Hemnet and Blocket stopped listing Spanish properties, forcing Swedish buyers to use Idealista, Fotocasa, or Immoweb as primary search platforms. Swedish real estate agencies specializing in Spanish properties, direct developer contacts, and Swedish expat networks have become critical resources for Swedish Costa Blanca buyers.
Swedish property buyers accustomed to searching Hemnet and Blocket for domestic homes face a significant transition when seeking Spanish properties. Hemnet's focus on Swedish real estate and Blocket's decision to close its international property section left Swedish buyers without the familiar, streamlined interfaces they relied on. This gap has created opportunities for specialized platforms and agencies to serve Swedish buyers seeking Costa Blanca properties, new digital marketplaces connecting Swedish capital to Spanish developers, and community networks supporting Swedish expats already established in Spain.
Understanding these new pathways—from international property portals to Swedish-speaking real estate professionals to developer direct channels—enables Swedish buyers to navigate Spanish property markets efficiently despite the absence of Hemnet-equivalent platforms.
Market Changes
Hemnet, Sweden's dominant property portal (98% of Swedish residential property searches), maintained Spanish property listings through the 2010s but discontinued the service around 2018-2019 due to low Swedish utilization and strategic focus on core Swedish market. Blocket, owned by Schibsted Media Group, operated an international property section until 2022, when it closed cross-border property listings entirely to concentrate on Swedish classified advertising. These closures left Swedish buyers without an integrated search platform combining Spanish listings with Swedish-language interfaces and Swedish regulatory context.
The market gap created by these closures was partially filled by generalist international platforms (Immoweb, Idealista), developer-specific channels, and specialized agencies targeting Nordic buyers. Swedish demand for Costa Blanca properties remained strong (10-15% of foreign buyers), creating business opportunity for platforms willing to serve Swedish market specifically. The closure also accelerated direct developer-to-buyer channels, with many Costa Blanca developers hiring Swedish-language sales representatives and establishing Swedish marketing programs—essentially disintermediating the portal layer entirely and connecting buyers directly with projects.
New Portals
Idealista (idealista.com) has emerged as the primary Spanish property portal, hosting 1.5 million+ listings including significant new build inventory. Idealista supports multiple languages including Swedish, though Swedish translation quality is sometimes limited. The platform features advanced filtering (location, price, property type, size), professional photography galleries, and developer verification systems. Fotocasa, Spain's second-largest portal, similarly offers Swedish-language support and extensive new build project listings. Both platforms charge listing fees to agents and developers (typically €50-€200 monthly per listing), establishing sustainable business models and ensuring consistent availability.
Immoweb (immoweb.com) aggregates properties across multiple European countries including Spain, offering Swedish-language interface and filtering capability. The platform consolidates listings from multiple Spanish portals, providing broader search visibility though sometimes showing outdated or duplicate listings. For Swedish buyers, setting up saved searches on Idealista and Fotocasa is standard practice—most specify Costa Blanca region, update searches weekly, and save favorite properties for further research. The platforms offer limited Swedish-language customer support; most Swedish buyers supplement portal search with direct agency contact when requiring language assistance or detailed market information.
Swedish Agencies
Multiple real estate agencies specializing in Swedish buyer outreach have established operations across Costa Blanca, particularly in Torrevieja, Javea, and Alfaz del Pi. These agencies distinguish themselves through Swedish-language representation, Swedish marketing presence, and cultural understanding of Swedish buyer preferences (emphasis on quality, transparency, long-term value). Key Swedish-focused agencies include Costa Blanca Homes, Villa Homes Costa Blanca, and Swedish Real Estate Costa Blanca—all maintaining Swedish-language websites, employing Swedish-speaking staff, and participating in Swedish property expos and media.
