Region finder for Spain and Portugal: which area fits your plans to buy property by the sea
25 regions with their own page: 21 in Spain, 4 in Portugal. Not sure in which region to buy? Two finders, 3 questions each on character, price positioning and use — then see the regions that fit best.
How many regions does the finder compare, and how many does it suggest?
The finder compares 25 regions with their own page, 21 in Spain and 4 in Portugal. There are two finders: the Spain finder suggests the three best-fitting regions, the Portugal finder the two best-fitting. Each asks three questions on character, price positioning and use. The result is not a final purchase recommendation.
A rough pre-assessment based on your preferences — not a final location consultation. Tax and financing details differ by region and individual case; we review your specific plans in a personal conversation.
Region finder Spain: which 3 questions narrow down the region?
The Spain Region Finder matches your preferences – based on three questions relating to character, price positioning and use – to the 21 regions in Spain and identifies the three regions that best suit you; this is not a definitive recommendation to buy.
Which region would be best for me if I’m looking to buy a property by the sea in Spain or Portugal?
Which region is best suited for a property by the sea in Spain or Portugal depends on your preferences — the 25 regions we cover (21 in Spain, 4 in Portugal) vary considerably: Marbella and Mallorca are premium locations with prices to match, while Valencia and Porto explicitly advertise themselves as being ‘30 to 40 % cheaper’ than their respective capital cities; the Canary Islands, meanwhile, offer one of the most tax-favourable environments in Spain.
The atmosphere also varies — big-city vibrancy in Valencia or Porto, the tranquil coastline of the Costa Brava or the Algarve, a year-round island climate in Tenerife or Madeira, and prime locations in Marbella or Ibiza.
The two region finders below — one for Spain, one for Portugal — will match your preferences to the most suitable regions in just a minute.
Apart from the price, the main differences lie in the property transfer tax of the respective Comunidad, the depth of the rental market outside the peak season, and the suitability of the location for winter living. Each finder weights the character, price positioning and intended use of the property, and identifies the most suitable regions in the country.
What are the financial differences between the regions? Property transfer tax, valuation and the national loan-to-value limit — up to 70 % in Spain, up to 80 % in Portugal.
All 21 regions in Spain that have their own page on our website. Each answer narrows down the relevant regions. The result is the three most suitable regions — this is not a definitive recommendation to buy.
What sets the regions apart financially?
Transfer tax differs substantially — from 7% ITP in Andalusia through 9% on the Costa Blanca (11% above €1m) and 6.5% in the Canary Islands to Portugal's flat IMT rate. IMT for non-residents.
Which region in Spain or Portugal does the region finder suggest for me? The region finders match you to the best-fitting of the 25 regions we work in (21 in Spain, 4 in Portugal), and they differ sharply: Marbella and Mallorca are premium locations with a matching price positioning, Valencia and Porto explicitly market themselves as "30 to 40% cheaper" than their respective capital, the Canary Islands as one of the most tax-efficient environments in Spain.
Region finder Portugal: which 4 regions does it compare?
All 4 regions in Portugal that have their own page with us: Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve and Madeira.
The result is the two best-fitting regions — not a final purchase recommendation.
Region found: which checklist matches it?
For the next step, the right paperwork counts. You can open the PDF checklist for Spain, Portugal or both directly — free, no sales pressure.
Open the PDF directly — no form: Spain property purchase checklist — mortgage documents (PDF, 4 pages) · Portugal mortgage checklist — documents for non-residents (PDF, 4 pages)
From the region result to financing: which three steps follow?
Firstly: read the region in detail. Each region page lists the transfer tax, specific features and financing situation of the location — feel free to compare two or three results side by side before planning any viewings: An overview of all regions.
Secondly: clarify whether financing is feasible before you start looking in earnest. The Mortgage Eligibility Check uses five questions to assess how realistic your overall financing is; the financing calculator translates this into monthly repayments, loan amounts and purchase costs — the total cost and equity requirement are provided in the assessment sent by email. Anyone who approaches the process with their financing sorted out negotiates from a different position to a prospective buyer who simply wants to ‘have a look first’.
Thirdly: set the formalities in motion that require lead time. Without a NIE (Spain) or a NIF (Portugal), neither the purchase nor the mortgage can go ahead — apply for both as early as possible. At the same time, it’s worth taking a look at the self-disclosure form: if you know in advance which fields Spanish and Portuguese banks ask for, you’ll only need to gather your documents once rather than three times.
Three questions per country: why is there no purchase recommendation?
The region finder doesn't replace location consulting — it matches your preferences to the regions that fit best on paper. The price positioning deliberately isn't based on invented budget thresholds, but on how each region positions itself in the market — Valencia and Porto explicitly as a price-conscious alternative to their capital, Marbella and Mallorca as premium locations.
Tax rates differ substantially between regions. We work through these details once a region is set — they don't belong in the first rough match.
Catalonia, at 10–13 % ITP, sits at the upper end of that range.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an overview of the regions in Spain where you provide financing?
Yes — an overview of all 25 regions shows each region in detail, including tax rates, loan-to-value and target audience, in Spain and Portugal. If you haven’t yet chosen a region, the region finders at the top will help you identify the most suitable ones by answering three questions.
Is the result a purchase recommendation?
No. The region finder gives a rough match of your preferences to the best-fitting regions. The final decision depends on many further factors — viewings, market conditions, personal priorities — that a questionnaire can't capture.
Why ask about "price positioning" instead of a budget in euros?
Because every region positions itself differently, yet large price ranges exist within each region — the Costa Blanca, for example, covers both upscale and price-conscious locations. We discuss your specific budget in euros in a personal conversation, alongside the mortgage calculator.
Can I consider several regions at once?
Yes, and we recommend it — the region finder deliberately shows several results — three for Spain, two for Portugal — not just one. Many buyers compare two to three regions in parallel before committing.
What if none of the suggested regions convinces me?
Then get in touch directly — the 25 region pages cover the locations we work in intensively, but your priorities in a personal conversation count more than any pre-assessment.
Related pages
Mortgage calculator
Monthly payment, loan and purchase costs by region straight away; total cost and equity needed by email.
Content by Siegfried Perini — local brand representative since 2019, active in real estate since 1992, entered in the German intermediary register (§ 11a GewO) as a person directly involved in brokerage and advice. Point of contact for German-speaking buyers in Spain and Portugal. Brokerage by Olga Nikushkina, mortgage credit intermediary under § 34i German Trade Regulation (GewO); in Portugal through a locally licensed intermediary.