A Mediterranean haven with 300 days of sunshine—and sea-view homes still under €300,000

DAILY POSTCARD  | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2026 Dear International Living reader, If you've ever dreamed of waking up to the sound of the sea… stepping out for coffee beneath palm trees…and paying far less than you would for the same lifestyle anywhere else in Europe… you'll want to hear about a city by the sea in Spain that makes our real estate expert Ronan McMahon's list of top places to buy in 2026. Recently, Ronan went live to reveal his 2026 RETA Index—his annual ranking of the 25 best places in the world to buy real estate. And #13 on the list is a Spanish city that's long been overlooked.  It's not the glitzy south of Spain that you might be more familiar with. It's a quieter, more authentic stretch of coast—still full of sunshine, history, and charm…but far better value than you'd expect. Below, Ronan takes you there and explains why it's one of the most livable and affordable places in Europe today. Read on… P.S. This is your last chance. If you want to unlock Ronan's 2026 Index of the best places to buy real estate overseas this year for just $7, you need to claim access here before midnight tonight. When you do, you'll get on-demand access to the Index Reveal online event and your copy of the 181-page Index Report. But you have just hours left to act. Get access here now. The Secret Spanish City by the Sea  By Ronan McMahon Imagine this… You wake to the sound of gulls and soft Mediterranean light pouring through the shutters. You step out onto your terrace—coffee in hand—and the sea is right there. Just a few steps away, a palm-lined promenade curves along a beach of golden sand. Your apartment cost €269,000. Thanks to generous financing available to foreign buyers in Spain, you own it for only around €900 a month. Below, the city is slowly coming to life. Locals stop to chat at cafés. The smell of fresh bread and salt drifts through narrow streets. The air is soft, sun-warmed, easy. This is your life in one of Europe's most radiant—and most undervalued—Mediterranean cities. This sunny Spanish city is the 13th best place to buy real estate in the world in 2026. That's according to my brand-new 2026 RETA Index, the result of a year of boots on the ground scouting and research. Get instant access to the full index here for just $7. But hurry—this offer ends at midnight. For more than two decades, I've circled the globe in search of places like this—rare corners where you can still live richly without being rich. Places where the sun shines bright, the pace slows, and owning a piece of paradise still makes financial sense. And this one has just ranked #13 on my brand-new RETA Index—the definitive list of the 25 best places in the world to buy real estate in 2026. Recently, I went live with my Editorial Director Ciaran Madden to reveal the full 25-destination RETA Index. And now, for the first time, the full Index Reveal event replay and the complete 181-page Index report are available on demand for just $7. Get instant access here. (But you only have until midnight to claim this offer.) Spain has always been one of my favorite hunting grounds for opportunity. Its southern coast—the glamorous Costa del Sol—has long drawn sunseekers and second-home buyers. But its fame comes with a price tag. Farther up the coast lies another stretch of shoreline—quieter, more authentic, and much better value. Its principal city is the one I'm describing here: a place where the Mediterranean sparkles just steps from a lively old quarter, where tapas bars hum under the shade of palm trees, and where the sun shines nearly 300 days a year. This "secret" Spanish city has it all…history, charm, the Mediterranean, an incredible foodie scene.  Northern Europeans have been coming here for decades, yet most Americans don't even know this coast exists. This is not a resort town that shuts down in winter. It's a real city—cosmopolitan yet unpretentious, historic but full of energy. It's where digital nomads, retirees, and locals all share the same quiet understanding that life here is meant to be savored. Spain has over 5,000 miles of coastline, but only two of its beach towns make The RETA Index, and this photo is of one of them where you can own ocean-view apartments for under €300,000.  