Property Supplement CBN 23 - 29 April 2026 Issue 2129

A coast of opportunity

THE Costa Blanca continues to be the destination of choice for those seeking a blend of Mediterranean lifestyle and sound financial planning. As we move into the second quarter of 2026, the region is enjoying a period of steady and healthy growth, solidifying its reputation as one of Spain’s most resilient and popular coastal stretches.

Rather than the erratic swings seen in previous years, the current market is defined by a consistent upward trend. Property values

in the Alicante Province have seen an encouraging rise of 18.3 per cent over the last year. While prices are moving up, the growth is backed by genuine demand from people looking for holiday homes, retirement spots, and remote-working bases, rather than speculative trading.

The region offers something for every budget. In the south, areas like Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa remain wonderfully accessible, offering great value for money and exce-

llent potential for rental income. Meanwhile, the northern hubs of Denia and Altea continue to attract those looking for a more exclusive feel between the mountains and the sea.

A major factor in this continued success is the ease of access. Alicante-Elche Airport recently reported record-breaking passenger numbers, proving that the desire for the Spanish sun is stronger than ever. New infrastructure and a focus on high-quality,

energy-efficient new builds are also making the region more attractive to modern buyers. While there is less property on the market than in previous years, this scarcity simply highlights how desirable the area has become. For anyone looking to secure their own slice of paradise, the message for 2026 is one of confidence. The Costa Blanca isn’t just a place to buy a house; it’s an investment in a lifestyle that remains as timeless and inviting as ever.

The perfect storm

Why you shouldn’t wait any longer to get solar energy

AS of March 2026, global events are once again pushing energy prices upward, and the effects are visible in our daily expenses. What looked like a period of stabilisation has reversed due to rising geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East. The result is clear: energy and living costs are climbing again. Why everything is becoming more expensive

Several factors are reinforcing each other. The escalation of tensions around Iran has unsettled global markets, driving up energy prices.

Gas and electricity

European gas prices have risen in recent weeks. Because gas still largely determines electricity prices in Europe, this increase is directly reflected in power costs. Those with dynamic contracts are already seeing price spikes, while fixed contracts will soon adjust upward. Oil and transport

Oil prices have also surged. Instability

in the Persian Gulf raises insurance costs for tankers and creates fears of supply disruptions. This leads not only to higher fuel prices but also increases the cost of transporting goods, affecting nearly everything we buy.

Grid costs and taxes

In Spain and across Europe, billions are being invested to upgrade electricity grids, which will increase management costs in the coming years. Although the Spanish government has temporarily reduced taxes to ease the burden, this is only a short-term measure.

Why you must act NOW (and not af-

ter summer)

Waiting for prices to drop may seem logical, but historically, energy prices rise faster than they fall. Acting now on solar energy offers key advantages.

Panel prices are expected to rise

Due to global trade shifts and raw material shortages, solar panel prices could increase by 10-15 per cent. Buying now allows you to benefit from current pricing.

Immediate cost control

Every kilowatt-hour you generate yourself avoids taxes, grid fees, and surcharges, helping stabilise your monthly expenses.

Avoid delays

When energy prices spike further, demand for solar systems will surge, increasing waiting times. Acting now ensures installation before peak pricing periods.

Batteries are becoming essential

In 2026, combining solar panels with a home battery is increasingly important. It allows you to store your own energy and avoid expensive peak rates, especially as compensation for feeding energy back into the grid continues to decline. We cannot control global events, but we can control our energy choices. Investing in solar energy now reduces dependence on volatile markets and protects you from rising costs.

We can prepare a personalised quote including yield calculations based on your current consumption, call +34 966 941 849 or visit solarnrg.es.

