Abandoned villages in rural Galicia, once the domain of foreign investors and nostalgic descendants of emigrants, have taken on a new life—this time in the hands of outsiders from other parts of Spain looking for a radically different (and much cheaper) way to live.
With prices starting as low as €39,000—less than a quarter of the cost of a modest flat in most urban areas—these once-forgotten hamlets are drawing increasing numbers of young and not-so-young buyers who have had enough of cramped cities, spiralling prices, and a lifetime chained to a mortgage.
Fleeing unaffordable housing and urban stress
In many Spanish cities, particularly hotspots like Barcelona and Madrid, any flat under €120,000 is practically extinct. Galicia, on the other hand, offers entire villages for the same price—or less—including stone houses, barns, granaries, private water sources and several hectares of land.
With the average mortgage in Galicia now nearing €160,000, the concept of taking on a home loan that stretches decades into the future no longer appeals to an emerging class of property buyers. Increasingly, outsiders from major urban centres like Barcelona, Seville, and Madrid are heading to Galicia’s rural interior in search of better value and a different kind of life—one that doesn’t involve being financially shackled to a bank.
“They’re looking for a different way of living,” explains Elvira Fafián, director of Aldeas Abandonadas Real Estate, a company that specialises in these types of off-grid rural properties. “They prefer buying something with potential and restoring it over time, instead of getting locked into a 30-year mortgage for a flat in the suburbs.”
From ‘ruina’ to rural dream
These villages aren’t just the Spanish equivalent of dilapidated ghost towns—they’re self-contained little ecosystems with enormous potential. A typical listing might include multiple houses, stables, a barn, an orchard, possibly some woodland, and even a fresh water spring.
Take, for example, one property near Galicia’s Costa da Morte, listed at €39,000—down from €89,000. It includes a 300 m² main stone house to restore, another 134 m² dwelling, an assortment of casetas (small buildings), two traditional raised granaries or hórreos, and a garden with bamboo—all in a village of just three neighbours and close to the coast.
Other properties fetch more, especially estates with larger plots or historic value, topping €300,000 or even €2.5 million. But the majority remain under €100,000—a price point that makes them especially attractive to buyers who value space and tranquillity over a short commute and chain cafés.
Settling in and cashing in on incentives
One of the first things these newcomers do? Register on the municipal padrón (residency list) to qualify for local subsidies for property renovation, tax breaks, and help with financing. Galicia’s regional government and European rural development funds support various programmes to encourage revitalisation of abandoned villages.
What’s more, these villagers-in-the-making often find themselves embraced by municipalities eager to reverse decades of depopulation and demographic decline.
International buzz and word-of-mouth expansion
While new buyers from across Spain are fuelling the current boom, word is also spreading abroad. International clients—particularly Americans—are showing interest, some lured by friends or acquaintances who’ve already bought into the rural Galician escape.
“They’re coming on the recommendation of other foreigners who bought villages here a few years ago,” notes Fafián. “They trust the process and often purchase just after seeing it online.”
Some clients, particularly those from the US or Northern Europe, come with larger budgets, targeting properties for conversion into agrotourism ventures, retreats, or multi-generational homes.
A limited but dwindling supply
Currently, the website aldeasabandonadas.com lists 106 such properties across Spain, 31 of which are in Galicia. That’s fewer than two years ago, when Galicia’s share of the national total reached 40%. The decline isn’t due to lack of interest—but rather faster sales paired with the painstaking process of bringing these villages to market.
It can take up to a year to ready a property for sale, especially when multiple heirs are involved and ownership documentation is incomplete—a common situation after decades of abandonment.
A slower life, a faster sale
In the current overheated housing market, where studio flats in cities can command eye-watering prices, the idea of picking up an entire rural enclave for the same cost—and transforming it into a primary home, business, or retreat—is increasingly compelling.
For outsiders weary of the urban grind, and open to the rustic realities of village life, Galicia offers a mix of affordability, charm, and potential that’s hard to beat. Add in government incentives and increasing digital connectivity, and what once seemed like a romantic gamble is starting to look like a smart move.
As the spell of the Spanish countryside works its magic on buyers near and far, the once-forgotten hamlets of Galicia may be forgotten no more.
