When buying a home, many factors are considered before deciding on a location, but quality of life and weather are generally the most valued. In this sense, the Canary Islands would be the best-valued in Spain, followed by the Balearic Islands, according to the Spain Happy Index, prepared by Sonneil, the Spanish tech marketer specialising in second-hand home sales.
According to the index, the two archipelagos – the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands – occupy the first and second places with 83 and 81 points, respectively. Closely behind them are the Costa Blanca, the Costa Cálida and Almeria with 79 points.
As Alfredo Millá, CEO of Sonneil, points out, “The data show that coastal areas are still the best-valued for buying a home. This information is very useful for us, as it lets us determine where to focus our marketing efforts.”
The Spain Happy Index analyses various factors that people consider when deciding where to buy a home, such as climate or infrastructure: i.e. whether the property is close to schools, hospitals, universities or airports, among others. Being close to these basic services is a key factor that influences residents’ quality of life.
Sunny days: a decisive factor for purchasing a home
Sunlight influences our physical and emotional state. It is said that the sun makes us happier by activating vitamin D production in our body, which has many health benefits.
It is, therefore, not surprising that the decisive factor in buying a home can be a city’s number of sunny days. In this sense, two Andalusian coastlines enjoy the most sunny days: Almeria and Huelva, with 302 days per year. The Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Cadiz and the Costa de Azahar are included too.
“Enjoying so many days of sunshine is a blessing that makes Spain an ideal destination for enjoying the outdoors, social life and natural environments,” highlights Alfredo Millá. And he adds: “But it is not the only reason that pushes people to decide to move there. “Other factors like the quality of the beaches, natural landscapes, access to cultural activities, hospitals… are also important for both Spanish and foreign buyers.”
Mild temperatures = happier people
According to the index, temperature is another factor that is taken into account when ranking destinations. With average temperatures of 20ºC, the Canary Islands is in the top spot, followed by the coasts of Huelva and Almeria, with 18ºC and 17ºC, respectively.
Besides temperature, something else makes these areas the best to live in: they have very few days of rain. Almeria and the Canary Islands have only 29 and 36 rainy days per year, on average. This, together with sunny days and a mild climate, make these areas some of the happiest in the country.