From Cádiz to Guipúzcoa: where do foreigners buy property in Spain?

In Spain, buying a home by foreign nationals is neither occasional nor anecdotal. In the third quarter of 2025, transactions carried out by foreign buyers accounted for 13.58% of total property sales, according to the latest report from the Spanish Land Registry (Registro de la Propiedad), a figure that confirms their weight within the real estate market.

But beyond the overall percentage, there is a key question: where do foreigners buy property in Spain? Which areas are the most popular for purchasing a home?

The answer is not uniform. Foreign interest is concentrated in very specific areas, while in others their presence is much more limited. At Fotocasa, we explain which areas have the highest international demand and how the market varies depending on the territory.

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This is the map of property purchases in Spain by foreigners

Overall, during the third quarter of 2025, nearly 23,700 property transactions were carried out by foreign buyers in Spain. The autonomous communities with the highest share of home purchases by foreigners were Illes Balears (29.46%), Comunitat Valenciana (27%), Canarias (25.3%), Región de Murcia (21.89%), Cataluña (15.05%) and Andalucía (12.96%).

The provinces with the highest share of property purchases by foreigners in the third quarter of 2025 are very clearly concentrated in coastal areas and the islands. Alicante (43.29%) tops the ranking, followed by Málaga (31.84%), Santa Cruz de Tenerife (29.56%) and Illes Balears (29.46%). This group also includes Girona (24.21%), Murcia (21.89%), Las Palmas (21.49%), Almería (17.59%) and Tarragona (15.04%).

This distribution is no coincidence. Many of these provinces correspond to major tourist and residential areas such as the Costa Blanca, the Costa del Sol, the Costa Brava, the Costa de Almería and the Balearic and Canary archipelagos, areas that have concentrated strong international housing demand for years. In these territories, purchases by foreign buyers are part of the normal functioning of the real estate market and carry a structural weight within the overall number of transactions.

where do foreigners buy property in Spain

Alongside these areas clearly oriented towards international demand, the role of some major cities and metropolitan areas also stands out, where foreign purchases have a smaller but steady share. This is the case of Barcelona (13.78%), Valencia (11.25%) and Madrid (6.83%), broader and more diverse markets where domestic demand remains dominant, but where the presence of foreign buyers is a regular part of the market.

By contrast, outside these areas, the prominence of foreign purchases decreases. In much of the inland peninsula and in some northern provinces, the market is far more closely linked to local and national demand, with significantly lower percentages of buyers coming from other countries.

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The Costa Blanca: one of foreigners’ favourite options

The Costa Blanca is, by far, the area where property purchases by foreigners carry the greatest weight. The province of Alicante leads the national ranking: 43.29% of the homes purchased during the third quarter were acquired by foreign buyers.

Living in this area means enjoying a mild climate all year round, well-connected mid-sized cities and a very broad residential offering. It is a territory where the international presence is fully integrated into everyday life, with neighbourhoods and municipalities where local and foreign residents coexist as a matter of course.

The average price of a home in Alicante in December 2025 was €2,830 per square metre.

Buying in the Costa del Sol: beach, services, leisure and major urban centres

In the Costa del Sol, foreign purchases also carry a very high weight. Málaga recorded 31.84% of transactions carried out by foreign buyers in the third quarter, positioning itself as one of the most attractive provinces for international demand.

The area combines coastline, services, leisure and major urban centres, making it one of the most consolidated areas within Spain’s international real estate market. Here, homes are purchased both as primary residences and for extended stays throughout the year.

The average price of a home in Málaga in December 2025 was €4,241 per square metre.

Costa Brava: an alternative for those seeking beaches, tranquillity and good connections with Europe

The Costa Brava is another major hotspot for foreign buyers. In the province of Girona, 24.21% of the homes sold during the quarter were purchased by foreigners.

This is an area closely linked to second homes, with coastal towns and natural surroundings that attract international buyers looking for tranquillity, proximity to the sea and good connections with other parts of Europe.

The average price of a home in Girona in December 2025 was €3,033 per square metre.

The Canary Islands are another of the most popular destinations for foreign buyers

In Canarias, foreign purchases also hold a prominent position. Santa Cruz de Tenerife reached 29.56% of purchases by foreigners, while Las Palmas recorded 21.49%.

The stable year-round climate and the open character of the islands explain the strong international presence. In many areas, homes are used for long stays and the foreign population forms a regular part of the residential fabric.

The average price of a home in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in December 2025 was €2,966 per square metre, while in Las Palmas it stood at €3,041 per square metre.

Nearly 3 out of 10 purchases in the Balearic Islands were made by foreigners

The Balearic Islands are one of the most international markets in the country. In the third quarter, 29.46% of the transactions carried out in the region corresponded to foreign buyers.

The island lifestyle, the limited availability of land and the natural appeal of the archipelago mean that international demand carries structural weight. Living in the Balearic Islands implies a slower pace of life and a strong connection with the surroundings, factors that directly influence the housing market.

The average price of a home in the Balearic Islands in December 2025 was €5,177 per square metre.

Foreigners also choose to buy in major cities such as Barcelona and Madrid

Beyond coastal areas and the islands, foreign purchases are also present in major cities, although with a more moderate share. Barcelona recorded 13.78% of purchases by foreign buyers, while in Madrid the percentage stood at 6.83%.

These are broad and diverse markets where domestic demand remains dominant, but where foreign purchases are a regular part of the residential market, especially in certain urban areas.

The average price of a home in Madrid in December 2025 was €6,463 per square metre, while Barcelona recorded prices of €5,346.

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Which nationalities buy the most property in Spain

In the third quarter of 2025, the most prominent foreign buyers were:

• United Kingdom (7.90%)
• Germany (6.50%)
• The Netherlands (5.98%)
• Romania (5.58%)
• Morocco (5.56%)
• France (5.24%)
• Italy (4.97%)

Most of the transactions carried out by foreign buyers corresponded to purchasers from the European Union, who accounted for 57.65% of the total. Well behind were buyers from the rest of Europe, with 18.33%, followed by Africa (8.27%), Asia (6.45%) and South America (5.70%). The presence of buyers from North America (2.69%), Central America and the Caribbean (0.82%) and Oceania (0.09%) was clearly lower.

Price differences depending on the buyer’s origin

The data also show significant differences in the average price per square metre depending on the foreign buyer’s area of origin. During the third quarter of 2025, purchases made by citizens of North America recorded the highest prices, with an average of €4,350/m².

They were followed by buyers from Oceania, with an average price of €3,501/m², and those from the European Union, at €2,926/m². Similar levels were recorded for purchases made by citizens of Asia (€2,825/m²) and the rest of Europe (€2,730/m²).

By contrast, average prices were significantly lower in purchases made by buyers from South America (€2,082/m²), Central America and the Caribbean (€2,157/m²) and, in particular, from Africa (€1,063/m²).