60 m² apartment in Gandía listed at €187,200: €3,120/m² and unsold for six months

€187,200 for 60 m² in Gandía: the ideal apartment that nobody is buying

A 60 m² built-area apartment with two bedrooms, one bathroom, garage, and storage room, built in 2009, located in a town of nearly 80,000 inhabitants. Price: €187,200. This works out to more than €3,000 per square meter, with monthly community fees of €80 and shared facilities including a pool that, according to discussions, bring additional costs and neighbor disputes. The potential buyer comes from a small village and is clear on one thing: they want to move in without needing renovations. What they are less sure about is whether the price is justified.

The majority response was a resounding no. The almost unanimous consensus is that for that amount of money, one could buy a larger apartment, a better-located one, or even one in another city. And the detail that closes the case: six months later, the apartment is still listed at the same price, without the owner budging a single cent.

How much does a square meter cost in Gandía?

The most repeated calculation was the price per meter. With €187,200 and 60 m², the figure exceeds €3,000/m². The nuance introduced was that the garage and storage room are included, which always adds value, but not enough to justify the total cost. Comparisons were made with Valencia city, where a similar amount could secure something comparable, and with new developments halfway between Gandía and Valencia for much less.

Some put a specific figure on the table: €110,000 would be a reasonable price. Others went as low as €100,000. A more aggressive calculation suggested offering €144,000, 24% below the asking price, to see what would happen. The interested party's conclusion was that such an offer would offend the owner, so it was better to pass.

Is Gandía a large city? The debate over the 80,000 inhabitants

Describing the town as a "large city" because it has nearly 80,000 inhabitants provoked more than one laugh. It was noted that there are municipalities of the same size that everyone calls a village, and the bar for being a large city was set much higher. The buyer defended themselves: they come from a small village, and for them, anything over 50,000 inhabitants is already a city.

This is no minor matter, as the category affects the price. If it is a medium-sized city with services, €3,000/m² might pass; if it is a village with delusions of grandeur, the same square meter is an absurdity. The entire discussion revolved around this tension.

Is a two-bedroom apartment worth it?

Here appeared the most repeated and hardest argument to refute: small apartments are more expensive per square meter. The fewer the meters, the more you pay for each one. The recommendation was clear: for that price, one should be able to buy a three-bedroom apartment and still have money left over. The case of someone who bought a two-bedroom and regretted it for life was cited.

Counter-arguments also carried weight. For a single person, 60 m² is more than enough. There are experiences of living very comfortably in less space, such as in a 40 m² apartment with a large balcony, without spending a cent because it was already set up. The key was not the size, but the layout and location. This was a point where opposing views coincided.

The kitchen, the awning, and what the photos don't show

Overall, the apartment was valued as modern and of good quality. The weak point was the kitchen: it seems it was originally enclosed and was poorly peine, leaving it right next to the entrance door and the living room. The image of the smell of fried food reaching the sofa was used without hesitation. It was recommended that, if left open, it should have a good countertop and an extractor hood.

There were also uncomfortable questions: what is behind the awning and why aren't the views shown? The answer was that there is an empty lot that neighbors use for parking. It is not a view; it is a wasteland. And the pool and common areas, far from being a plus, were seen as a source of expenses and neighborly conflicts.

The same building, €50,000 cheaper

The twist came at the end. An ad was found for a practically identical apartment in the same building for almost €50,000 less. The difference: it has no garage or storage room. For the interested party, this is not a problem because they do not need them. The conclusion wrote itself: if the same product is offered at two such different prices, the expensive one has no defense.

And the final blow: six months later, the original apartment is still for sale, without dropping a single cent. Sometimes the market is slow to prove you right. Or it never does. The owner maintains their price; the buyer, their doubts. The ad remains there, waiting for someone to pay €3,000 per square meter in a town that half of the interested parties would not call a city.