The Romans once called this place Lucentum—the City of Light. It's easy to see why. Sunshine is a constant companion. Even in midwinter, café terraces are full, and the air smells of espresso, jasmine, and sea spray. Wander through the old quarter's cobbled lanes and you'll find whitewashed houses with geraniums spilling from balconies. Climb higher, and a medieval fortress watches over the city—its ramparts offering sweeping views of sea, sky, and sunlit rooftops. Down below, palm-lined promenades wind along soft-sand beaches right in the city's heart. Families stroll at sunset. Street musicians play. Restaurants overflow with laughter and late-night diners. This is Mediterranean living at its most authentic—and its most affordable. Despite its beauty and sunshine, this city remains remarkably affordable and accessible. Its international airport connects directly to major European hubs. High-speed trains reach Madrid in under two and a half hours. And the modern highway network stretches north and south along the coast. Yet property prices here remain a fraction of those in Barcelona or Marbella. You can still buy ocean-view condos for under €300,000. A two-bed, two-bath apartment just steps from the beach—with a terrace, parking, pool, and sea views—lists for €269,000. With 70% Spanish bank financing—available to North Americans—that's around €900 a month. Or, for €215,000, you could be in the historic heart of the city—in a three-bedroom apartment overlooking the sea. Add strong tourist demand, long-stay renters, remote workers, and retirees—and it's no surprise this city scored 9/10 for Income Potential on my 2026 Index. Spain's property market today is stable and sophisticated. Financing for foreign buyers is widely available. The legal system is transparent. Infrastructure, healthcare, and connectivity are world-class. A "path of progress" has been unfolding here for years. The port is undergoing a €223 million transformation and the high-speed rail station is surrounded by modern residential projects. Year-round cultural events include festivals and pilgrimages. And tourist spending in the region exceeded €6.8 billion in the first six months of 2025—a 6.23% increase compared to the same period the year before. The sun shines in this Spanish city year-round, and it's easy to get there... It's a place with momentum—where lifestyle and opportunity still intersect. Recently, I went live to reveal the name of this Spanish city, plus the rest of the 2026 RETA Index—my complete ranking of the 25 best places in the world to buy real estate in 2026. Until midnight, the full Index Reveal event replay and the complete 181-page report are available on demand for just $7. Claim instant access here. If you're trying to decide where to buy, where to retire, where to invest, or simply want to know what your best options are…the 2026 Index gives you a global map of possibilities. Within the Index report, you'll also get a Personal Index Tool that lets you compare all 25 destinations side by side—so you can rank them by what matters most to you: income potential, lifestyle, climate, stability, ease of ownership, or long-term upside. The Index helps you see—clearly—where your ideal destination is. When you claim access today, you'll get… The full Index Reveal replay video The complete 181-page 2026 RETA Index Report The sortable Index data table Your 60-day trial to Real Estate Trend Alert with all my research, scouting intel, contacts, and member-only deals. Get Instant Access to the 2026 RETA Index for $7. But hurry, this offer expires at midnight. Recommended Resource: A 2nd Passport: Your Key to Freedom and Wealth A 2nd passport is the key to protecting your freedom, independence, security...and to increased financial and lifestyle opportunities. Plus, your US taxes can be vastly reduced... you may never even have to pay them again. Here's a quick, easy, low-cost way to check out your options.     Inbox too crowded? Don't worry—if you can't keep up with our International Living Postcards every day, click here to switch to the Weekly Best of IL Postcards instead. If you no longer wish to receive IL Postcards, click here to unsubscribe. The mailbox associated with this email address is not monitored, so please do not reply. Your feedback is very important to us, so if you would like to contact us with a question or comment, please click here. © 2026 International Living Publishing Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Protected by copyright laws of the United States and international treaties. This newsletter may only be used pursuant to the subscription agreement and any reproduction, copying, or redistribution (electronic or otherwise, including on the world wide web), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without the express written permission of International Living, Woodlock House, Carrick Road, Portlaw, Co. Waterford, Ireland. Registered in Ireland No. 285214 Website: www.internationalliving.com Nothing in this e-mail should be considered personalized advice. Although our employees may answer your general customer service questions, they are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized advice. NO-SPAM PLEDGE: We Value Your Privacy. We will NEVER rent, sell, or give away your e-mail address to anyone for any reason. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read the International Living Privacy Policy. Reference Number: