Foreign buyers account for one in six property sales in Spain – Alicante and Málaga among the favourites

Interest from international property buyers in Spain continues to grow. New figures show that foreign buyers accounted for more than 16% of all property transactions in the third quarter of 2026. In several of the country's most popular coastal areas, the proportion is significantly higher – and in the province of Alicante, it is approaching half of all transactions.

Spain continues to maintain its position as one of Europe's most attractive property markets for international buyers. This is confirmed by new figures from the Spanish Land Registry, Colegio de Registradores, which show that foreign nationals purchased more than 26,300 properties in Spain between July and September 2026.

This represents 16.05% of all property transactions nationwide. In other words, more than one in six properties was sold to a foreign buyer – the highest proportion ever recorded.

The figures highlight Spain's continued appeal to buyers from around the world, including those looking for a holiday home in the sun, as well as those wishing to relocate permanently or invest in the Spanish property market.

Alicante and Málaga Attract Particularly High Numbers of Foreign Buyers

Demand from international buyers is particularly concentrated in areas where climate, quality of life, infrastructure and proximity to the coast play an important role.

Among Spain's regions, the Balearic Islands rank highest. Here, as many as 37.2% of properties sold in the third quarter were purchased by foreign nationals.

In second place is the Valencian Community, where foreign buyers accounted for 30.4% of all transactions. The Canary Islands followed with 25.4%, while the Murcia region recorded 23%.

Andalusia, Catalonia and other parts of Spain's Mediterranean coastline are also experiencing strong international interest.

Looking more closely at individual provinces, the trend becomes even clearer:

• Alicante: 46.5% of all property transactions involved foreign buyers.
• Málaga: 38.8%.
• The Balearic Islands: 37.2%.
• Murcia: 23%.
• Girona: 21.4%.
• Almería: 21%.

Alicante stands out in particular. Almost one in two properties sold in the province during the period was purchased by a foreign national. This underlines the province's strong position as an international property destination, especially along the Costa Blanca.

British, Dutch and German Buyers Among the Largest Groups

European buyers continue to account for the largest share of foreign property purchases. According to the Land Registry, EU citizens represented 54.7% of all foreign property purchases, while a further 17.8% came from other European countries.

British buyers were the largest individual nationality group, accounting for 7.5% of foreign purchases. They were followed by Dutch buyers at 5.8%.

German buyers accounted for 5.7%, while Italians represented 5%. French and Polish buyers were also among the larger groups.

These figures demonstrate Spain's appeal to a broad international audience. Buyers have different needs and priorities, but many share an interest in the country's climate, property opportunities and attractive lifestyle.

Fewer Property Transactions – But International Interest Remains Strong

The development of the property market is particularly interesting because international demand is growing at a time when the overall number of property transactions is declining.

A total of 164,148 property transactions were registered in Spain in the third quarter of 2026. This represents a decrease of 2.3% compared with the previous quarter and 5.9% fewer transactions than in the same period in 2025.

This marks the third consecutive quarter of declining transaction numbers.

Nevertheless, foreign buyers continue to play an increasingly important role in the market. Their share of total transactions has reached a record high, demonstrating that interest in Spanish property remains strong, even as the overall market experiences a slowdown.

Property Prices Reach Another Historic High

At the same time, property prices continue to rise.

According to Colegio de Registradores, the average registered property price in Spain reached €2,512 per square metre in the third quarter of 2026. This is the highest level ever recorded in the statistics.

Compared with the previous quarter, prices increased by 1%, while the annual increase stands at 9.3%.

New-build properties recorded an average price of €2,701 per square metre, while existing properties were sold at an average of €2,462 per square metre.

Madrid, the Balearic Islands and the Basque Country rank among the most expensive regions in Spain.

Strong international demand is particularly evident in areas such as Alicante, Málaga and the Balearic Islands. However, the statistics do not in themselves demonstrate that foreign buyers are responsible for rising property prices. Price developments are influenced by a range of factors, including supply, demand and local market conditions.

Spain Maintains Its Position as an International Property Destination

The latest figures paint a picture of a Spanish property market experiencing two simultaneous trends: the overall number of property transactions is declining, while the importance of international buyers continues to grow.

The Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol are particularly strong in this development. With Alicante and Málaga among the provinces recording the highest proportions of foreign property buyers, both areas remain among the most sought-after destinations for international purchasers.

For buyers considering investing in a holiday home or relocating permanently to Spain, it is also important to understand the differences between local markets. Property prices, available supply and demand can vary considerably from one area to another.

At homes-abroad, we closely follow these developments and help both buyers and sellers navigate the Spanish property market. With local knowledge and experience in Spain's key property destinations, we guide you safely through the entire process – from your initial considerations to receiving the keys to your new home.