Spain’s Sun and Beach Attract Foreign Property Buyers
Spain’s traditional appeal of sun and beach continues to draw foreigners to the country for property purchase, rental, and holidays. A significant 19% of total visits to properties on the Spanish coast are from foreigners, while the remaining 81% are from nationals. Germans are the most active foreign property seekers in Spain, particularly in the Balearic Islands. The Portuguese, on the other hand, are more focused on municipalities in Huelva. Let’s delve into how foreigners are distributed in their property search on the Spanish coast.
Foreigners’ Online Visits to Spanish Coastal Properties
The British, Germans, French, and Americans are the top foreign nationalities visiting online property listings on the Spanish coast for sale or rent in June, according to idealista/data. The British lead the pack, being the dominant nationality in 193 coastal municipalities. They are followed by Germans in 127 towns, and the French in 54 coastal towns. The Americans, Dutch, Swiss, Italians, and Swedes also show significant interest in investing in beach properties in Spain.
Where Foreigners Want to Buy or Rent a House in Spain
The British are particularly interested in properties in Muxia (La Coruña) and Rubite (Granada). However, their primary areas of interest are on the Costa del Sol, in the province of Malaga, with Estepona, Torremolinos, Marbella, and Malaga city being the most sought-after municipalities. Property for sale in Ibiza, particularly in municipalities like Santa Eulalia del Río, also attracts British buyers.
Germans and Their Preference for Spanish Properties
Germans primarily focus on the island of Mallorca, particularly in municipalities such as Deya, Canyamel, Cala d’Or, Santanyi, or Cala Ratjada. In these areas, Germans even outpace the Spanish in housing demand, with more than 60% of visits to properties listed on idealista from German residents. However, German buyers also show interest in other beach areas in Spain, such as the island of La Palma and Gran Canaria.
Americans and French Property Buyers in Spain
Americans are interested in purchasing property in several Spanish municipalities in Barcelona on the Costa Brava, towns in Biscay, Cadiz, and A Coruña. The French, on the other hand, prefer Roses, Tossa de Mar, L’Escala, or Sant Feliu de Guíxols in Girona. They also search for housing in the provinces of Valencia and Alicante, and in Pontevedra.
Italians, Dutch, and Swiss Property Buyers in Spain
Italians show interest in the Balearic Islands, particularly Formentera and Ibiza, but also Fuerteventura. The Dutch prefer Alicante, particularly in municipalities such as Benissa or Jávea. The Swiss mainly look for housing in A Coruña, particularly in Cabaña de Bergantiño, Camariñas, and Fisterra.
The Most Expensive and Cheapest Coastal Towns to Buy Property in Spain
Formentera is the most expensive municipality for property purchase, with an average price of 7,736 euros per square meter. It is followed by Cadaqués (Girona) and Sant Joan de Labritja (Ibiza). On the other hand, Xove (Lugo), Sanlúcar de Guadiana (Huelva), and Ponteceso (A Coruña) are among the cheapest municipalities to buy a house.
Interesting Facts About Foreign Property Buyers in Spain
Some nationalities stand out for their unique property interests in Spain. For instance, Indians show interest in Outes, a municipality in La Coruña. People from Hong Kong have visited coastal houses in Cantabria. The Portuguese mainly demand housing in Huelva, while Uruguayans show interest mainly in Biscay. Interestingly, Singaporeans are interested in buying a house in Isla Cristina, Huelva.
Methodology
This study uses the IP location from where the visits to idealista listings for sale or rent have been made. Therefore, it does not exclusively represent the nationality of the users but the country where the visitor is located. For example, there may be searches made by foreigners from Spain, or Colombians or Venezuelans living in the U.S. and looking for a house to buy or rent on the Spanish coast.
