Before we start looking into the current state of the Spanish property market, it's invaluable for us to examine its evolution over the last four decades. This historical overview not only contextualises the information presented in this guide—highlighting how past missteps have shaped today's market—but also aids in understanding the diversity of properties built during various market phases. Moreover, it illuminates potential concerns when considering the purchase of older properties; after all, today's resales were once the new builds of their era.

In the next few pages, we'll chart the market's journey from the 1980s to today, broadly outlining changes in building techniques and standards, as well as enhancements in legal protections for buyers and the changing methods that builders and real estate agents have used to market property to overseas buyers

Understanding the  Spanish Property Markets' history creates a backdrop against which its current state can be fully appreciated.