Andorra is home to some of the most breathtaking views in the Pyrenees mountains, something many residents and expats look forward to when purchasing property here.
Unlike other tax havens, Andorra offers both affordable and luxury homes for sale, to suit every need. Properties start for as low as €120,000 for single flats and go up to €20,000,000 for luxury chalets.
The only catch? Buying a house in Andorra may not be as simple as logging on to an online portal and browsing through hundreds of options. It’s extremely common to come across a listing you love only to find that it’s already been sold months before.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through some of the common challenges faced when trying to buy property in Andorra and how to find the right agents and portals to make your time worthwhile.
Finding a Trustworthy Agent
When it comes to buying property for sale in Andorra, the real challenge isn’t about finding the right house — it’s about finding the right agent.
In fact, you’ll probably find more agents than properties available here.
A common practice that many agents engage in is re-listing properties from other websites on their websites. This creates confusion when you get in touch with them, or find out that the property that you’re interested in has already been sold.
When you do however find the right agent, you won’t have to look very far to find the property that matches your needs; Andorra is a micronation after all and there are only so many flats and chalets available here.
Individual Agents
These agents are in plenty and most of them have websites of their own where you can check the latest listings of the property that they deal with.
You’ll often find many listings of the same area, since they tend to focus on one area at a time.
While you may be able to find a really good deal here, it often takes a long time for properties to be updated. Either that or they get sold out to buyers who’ve been on a waiting list before you.
In such cases, it’s good to get on to their buying lists so you can constantly be in the loop.
Buyers Agents
Buyers agents can be more dependable than your average agents as they represent you, the buyer, as opposed to seller agents that represent the seller. In a nutshell, they make it their priority to find you the best property that ticks off all your boxes.
If you’re an expat looking to make the move to Andorra, your representative will probably help you out here and connect you to a trustworthy buyer’s agent.
Online Portals To Check Out
While the number of listings on online portals has a tendency to fluctuate, you’ll find some of the best options available here.
From Arinsal to La Massana, from single room apartments to penthouses and chalets — there’s something for everyone if you dig hard enough.
Idealista
Idealista will probably be one of the top searches you come across in your search for property listings in Andorra.
This is probably due to the fact that Idealista keeps its listings up to date.
The website itself is easy to use and offers a wide variety of flats, duplexes, chalets, and even land too. All of this with high-quality images, of course.
Habitaclia
Another website with good images, Habitaclia covers much of the Andorran property market.
The only drawback here is that you may notice multiple listings of the same house posted by different agents. Finding the right person to get in touch with over here can be slightly tricky.
Busco Casa
While it isn’t the most user-friendly website out there, Busco Casa does have the most number of agents and listings.
As expected, you’ll have to do some digging around till you find what you’re looking for. Take into account that they don’t update their website regularly which can get annoying if the property you’re interested ends up being sold out.
Property for Sale in Andorra: What To Expect
Andorra has flats, duplexes, townhouses, detached houses, villas/chalets, land parcels, and commercial real estate for sale. Invico Andorra is a premier real estate agency based in Andorra that specializes in the purchase and sale of properties in the principality.
Want to purchase property for tax-residency in Andorra? We can assist you in your property acquisition including paperwork.
The property prices are hardly affected by world economic recessions and they experience steady growth each year. As more wealthy residents move into the principality attracted by its low taxes and high living standards, you can expect the value of your property to increase.
Many of our clients choose to settle in remote villages to enjoy pristine untouched nature and peace. For those who prefer a busier city with plenty of events, we have properties in the capital Andorra La Vella.
Flats For Sale
In Andorra La Vella, which is the capital of Andorra, you’ll find high-end apartments, offices, and commercial buildings for sale. Most residents live in flats while few enjoy chalets in the hills surrounding the city. Almost all flats in Andorra La Vella offer a full or partial view of the mountains.
The flat prices can vary greatly in the capital and smaller towns. The average price of a flat on the low-end is €2,500-3,000 m² while it can go up to €15,000 m² in the most exclusive buildings. It’s possible to purchase a small flat in the capital for €150,000 (including closing costs).
In smaller towns in the country (near ski resorts) such as Canillo, La Massana, Soldeu, and Ordino the prices are similar and you can find flats for €120,000+. Smaller studios can be purchased for €100,000 or slightly less.
Houses, Villas and Chalets
Detached houses, locally known as “xalets” are some of the many attractive housing options available in Andorra. They are common in the non-urbanized locations of the country such as villages near ski resorts and they provide some of the most beautiful views of the Pyrenees mountain range.
Houses and villas here are mostly luxury and cost in the area of €1-3M on average. Few chalets can be found in the €500,000-700,000 range. Many high-end chalets can exceed €10M+ and can include plenty of surrounding land.
We have a wide choice regarding houses and chalets in the principality and can help you choose the ideal home based on design features, location, building materials, and more. Consult us for advice on purchasing or building a chalet in Andorra.
Rustic & Historic Homes in Andorra
Andorra has over 700 years of history as a principality and many historic buildings can be purchased. Most historic/rustic homes in the principality are built from materials like wood and stone and tend to be available in the countryside.
Rustic homes in Andorra have a high-mountain design similar to the Alpine region and can be purchased for €500,000-1M. We can help you purchase a historic home furnished and equipped for modern living.
Andorran Land For Sale
If you want to build your own chalet, there are plenty of land and farm parcels for sale in Andorra. However, building on your own can be quite an expensive endeavor as the average plot can easily run €500,000+. The price of land can be as low as €700 m² or five times higher, depending on the location and availability of infrastructure.
It’s possible to find smaller 400 m² plots for €200,000-300,000 in a decent location, but if you want a large 1000 m² plot where you can integrate a pool and a garden near a town, the price will exceed €1M+.
Buying Property as a Non-Resident
To avoid a surge in housing prices, the Andorran government had placed certain restrictions on foreign purchases which were later lifted in 2012. Today, foreigners can buy property in Andorra, but each purchase has to be approved by the government.
The buyer and seller sign a contract called a “Promesa de compra-venda” — a promise to buy and sell.
Once the contract is drafted, the buyer places a 10% deposit which is placed in escrow by the real estate agent while the permission to purchase is approved by the government.
This deposit is non-refundable. Once the purchase is approved, the contract is notarized and the foreign buyer purchases the property in Andorra. For more information on buying property in Andorra, ready our step-by-step guide.
Want to buy a property in Andorra? We can help you pick a location based on your lifestyle and needs.