The broken plan

FOR decades, the architectural holy grail has been the removal of walls. We traded the ‘rabbit warren’ of Victorian terraces for vast, echoing expanses where the kitchen, lounge, and dining room bled into one. It was the era of the ‘great room’, designed for seamless entertaining and keeping an eye on the children. But as our homes have been forced to function as offices, gyms, and schools, the shine is wearing off the open-plan dream. The end of the echo

The shift away from total openness isn’t a return to the cramped quarters of the past, but rather a move toward ‘brokenplan’ living. The primary catalyst? Noise. In an open-plan home, the whirr of a Nutribullet is the enemy of a Zoom call, and a teenager’s gaming session becomes the soundtrack to your evening

glass of wine. We have rediscovered that doors are not just barriers; they are acoustic sanctuaries.

Defining your zones

Zoning is the new buzzword in property development. Instead of knocking down every internal leaf, designers are now using structural elements to create intimate sub-spaces.

Internal glazing: Crittall-style glass partitions allow light to flow through the property while physically containing sound and smell.

Level changes: Sunken ‘conversation

pits’ or raised platforms for dining create a sense of transition without requiring a solid wall.

Double-sided fireplaces: These act as a central anchor, providing warmth and a visual boundary between a cosy snug and a high-traffic kitchen.

The return of the snug There is also a psychological shift at play. Large, cavernous spaces can feel cold and exposed. Today’s buyers are increasingly looking for a ‘snug’ - a dedicated, smaller room where they can retreat for privacy. These ‘jewel box’

rooms allow for bolder decor choices that might feel overwhelming in a 50-squaremetre space, such as dark velvets and deep navy walls.

The open-plan era isn’t entirely dead, but it has certainly evolved. We still crave the light and the social ‘heart’ of the home, but we are no longer willing to sacrifice our peace and quiet to get it. By embracing zoned, intimate spaces, we are finally building homes that work for the way we actually live, rather than just how we want them to look in a brochure.

SPAIN’S scorching summer days can make gardening feel more like a trial than a pastime. Enter the ‘Moonlight Garden’ - a dreamy, nocturnal twist on traditional outdoor spaces that’s quickly capturing the imagination of homeowners and property designers alike. These gardens come alive when the sun sets, offering a cool, fragrant escape for evening relaxation and entertaining.

Moonlight Gardens are built around plants that shine in the dark, quite literally. White-blooming varieties such as Jasmine, White Cosmos, Gaura, and even night-blooming Nicotiana reflect moonlight, creating an ethereal glow across patios and terraces. Their visual impact is matched by their scent: the gentle release of fragrance in the evening air transforms gardens into sensory retreats, perfect for unwinding after a long, hot day.

Designing a Moonlight Garden is both an art and a science. Gardeners and landscapers

moonlight gardens

choose plantings for their colour, texture, and nocturnal appeal, layering blooms with silver-leafed foliage, pale stones, and soft lighting to amplify the moonlit effect. Paths wind through fragrant

THE Spanish ‘porch’ has had a glow-up. Gone are the days of a simple roofed terrace; today it’s all about stylish outdoor rooms that are as clever as they are beautiful. Think deep overhangs, retractable screens, and ‘living pergolas’ draped in bougainvillea, creating shaded havens that cool your home naturally - without cranking the air conditioning 24/7.

These spaces aren’t just for Instagramworthy brunches (though they excel at that, too). They act as natural shields against Spain’s relentless sun, keeping interiors cooler and energy bills lower. A welldesigned overhang or leafy pergola can reduce solar heat gain dramatically, so your home stays pleasantly temperate even when temperatures soar.

Living pergolas are stealing the show. Bougainvillea, with its riot of pinks, purples, and reds, doesn’t just look fabulous - it forms a cooling canopy, filtering sunlight and creating dappled shade. Add a few climbers, a comfy lounge, and perhaps a glass of chilled sangria, and you have a space that’s simultaneously a private hideaway, a social hub, and a natural air conditioner.

Architects are pushing the envelope further, stretching overhangs across dining areas, patios, and garden paths. The result?

A seamless indoor-outdoor flow where kitchen, living room, and terrace feel like one continuous living space. It’s alfresco living at its finest - cool, comfortable, and completely in tune with the Mediterranean lifestyle.