These specialized agencies provide several advantages versus general Spanish agents: direct Swedish communication eliminating translation delays, understanding of Swedish mortgage requirements and tax obligations, familiarity with Swedish buyer cultural expectations (punctuality, detailed documentation, clear timelines), and often partnership with Swedish mortgage brokers enabling financing coordination. Agency commissions in Spain (paid by developer, not buyer) typically run 3-4% of purchase price, split between buyer's agent and seller's agent. Swedish buyers selecting specialized agencies often gain access to exclusive project allocations, preferential pricing, and priority assignment of premium units—benefits that exceed commission costs through purchase price savings.
Online Platforms
Beyond traditional property portals, several Swedish-language platforms have emerged serving Nordic property buyers specifically. Swedish Property in Spain (svenskahusispanien.se) combines property listings with educational content about buying processes, legal considerations, and lifestyle topics relevant to Swedish relocators. Skandinavisk Fastighet serves Norwegian and Swedish markets with specialization in Costa Blanca. These platforms aggregate listings from multiple sources, provide Swedish-language market analysis, and often include financing guidance or connections to Swedish mortgage brokers.
Developer-specific platforms are increasingly important. Major Costa Blanca developers (Sanjose, Villas Blancas, Hispania) maintain Swedish-language websites showcasing projects, enabling direct contact with Swedish sales representatives and online tour booking. This direct model often provides better pricing than agent-mediated purchases, as developers bypass intermediary commissions. Facebook groups for Swedish expats in Costa Blanca ("Svenskar på Costa Blanca", "Swedish Costa Blanca Community") provide informal market intelligence, recommendations for specific developments, and warnings about problematic builders. These community resources, while unofficial, often contain valuable local insights unavailable through formal channels.
Direct Connections
Direct developer contact has become an efficient pathway for Swedish buyers, particularly for off-plan and new build purchases. Developers publish Swedish-language marketing materials, employ dedicated Swedish-speaking sales teams, and increasingly offer virtual tour technology enabling Swedish buyers to review properties without travel. This direct channel often provides cost advantages: developers avoid paying agent commissions (typically 3-4% of purchase price) and can pass these savings to buyers through reduced pricing or enhanced terms.
Developer direct purchasing typically requires: visiting the development (though virtual tours substitute initially), signing purchase agreement (compraventa) directly with developer (represented by Spanish lawyer), and following the standard new build payment schedule (typically 30% at signing, 40% during construction, 30% at completion). Advantages include direct communication with developer regarding customization options, negotiating extras (kitchen upgrades, parking additions), and priority unit selection. Disadvantages include responsibility for verifying developer credibility and financial stability—tasks typically handled by agents. Swedish buyers proceeding directly should engage independent Spanish legal counsel (abogado) experienced with new build transactions, costing €1,000-€2,000 but protecting against developer default or construction defects.
Buying Process
Swedish buyers typically follow a sequential process: (1) Portal search and property identification (1-4 weeks); (2) Direct inquiry to agency or developer; (3) Virtual property tour or in-person visit (often multiple properties in one Costa Blanca trip); (4) Property selection and negotiation (1-2 weeks); (5) Purchase agreement signing and NIE registration (2-4 weeks); (6) Mortgage application if financing needed (4-6 weeks); (7) Final purchase completion and deed registration (30 days post-completion).
Critical process elements for Swedish buyers: engaging Spanish lawyer (gestoría + abogado) separate from developer representation (prevents conflicts of interest); verifying builder financial stability and completeness of home (property inspections by independent surveyors are strongly recommended); securing Swedish mortgage pre-approval before making purchase offer (establishes realistic budget and demonstrates financial credibility); and budgeting for acquisition costs (legal fees 1-2% of purchase price, notary fees 0.5-1%, transfer taxes 6-8%, plus utilities connection costs). Timeline from initial property identification to purchase completion typically spans 3-4 months if purchasing completed property, 9-12 months for off-plan purchases awaiting construction completion. Having Swedish language representation throughout accelerates the process and reduces misunderstandings that commonly delay property transactions in Spain.
The Bottom Line
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