The surprising reason Britons are no longer Spain’s biggest foreign home buyers

For decades, British buyers were the biggest foreign presence in Spain’s property market. That has now changed, leaving many wondering whether Brexit is finally catching up with the market. The answer is more complicated than that.  While Britons continue to buy thousands of homes every year in Spain, another European nationality has been growing even faster for reasons that go well beyond the property market itself.  Recent figures show a shift at the top of the ranking placing foreign buyers at 18.8% of total property purchases in Spain during 2025, with 52,781 homes recorded.

Are British buyers actually buying fewer homes?

British demand for Spanish property remains steady. Estate agents across the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca continue to report consistent UK interest, particularly in coastal hotspots and established retirement areas. 

The change lies elsewhere. While British purchasing levels have held broadly stable, other European buyers have increased their activity at a quicker pace. The result is an overtaking, not a withdrawal. British buyers are still very present across the market. What has shifted is their position in the overall growth picture.

How Brexit changed the market

Brexit has not removed British buyers from Spain’s housing market, but it has altered the conditions around them. UK citizens are now classed as third-country nationals. That brings the 90-day rule for non-resident stays, more administrative steps during purchase, and a more structured approach to longer-term relocation planning.

For some buyers, that has changed timing rather than intention. Many now visit first, rent before committing, or delay purchases until retirement plans are fully in place. Estate agents describe the result as a more considered buyer profile rather than a reduced one. British demand remains, but the decision-making process has become longer and more deliberate.

Why Dutch demand has grown so quickly

The rise of buyers from Netherlands reflects a combination of financial, lifestyle and practical pressures. A key factor is the Dutch Box 3 tax system, which continues to influence how savings and assets are treated. For some households, this has encouraged a rethink of long-term financial planning.

Domestic property prices in the Netherlands have also pushed buyers to look further afield, particularly those seeking more space or a second home. Remote working has added further momentum. Location-independent professionals are increasingly open to spending part of the year in Spain, rather than remaining fully tied to Dutch cities.

Lifestyle plays a central role as well. Warmer weather, outdoor living and a slower pace continue to draw buyers in mid-life and early retirement. Connectivity has helped support this shift. Regular flight routes between Dutch cities and Spain, along with established Dutch communities in coastal regions, have made relocation feel more practical and familiar once buyers begin researching.

What estate agents are seeing on the ground

Estate agents across the Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol say the market now shows a broader spread of European buyers, with no single nationality dominating growth in the same way as before. Some describe a noticeable change in Dutch buyer behaviour, with clearer budgets and more decisive timelines once they enter the market. As one Costa del Sol property agency notes:

“Foreign buyers continue to drive strong demand across Costa del Sol this year, the area selection often has a bigger impact than the property itself.” 

Agents add that most international buyers now complete extensive online research before travelling, often narrowing their search to several key coastal towns before they arrive in Spain. That shift in behaviour is helping faster-moving buyer groups convert interest into purchases more quickly once they engage with the market.

What this means for Spain’s property market

Spain’s property market remains firmly international. British buyers continue to form a core part of that demand, even if they are no longer the fastest-growing group. The change is in balance rather than direction. Different European buyers are responding to different pressures at home, whether tax systems, housing costs, work flexibility or lifestyle choices.

That mix is likely to persist. Spain is not seeing one nationality replace another, but a broader redistribution of demand shaped by how Europeans now choose to live, work and spend time abroad.