Foreigners are buying more and more homes in Spain, so much so that it has been a record summer. According to the Property Registrars in Spain, "foreign demand has registered its highest level in the historical series, reaching the highest amounts, especially in recent quarters. In the third quarter, sales and purchases by foreigners have reached 15.9%, which makes six consecutive quarters of growth, exceeding the level of 12-14% usual in the last few years, and also with a high number of sales and purchases in absolute terms. The British lead the results with 9.3%, followed by Germans (8.0%), French (6.2%), Romanians (4.6%), Belgians (4.3%) and Dutch (4.1%)". These are the Spanish provinces where foreigners buy more than 30% of the homes and therefore the most popular areas for expats to buy property in Spain.
The results of the registry survey for the third quarter of the year show that the autonomous communities where foreigners buy the most homes out of the total are the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, the Valencian Community, Murcia, Andalusia and Catalonia. And within the Mediterranean Arc and the archipelagos, the favourite locations are Alicante, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Malaga and the Balearic Islands. In fact, in these four provinces, at least 30% of the housing transactions carried out between July and September involved a foreign buyer. In the case of Alicante and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the number of home purchases made by foreigners exceeds 40%.
The chart below shows the top 20 provinces in Spain where the percentage of homes bought by foreigners is the highest.
The next most prominent provinces, although below the 30% mark, are Girona, Las Palmas, Murcia, Almería, Tarragona, Castellón, Valencia and Barcelona. In all of them, foreigners bought at least 10% of the homes sold in the third quarter of 2022. In contrast, in Madrid they accounted for 4.99% of transactions, and in Seville, 2.53%.
The provinces where foreign investment has had the least weight are A Coruña, Lugo, Salamanca, León, Ourense and Pontevedra, where they have represented less than 1.2% of the total, all of which are located in Northern Spain.
Cheap Spanish property near the beach
Summer 2025 is in full swing, and for many, there’s no better time to dream of life by the sea. Whether you’re already soaking up the sun or planning your next escape, the Spanish coast remains a top choice for expats and holiday home buyers alike. With a wide range of property for sale in Spain with sea views, there’s something to suit every taste and budget. And despite concerns over rising living costs and mortgage rates, buying a home on the Spanish coast doesn’t have to cost a fortu
Alicante house prices hit record highs: what buyers should know
In June, property prices in Alicante hit a record €2,435/m², up 2.7% from May and 16.4% year-on-year, according to idealista. The most expensive areas are Playa de San Juan-El Cabo and the city centre, both exceeding €3,000/m², nearly three times the cost of Virgen del Remedio-Juan XXIII, the most affordable area at €1,067/m².
New homes in Benidorm winning over Dutch, Belgian and Polish buyers
Benidorm has become the preferred residential destination for European buyers aged 45 to 59, particularly from the Netherlands, Belgium and Poland. This group seeks modern, sustainable and well-connected homes for long-term stays or permanent residence. Developments such as Breeze, in Balcón de Finestrat, cater directly to this demand, offering sea views, A-class energy efficiency and an environment designed for year-round comfort.
Aedas invests €30m in 137-home development in El Verger, Alicante
Property developer Aedas Homes, currently in the media spotlight following a takeover bid by Neinor Homes, has announced a €30 million investment to build a residential project of 137 homes in the Alicante municipality of El Verger, located between the beaches of Les Deveses and La Almadraba.
Ibiza, from mega-luxury to shanty towns: the housing crisis gripping the island
Ibiza has two faces. On one side, the Ibiza of mega-luxury: vast, exclusive nightclubs and dream-like villas. On the other, an Ibiza of shanty towns and housing exclusion. It's no longer news that soaring property prices are forcing people to leave the island because they can no longer find homes at affordable rents.
