Madrid and Barcelona are gaining ground in the international luxury housing market. According to the Savills World Cities Prime Residential Index 2025, both Spanish cities ranked among the European cities with the highest growth in prime asset values during the first half of the year. But how did 2025 end for the Catalan market?
Albert González Soler, Territorial Director for Catalonia and the Balearic Islands at Lucas Fox, explains that the market has become more selective and demanding, requiring a rigorous analysis of both product and price. “In this context, Dils Lucas Fox not only maintains a very strong level of interest in prime locations, but our offices are also showing unprecedented strength in key markets.”
Areas where the most luxury housing was sold in 2025
Lucas Fox experts note that this year, prime home sales have been concentrated mainly in Barcelona city, particularly in the l’Eixample neighbourhood, which recorded the highest sales volume. Meanwhile, Zona Alta (Pedralbes, Turó Park, Sant Gervasi) has remained one of the most sought-after areas, based on buyer profile and type of property.
The experts also highlight a rising coastal hotspot in the prime segment: “Maresme has stood out for its family-friendly appeal: more space, high-quality single-family homes, quick connections to Barcelona, and an attractive environment for international buyers thanks to international schools and family-oriented services,” they explain. The area is increasingly popular as an alternative to the city, particularly among international buyers and families.
Outside Barcelona, Albert González Soler points to Girona and the Costa Brava as strong performers. “Girona has seen a 24% increase in brokered volume (January–October vs. 2014), marking the best year ever for our Girona office, driven by very active demand and a limited supply of quality properties.” Meanwhile, the Costa Brava continues to consolidate its position as one of Catalonia’s leading luxury lifestyle markets.
International buyer, profile in Catalan luxury
According to a Lucas Fox spokesperson, international buyers have continued to play a major role in Catalonia’s luxury market, particularly in prime locations and lifestyle hotspots such as the Costa Brava and certain micro-markets in Girona.
“In Girona, for example, there is a clear distinction: the Barri Vell attracts very high international demand – up to 90% – while Spanish buyers are more prominent in areas such as Eixample, Devesa and Casernes,” the expert explains.
In 2025, the spokesperson also observed an increase in national buyers in the prime segment, both in Barcelona and its surrounding areas, as well as in Girona markets where local demand is more structural, such as Baix and Alt Empordà.
Among international buyers, the most significant group this year came from the United States, representing 12.3% of total buyers and around 18.9% of non-Spanish purchasers. France, Germany and the United Kingdom follow.
Luxury housing: a target for squatters
“Empty homes, particularly high-value properties, have become a target for those well aware of legal loopholes,” explains Sandra Aurrecoechea Ríos, a lawyer specialising in Civil, Mortgage and Real Estate Law and partner at Marín & Mateo Abogados.
The phenomenon has evolved. While it was once linked to contexts of exclusion or vulnerability, it now reflects deliberate strategies by individuals seeking to occupy luxury properties – a problem increasingly seen in Catalonia’s prime real estate sector. “We are no longer talking about vulnerable families, but about groups who deliberately target high-value properties, fully aware that the system can take months to respond,” Aurrecoechea notes.
Catalonia is the region where squatting is most prevalent in Spain. Although there is no specific data on luxury homes, experts highlight the rise of so-called “luxury squatters,” revealing a structural imbalance that continues to favour the occupant over the property owner.
Prices are also high in the prime sector
In Catalonia, 2026 is expected to remain a strong market, driven largely by a shortage of supply. Prime real estate is likely to continue supporting prices, particularly in Barcelona’s Eixample and Zona Alta, as well as in lifestyle hubs such as Maresme and the Costa Brava, according to Lucas Fox experts. In fact, idealista data already indicates a year-on-year increase of 10.7% in Catalonia (November 2025 vs. November 2024).
