It is difficult to separate how much of the housing shifts we see come from economic fallout, and how much from wider social changes. The truth is that over the last decade, Alicante residents and Spaniards in general have experienced notable changes in how people access homes. There are more rentals, and family dynamics have shifted alongside it. Fewer households feel the burden of mortgages, and the reasons behind that shift are nuanced rather than simple.
This trend is echoed in the Population and Housing Basic Characteristics Survey, a recently published study by INE that complements census data. It offers a clear snapshot of the transformation in housing access between 2011 and 2021.
One of the most striking facts is the rise in total households in the province. The count grew from 738,367 to 766,168, driven by a larger population—from 1,852,166 to 1,884,261—and, importantly, by more single-person households. Those living alone increased from 176,476 to 206,314, while single couples rose modestly from 241,509 to 243,685. The pattern points to aging demographics and evolving family models.
Heritages set record in Alicante
Beyond the numbers, the most meaningful change lies in how people obtain housing. The number of Alicante families renting homes climbed from about 79,000 to nearly 119,000 over ten years, rising from 10.7% to 15.5% of all households. At the same time, about 72,487 households received homes through inheritance or donation, accounting for 9.5% of the total. In 2011, these figures were 47,000 and 6.3% respectively.
Meanwhile, the share of residents buying homes outright and staying mortgage-free stood at around 40%, up from 292,505 households to 306,824. The portion with mortgages, however, fell from 36.7% to 27.4% (271,263 to 209,423), meaning roughly 62,000 fewer families carried a mortgage.
What can seem like good news—reduced debt—also highlights enduring financing challenges that have restrained emancipation and pushed many to seek alternatives. A real estate professor from the University of Alicante, Taltavull Pigeon, notes the disappearance of savings banks and their lending models, which once supported new home ownership in Spain. He points out that this shift contributed to the slower formation of new households and higher rental costs, squeezing family budgets even further.
Another key factor behind the decline in mortgaged homes is the wave of foreclosures that followed the housing market collapse and the Great Recession. The judiciary’s latest data indicate about 62,000 foreclosures in the province, underscoring the lasting impact on families who lost homes.
Buying or renting a house? This is the situation in Alicante
The INE study also presents disaggregated data for municipalities with populations over 50,000, shedding light on how trends vary by place. Some tourist towns stand out when compared to the provincial average of 15.5% rental homes. Torrevieja, for example, has about one in four residents living in rental housing, highlighting how tourism and local economics shape housing markets. Benidorm shows a higher share of rental households as well, illustrating regional differences within the same province. The report covers only residents registered in the census, a caveat that matters for interpreting these numbers.
In contrast, areas with lower mortgage activity exist alongside those with more families carrying loans. In particular, Vincent Street is notable for having almost 40% of residents paying mortgages, a reflection of the years when many young couples bought homes at the peak. Alicante itself has a slightly lower share of mortgaged households, around 31% in similar contexts, while the region also records significant pockets of higher mortgage dependence in certain communities.
Approximately 94,000 families own second homes. The INE survey shows that about 93,788 Alicante households have a second home, roughly 12% of the total. This figure pertains only to properties owned by people registered in the province and does not account for homes owned by foreigners or non-residents from other parts of Europe or the world. The share of Alicante residents with a second home sits below the national average of 15.5%.
In municipalities with high tourist demand, there tends to be a lower share of mortgaged homes, as seen in several coastal towns where rental demand remains strong. The data suggest a patchwork pattern: some areas show a robust mortgage market, while others lean more toward renting or inherited homes. These differences reflect local economies, population age, and the lingering effects of past housing booms.
Overall, the INE findings reveal a province undergoing a fundamental shift in how housing is accessed. For many residents, renting is no longer a temporary arrangement but a sustained option, while mortgage dependency has become a more selective path. The trend toward more diverse housing arrangements appears likely to continue as demographics, policy, and financing models evolve.