Spanish Housing Market: Foreign Demand and New Trends
In the first half of 2025, interest from foreign nationals in purchasing property in Spain has remained consistently high. In six months, over 70,000 transactions involving foreigners were completed, accounting for nearly a fifth of all market activity. The average price per square meter for foreign buyers rose by 7.6% compared to last year, reaching €2,417.
Chinese Investors: Leaders in Transaction Values
Particular attention is drawn to Chinese nationals who do not have residency in Spain. From January to June, they acquired 148 properties, paying an average of €4,116 per square meter. This is the highest figure among all foreign groups for the reporting period, and the second highest ever recorded. Since April 2025, Spain has stopped issuing ‘golden visas’ for real estate purchases over €500,000, yet this has not diminished Chinese investors’ interest in luxury properties.
Chinese residents in Spain are also highly active. Over six months, they closed more than 2,420 transactions, setting a new record. The average purchase price for this group was €2,081 per square meter, the highest since 2008.
Demand Geography: Capital and Catalonia in the Spotlight
Analytics show that Chinese buyers are most interested in properties located in major cities and prestigious suburbs. In Madrid, demand is highest in areas where the average annual income exceeds 50,000 euros, such as Peñagrande, La Paz, Valdebebas-Valdefuentes, and Salvador. In these neighborhoods, the price per square meter ranges from 5,016 to 6,224 euros. In the suburbs of the capital, for example, in Boadilla del Monte, Majadahonda, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Las Rozas, and Alcobendas Norte, average prices also exceed 3,000 euros and in some cases reach up to 5,200 euros.
In Barcelona and its surroundings, Chinese investors are interested in neighborhoods such as Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, Les Tres Torres, Sant Gervasi-La Bonanova, Sarrià, as well as La Maternitat i Sant Ramon, Pedralbes, Diagonal Mar i el Front Marítim del Poblenou, and L’Antiga Esquerra de l’Eixample. In these areas, property prices reach up to 7,000 euros per square meter.
In the Barcelona province, notable locations include Teià and Serraparera in Cerdanyola del Vallès, where average prices are 3,316 and 3,349 euros respectively.
Demand profile: preferences and buyer behavior
The study shows that more than half of Chinese buyers choose properties in areas with an annual income of up to 30,000 euros. About 43% are interested in locations with incomes between 30,000 and 50,000 euros, and only 5.5% consider the most expensive neighborhoods. Meanwhile, the main focus is on major cities and prestigious suburbs, where a high quality of life and well-developed infrastructure are combined.
The analysis used data from visits to a Chinese-language real estate portal and official statistics. This approach made it possible to identify the most sought-after areas among buyers from China and to assess demand trends in the premium housing segment.
