House prices in coastal resorts like Lloret de Mar, Blanes, and Roses have risen a fraction recently, according to a market study published by local estate agents and developers, reported in the Spanish press.

The local associations of both estate agents and developers in the Catalan province of Girona, home to the Costa Brava, say that house prices in coastal areas have risen in the last few months, based on a recent market study commissioned by them.

An increase in demand from French and Russian holiday-home buyers lies behind the increase, they suggest.

“This increase is clearly driven by sales of second homes to Russians and French,” said Ramón Coromínas, in comments to the Spanish press.

Russians favour holiday-homes on the South Costa Brava, around towns like Lloret de Mar and Blanes, whilst the French go for homes in the Alt Emporda, close to the French border.

Look beyond the headlines of an increase in Costa Brava property prices, however, and the news isn’t all good. It turns out that, although house prices in some areas have risen in the last couple of months, over a six-month period prices for both new and resale homes actually fell in most areas.

The report also reveals that Girona, the provincial capital, has been displaced by Figueres, capital of the Alt Emporda, at the head of the regional sales rankings. Figueres also has a bigger stock of property to sell, and prices there have fallen more.