Catalan investors drive surge in rural property demand in Girona

Interest in rural housing in parts of Catalonia is now overtaking demand for city homes, according to new property data from real estate platform Idealista.

Girona stands out as one of only nine provinces in Spain where interest in rural housing exceeds demand for urban properties.

Idealista reported that 59% of demand in Girona is focused on rural housing, ahead of other high-demand provinces such as Málaga (57%), Granada (56%), Santa Cruz de Tenerife (55%), Alacant (Alicante) and Murcia (both 54%), Castelló (Castellón, 53%), and Almería and Cádiz (both 51%).

Girona’s appeal lies in its wide selection of traditional rural properties and its easy access to Barcelona via high-speed rail. Among these homes, masías are particularly sought-after, with Girona holding the largest share in Catalonia – over 55% of the region’s total masías, according to a recent study by Cottage Properties.

TV3 in Catalonia reported in October 2025 that foreign buyers accounted for around 70% of the market for masías and rural homes in the region, and were fuelling the interest. But according to Angels Sabater Anell, co-director of Cottage Properties, that’s not the full story.

In Girona, the story is increasingly being shaped by Catalan buyers themselves – families, entrepreneurs and investors who are buying rural property more than ever before.

“In 2025, we’ve seen Catalan buyers become far more prominent in the market for masías and farmhouses,” Anell said. “We’ve sold to many families, entrepreneurs, and wealth managers who see rural property as a second home or as a long-term investment, with clear plans for rural tourism projects.”

According to Anell, local buyers made up 78.3% of Cottage Properties’ rural property transactions in 2025. They also outspent foreign buyers, accounting for 88% of the firm’s €25 million in transaction value across masías, farmhouses, country houses and rustic properties – predominantly in Girona.

The shift, she adds, has been reinforced by Catalan investors moving capital back into the local market after uncertainty over US investment funds. Others are reallocating money from urban buy-to-let blocks into rural homes as tourism investments, as tighter 2025 rules on short-term lets and rentals change the outlook for city property.

“We’ve noticed some media narratives saying foreign buyers are dominant in this market, but that hasn’t been our experience in Girona,” Anell added. 

“We think this is a win for the region as over 90% of the masías we sold in 2025 needed major repair, and this capital is helping bring them back to life while also increasing rural accommodation options, improving local tourism, and preserving Catalan heritage.”

(Catalan News is not liable to third parties for any information in this statement)