Foreign Buyers in Spain 2025: Alicante Leads the World — What the Data Really Means for You
Nearly 100,000 foreign property purchases. A record high. And Alicante accounting for 43% of all transactions in its market. Here’s the full data breakdown — and what it means if you’re planning to buy.
in Spain 2025
share — foreigners
foreign buyer share
over €500,000
Foreign Buyers in Spain 2025: The Headline Numbers
In 2025, foreigners were involved in 13.8% of all Spanish property transactions — nearly 97,500 purchases in absolute terms. While the percentage share has dipped slightly from a peak of almost 15% in 2023, the absolute volume reached a new record high. The reason: the total number of property sales in Spain has risen sharply, carrying foreign buyer volumes upward with it.
The College of Registrars confirmed: “Foreign demand is a particularly significant factor in the strength of the Spanish property market.” This is not a niche segment — it is a structural pillar of the Spanish real estate economy, and Alicante is its centre of gravity.
Foreign Buyers in Spain: Province-by-Province Breakdown
The data reveals an enormous concentration of foreign buying activity in coastal provinces — and a stark contrast with inland cities. Here is the full picture:
| Province | Foreign Buyer Share (2025) | vs. National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Alicante №1 | 43.29% | +29.5 points above avg |
| Málaga | 32.80% | +19.0 points above avg |
| Santa Cruz de Tenerife | 30.04% | +16.2 points above avg |
| Balearic Islands | 29.86% | +16.1 points above avg |
| Girona | 25.00% | +11.2 points above avg |
| Las Palmas | 21.72% | +7.9 points above avg |
| Murcia | 21.42% | +7.6 points above avg |
| Almería | 17.47% | +3.7 points above avg |
| Tarragona | 15.86% | +2.1 points above avg |
| Barcelona | 14.21% | +0.4 points above avg |
| Valencia | 12.23% | Below national average |
| Madrid | 6.90% | Well below national average |
| Seville | 2.50% | Minimal foreign activity |
In Alicante, nearly half of all properties sold in 2025 went to foreign buyers. This creates competitive conditions — properties in the most sought-after areas move quickly, and buyers who haven’t arranged financing in advance regularly lose out to those who have pre-approval letters ready. This is not a slow market.
Foreign Buyers in Spain: Which Nationalities Are Buying Most?
The British remain the single largest group of foreign buyers in Spain, though their share is gradually declining as other nationalities grow. The top six nationalities by volume in 2025 were:
| Nationality | Properties Purchased | % of Foreign Total | Preferred Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| British | 7,665 | 7.97% | Andalusia, Murcia, Valencian Community |
| German | 6,273 | 6.52% | Balearic Islands |
| Dutch | 6,071 | 6.30% | Valencian Community, Costa Blanca |
| Moroccan | 5,524 | 5.74% | Urban centres |
| Romanian | 5,042 | 5.24% | Mixed |
| French | 4,918 | 5.11% | Catalonia |
Tharros Brokers specialises specifically in mortgage financing for UK, Dutch, German, Belgian, Irish, French, Scandinavian, North American, and Australian buyers — exactly the nationalities driving Spain’s foreign purchase market. We work with 12+ Spanish banks and have a 94% approval rate. Pre-approval takes 24 hours and is completely free.
Geographic Preferences by Nationality
The registrar data reveals clear geographic clustering by nationality — a pattern that has important implications for where competition is highest:
- British buyers dominate Andalusia, Murcia, and the Valencian Community (which includes Alicante)
- German buyers concentrate in the Balearic Islands
- French buyers focus primarily on Catalonia
- Italian buyers prefer the Canary Islands
- Chinese buyers concentrate in the Community of Madrid
- Dutch buyers are strongly represented on the Costa Blanca — Alicante province
For anyone considering the Costa Blanca, this means you are competing primarily with British and Dutch buyers — both of whom are active, well-informed, and increasingly arriving with financing already arranged.
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Property Types: What Foreign Buyers Are Choosing
The registrar data also breaks down property preferences by type and size:
- Foreigners opted for new build properties less frequently (21.54%) than Spanish nationals (21.76%) — the difference is small but consistent
- Nationalities most likely to buy new build: Polish (39.84%), Belgian (34.49%), Dutch (32.91%)
- Nationalities most likely to buy second-hand: French (86.42%), Bulgarian (85.34%), Moroccan (85.28%)
- Foreign buyers tend to purchase smaller properties than Spanish nationals — consistent with second-home buying behaviour
Foreign Buyers Spending Over €500,000: A New Record
Average property prices in Spain reached a historic high of €2,284/m² in 2025. Community of Madrid led at €4,091/m², followed by the Balearic Islands at €3,988/m², Basque Country at €3,295/m², and Catalonia at €2,709/m².
This price surge has pushed the proportion of foreign buyers spending over €500,000 above 12% for the first time — a new record. The breakdown by region:
| Region | % of Foreign Purchases over €500,000 |
|---|---|
| Balearic Islands HIGHEST | 41.79% |
| Madrid | 24.40% |
| Andalusia | 19.22% |
| Catalonia | 13.15% |
| Spain national average | 12.00% |
Of all foreign buyers spending over €500,000 in Spain, 53% were from EU countries and 47% from non-EU countries — confirming that high-value purchases are a genuinely international phenomenon, not limited to any single buyer group.
What This Data Means for Foreign Buyers in 2026
Three practical conclusions for anyone planning to buy in Spain this year:
At 43.29%, nearly half of every property sold in Alicante goes to a foreign buyer. This is not a niche market with occasional international interest — it is the dominant buyer profile. Properties move fast. Sellers know their audience. Buyers who are not pre-approved are at a serious disadvantage.
These are the two largest foreign buyer groups in the Valencian Community. If you are a British or Dutch buyer targeting Alicante or the Costa Blanca, you are competing directly with thousands of buyers from your own country who understand the market well. Pre-approval and speed of execution are your differentiators.
The proportion of foreign purchases exceeding €500,000 has crossed 12% for the first time. If you are a higher-budget buyer, be aware that this segment is now a genuine market — not an outlier — and lenders have adjusted their products accordingly. Tharros works across the full LTV and price range.
Foreign Buyers in Spain 2025: FAQs
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Data sourced from the College of Registrars of Spain, 2025 Property Statistics Yearbook, published April 2026. All mortgage calculations are illustrative. Always consult a qualified Spanish lawyer before any property purchase. For official Spanish property data, see the Instituto Nacional de Estadística.