In the midst of a heat wave, searches for homes with pools aren’t just a way to take your mind off things—they’re starting to feel like a reality when prices in the regions bordering Madrid aren’t as exorbitant as those in the capital. Guadalajara is becoming one of the top destinations for Madrid residents seeking more green space, more land, and more peace and quiet.
The problem is that prices in the areas closest to the CAM—those in the Corredor del Henares—have also risen, which is why the search continues to push boundaries, and La Alcarria is the new sought-after destination.
Albalate de Zorita, according to Idealista, is one of the best options because it offers detached homes with land and a pool starting at around 150,000 euros and an average price per square meter of around 1,000–1,100 euros/m², clearly below the provincial average and light-years away from the capital.
The town, located in the heart of La Alcarria, is very close to the Entrepeñas Reservoir and the Nueva Sierra de Altomira development, one of Europe ’s largest residential developments for second homes. By car, it takes about an hour and a quarter to an hour and a half from Madrid, depending on the starting point and whether you take the A-2 or the R-2/A-3 in combination with regional roads.
Nueva Sierra de Altomira: the major driver of single-family home sales
A large portion of the supply of homes with pools in Albalate de Zorita is concentrated in the Nueva Sierra de Altomira development, a massive complex built around the Bolarque Reservoir. This immense development features more than 2,000 villas, 5,000 lots, and thousands of hectares of natural surroundings, with shared amenities such as community pools, sports areas, a yacht club, a river beach, 24-hour security, and other facilities designed for second-home living.
It is within Nueva Sierra where many of these detached homes are located, featuring lots of 800–1,200 m², private pools or pre-installation for one, terraces, gardens, and unobstructed views of the mountains or the reservoir. This type of property would easily cost more than double here in areas closer to the capital.
Beyond the cold, hard data on price per square meter, what makes Albalate de Zorita so appealing is the combination of price, space, and surroundings. In fact, rural homes and vacation rentals in the area are often marketed specifically for their private, heated pools, barbecue areas, panoramic terraces, and access to hiking trails or water sports on the reservoir.
