or even drive away it ticks most peoples boxes so to speak. The lure of the mild and sunny weather of southern Spain with its healthy and quality lifestyle really peaks when there is cold and severe winters back home.

In addition with property prices down to those of 10 years ago it really is an achievable goal for many people. Scandinavia's dominance is no doubt thanks to the economic resilience of the country, allowing investors to enjoy a degree of financial freedom. With those nations traditionally active in Spain facing economic complications, the path is clear for Scandinavians to enter the breach.