The orientation of a home is one of the factors that most influences comfort, energy consumption and the value of a property. On the Costa del Sol, with its Mediterranean climate, choosing the right orientation can make the difference between a house that is cool in summer and warm in winter, or quite the opposite.
How do you find out the orientation of a flat?
There are several simple ways to find out the orientation of your home:
- With your phone’s compass: stand facing the main façade. South: 180°, North: 0°/360°, East: 90°, West: 270°.
- With the cadastre (Catastro): at sedecatastro.gob.es you can see the exact orientation of your plot.
- With Google Maps: open the satellite view and turn on the North indicator.
- By watching the sun: if the sun comes into your living room in the morning, it faces east; if it comes in during the afternoon, it faces west; if it gets sun all day, it faces south.
Which orientation is best for a home in Málaga?
In the Mediterranean climate of Málaga and the Costa del Sol, the ideal orientation is SOUTH, with a slight shift towards the south-east. The reasons: maximum solar gain in winter (natural warmth without heating), control of the summer sun with well-sized eaves (no overheating), and even natural light throughout the day.
North-facing homes are the least recommended: little direct sunlight, more damp and higher heating consumption. According to studies by the IDAE (Spain’s Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving), a south-facing home in a Mediterranean climate can save between 15% and 30% on heating.
Orientation and property prices on the Costa del Sol
In the Costa del Sol property market, homes facing south or south-south-west command a price premium of between 5% and 15% over the same homes facing north. Sea views and a south-facing orientation are the two factors most valued by international buyers.
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