For buyers in Spain, these shaded outdoor rooms are more than a pretty feature -

clusters, seating areas are tucked under jasmine arches, and subtle outdoor lighting ensures the garden sparkles without overpowering the natural charm. These gardens are also

practical. By focusing on evening enjoyment, they avoid the punishing midday heat, reducing the need for constant watering and heavy maintenance during peak summer. Moonlight Gardens

make outdoor living comfortable and sustainable, encouraging alfresco dinners, quiet reading corners, or simply stargazing with a glass of wine. For property buyers in Spain, a Moonlight Garden is more than a planting schemeit’s a lifestyle statement. It signals thoughtful design, an appreciation for the Mediterranean climate, and a flair for enchanting spaces. Whether in a city courtyard or a countryside villa, these gardens extend living spaces beyond walls, offering magical, cool nights under the stars.

In short, the Moonlight Garden proves that the best gardens don’t always bloom under the sun. With the right white flowers, scented foliage, and soft lighting, evenings in Spain can be transformed into a sensory delight - beautiful, fragrant, and utterly unforgettable.

Sun-smart outdoor spaces

they’re a lifestyle upgrade. They transform a home into a year-round retreat, offering cosy winter mornings protected from the wind and hot summer afternoons under leafy shade. Whether it’s a city apartment terrace or a

integrating shade with greenery is fast becoming a hallmark of savvy, climate-conscious design.

In short, the porch has evolved from a

a

home cool, your spirits high, and your Instagram followers jealous. Who knew staying out of the sun could look this good?

Greener by design

THE era of the ‘token cactus’ on a windowsill is firmly behind us. In today’s property market, houseplants have evolved from mere ornaments into architectural essentials. No longer an afterthought, indoor greenery is now integrated into the very fabric of home design, used to define spaces and soften the stark edges of modern industrial or minimalist interiors.

This ‘green shift’ is spearheaded by biophilic

design - the principle of weaving nature into our daily living environments to boost mental clarity. As our lives become more urban and screen-dependent, the home has become a sanctuary for the ‘analogue’. Large, structural specimens like the Strelitzia (Bird of Paradise) or a large Monstera Deliciosa are now used as living sculptures, anchoring a room’s layout just as effectively as a designer sofa.

The lifestyle appeal is equally practical. Beyond their air-purifying qualities, plants act as natural acoustic buffers and ‘soft’ partitions in the home. Whether it is a cascading Devil’s Ivy trailing from a bespoke shelving unit or a dedicated ‘plant nook’ in a home office, greenery provides a vital sense of vitality. In the modern home, a room without plants doesn’t just look empty - it feels unfinished.

Experienced Estate Agents at your service

COASTLINE PROPERTIES is an established, independent estate agent and property finder, with 20 years experience and in depth local knowledge of the Northern Costa Blanca, based in Denia and specialising in the Marina Alta.

Founded in 2006 Coastline Properties has been built into an established and professional agency with a trusted reputation for high quality service, and a wide ranging property portfolio offering all types of villas, apartments, bungalows and townhouses - for all year living, holiday homes or investments.

Founder, Philip Westerby, says “We pride ourselves in our

high quality, personal service and professional advice and will be happy to assist vendors or buyers in all aspects of the sale or purchase - providing support and guidance for a stress free, successful completion. You can see many reviews and recommendations from satisfied clients on our website!

“Our expertise will help you at every step of the selling or buying process. We also offer a complete after sales service.”

If you need advice or a free valuation you can Call or WhatsApp Philip on 0034 606 798 213 or Email: philip@coastlineproperties.es Website: www.coastlinepropertiesspain.com

THE kitchen was once a hidden engine room, a purely functional space tucked away at the back of the house where meals were prepared in relative isolation. Today, that hierarchy has been completely inverted.

The modern kitchen has emerged as the undisputed heart of the home, a multi-functional statement space that serves as a theatre for cooking, a makeshift home office, and the primary social hub for the entire family.

