It is difficult to separate the effects of the housing market collapse from broader social changes. Yet it is clear that over the last ten years Alicante residents and Spaniards in general have reorganized how they access housing. More households rent, and the mix of inherited property has also become part of the picture. Fewer families face heavy monthly mortgage payments, a trend that accompanies debt reduction but brings its own set of challenges.
This shift is captured in the Population and Housing Basic Characteristics Survey, a newly published INE study that complements census data and provides a clear view of the transformation from 2011 to 2021.
The most visible change is in household numbers. In Alicante province, total households rose from 738,367 to 766,168 as the population increased from 1,852,166 to 1,884,261. A notable trend is the rise of single-person households, from 176,476 to 206,314, while single couples moved from 241,509 to 243,685. These changes reflect aging demographics and evolving family models.
Heritages set a record in Alicante
Beyond demographics, the biggest shift concerns how households obtain housing. The number of Alicante families renting homes grew from about 79,000 to nearly 119,000 in the last decade, rising from 10.7 percent to 15.5 percent of all households. Meanwhile, the number of households that own homes inherited or donated to relatives reached 72,487, or 9.5 percent of the total. In 2011, those figures were about 47,000 and 6.3 percent, respectively.
On the other hand, households that own a home outright without a mortgage remained around 40 percent, increasing from 292,505 to 306,824 in absolute terms. The share financed by a mortgage fell from 36.7 percent to 27.4 percent, or from 271,263 to 209,423 households. In practical terms, about 62,000 fewer families carried a mortgage in Alicante.
What may look like good news on debt relief masks longer-term financing difficulties and slower emancipation for many families. A professor at the University of Alicante and a real estate expert notes that the disappearance of savings banks diminished traditional paths to homeownership. This has intensified the rise in rents and the pressure on households with limited resources for new homes, highlighting a broader financing challenge that remains unresolved.
The same expert also points out that a significant driver of the decline in mortgaged households is the foreclosure wave that followed the housing crash and the great recession. Latest judiciary figures indicate that about 62,000 mortgages were foreclosed in the province.
Buying or renting a house What is the current picture in Alicante
The INE study provides disaggregated data for municipalities with more than 50,000 residents. In tourist hubs the pattern differs notably from the provincial average. In Torrevieja, for example, around one in four residents live in rented housing. Benidorm shows a similar tilt, with rental households comprising about 38 percent of the total. It is important to note that the report only covers people registered in the census and not the many foreigners or non-residents who own property in the area.
In contrast, areas with fewer rental homes tend to have more mortgages. Places like Vincent Street have almost 40 percent of residents with mortgages, reflecting the post-boom home-buying surge. Alicante itself shows a combination of mortgages and high ownership rates with substantial regional variation.
Approximately 94,000 families own second homes. The INE data indicate that about 93,788 Alicante households hold a second property, representing 12 percent of the total. This figure pertains to properties owned by registered residents in the province and does not account for homes owned by foreigners or non-residents. The share of second homes in Alicante trails the national average of roughly 15.5 percent.
As the province continues to evolve, the mix of rental and owned housing will shape affordability, mobility, and housing policy. The INE findings offer a nuanced snapshot of how families adapt their housing strategies in response to economic shifts and changing life circumstances. Attribution: INE 2021.