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Alicante, the Balearic Islands, and Malaga: Foreigners Choose the Spanish Coast

Victor Sanders RUSSPAIN.com

Post by Victor Sanders

Where Do Foreigners Buy Property in Spain Most Often in 2025? Interest in purchasing property in Spain remains high among foreigners. The greatest demand is seen in coastal regions. Alicante, the Balearic Islands, and Malaga lead the list. Demand is shared among citizens of various countries.

Key trends in foreign demand for housing

In 2025, Spain continues to attract the attention of international property buyers. Coastal provinces remain the most sought after, where the share of transactions involving foreigners is significantly above the national average. Alicante, the Balearic Islands, Malaga, and Santa Cruz de Tenerife stand out as the top destinations. In these areas, requests to purchase property from foreign nationals account for 25-33% of total market interest.

Changes in the profile of foreign buyers

While British citizens previously dominated property transactions, recent years have seen increased activity from buyers from Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Italy. These countries are gradually expanding their presence, especially in Mediterranean regions and on the islands. In 2024, foreigners bought nearly 93,000 properties, making up about 15% of all housing transactions nationwide. In addition to the British, significant contributions came from citizens of Germany, Morocco, France, and the Netherlands.

Geography of demand and shifts in interest

According to recent data, the highest interest in property purchases has been recorded in Alicante (33.2%), the Balearic Islands (31.5%), Málaga (27.1%), and Santa Cruz de Tenerife (25.8%). These regions also see strong demand for rental housing from foreigners. In Girona and Las Palmas, the share of international inquiries exceeds 20%. Other popular destinations include Almería, Murcia, and Granada, where interest from foreign buyers ranges from 15% to 17%. In Tarragona, Castellón, Valencia, Huelva, and Cádiz, this figure falls between 11% and 14%.

Demand features in major cities

In major cities such as Barcelona, Sevilla, Madrid, and Gipuzkoa, the share of foreign buyers is noticeably lower. In Barcelona, it stands at 9.5%, in Sevilla — 5.8%, and in Madrid — 4.6%. Despite this, interest in Spanish real estate among international citizens remains consistently high, especially in regions with developed tourist infrastructure and a favorable climate.

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