At the centre of this transformation is the supersized kitchen island. No longer just a modest prep station, these monolithic structures are now designed as communal anchors. We are seeing a trend toward expansive layouts that incorporate integrated breakfast bars and low-level seating, allowing the island to function as a casual dining table.

These designs bridge the gap between the chef and the guests, ensuring that whoever is preparing dinner is always part of the conversation rather than tucked away behind a wall.

The aesthetic of the statement kitchen has also moved away from the clinical, all-white

The kitchen’s evolution

gloss of previous decades. Instead, there is a newfound love for mixing materials to create a warmer, more ‘lived-in’ feel. Designers are pairing tactile contrasts like cold stone worktops with warm, fluted timber cabinetry to add character. Industrial accents, such as aged brass hardware or matte black taps, provide a sophisticated, bespoke edge that makes the space feel more like a curated gallery than a utility room.

Perhaps the most significant shift is the kitchen’s evolution into a true living space. We are increasingly seeing the introduction of furniture traditionally reserved for the lounge, such as open shelving for art books and even upholstered seating that mimics a high-end restaurant booth.

Lighting plays a crucial role here too, moving away from harsh, utilitarian spotlights in favour of layered, dimmable lamps and pendants. This allows the room to transition effortlessly from a bright, productive workspace in the morning to a moody, intimate bar setting in the evening. After all, the kitchen isn’t just where we eat; it is where the best memories are made.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Tu Real Estate supporting your Costa Blanca property journey

TU REAL ESTATE is a well established and trusted property agency based in Alfaz del Pi, with five years of dedicated experience in the local property market. The company is owned and managed by Niklas Löfroth, who has lived in the area for more than 26 years. With a strong background in the service sector, Niklas has developed an extensive and reliable network of local professionals, ensuring that clients benefit from valuable connections and deep knowledge of the Costa Blanca property landscape.

At Tu Real Estate, the emphasis is on providing a genuinely personal and supportive service. Each client’s needs are ca refully understood, with guidance offered throughout every stage of

the property journey. From the first enquiry through to completion and beyond, ongoing assistance remains available to ensure a smooth and reassuring experience.

Security and peace of mind are central to the Tu Real Estate approach. In addition to property sales, the company offers complementary services including insurance solutions, key holding and practical support, helping to safeguard each property investment and simplify ownership.

Elevate your outdoor living: The resin revolution on the Costa Blanca

IN the sun-drenched landscapes of the northern Costa Blanca, homeowners are increasingly turning to a sophisticated solution for their outdoor aesthetic: Resin. As a modern alternative to traditional tiling, resin surfaces have emerged as a leading trend in outdoor design, seamlessly blending high-end style with rugged practicality.

The perfect blend of form and function

The secret to the success of resin lies in its composition. By combining high-quality resin with natural aggregates, PTS Resin creates a finish that is entirely seamless. Unlike tiles, there are no grout lines to weed or scrub, resulting in a smooth, contemporary look that enhances driveways, terraces, and indoor spaces alike.

Safety and longevity are at the core of the product. These surfaces are inherently slip-resistant and weather-resistant, providing a secure

footing for ‘tile-free’ poolsides even in the height of summer.

Why choose PTS Resin?

Beyond its striking modern aesthetic, the benefits of resin are extensi-

ve:

• Hard Wearing and Long Lasting: Designed to withstand the elements and heavy use.

• Low Maintenance: Naturally easy

to clean and resistant to the wear and tear of Mediterranean life.

• Bespoke Artistry: From smooth, organic shapes to custom designs, the material allows for complete creative freedom.

Local expertise you can trust Choosing the right material is only half the battle; installation requires precision. PTS Resin is a speciali-

sed extension of PTS Pools, bringing years of established expertise to the northern Costa Blanca. Their reputation for excellence ensures that every project delivers excellent value and professional craftsmanship. Ready to transform your home? Contact PTS Resin for a free survey and quote and discover the stylish, practical future of outdoor living.