New stats reveal Spain’s property hotspots for foreign buyers

Spain’s property market is drawing house hunters from across the world, but the latest figures reveal that different nationalities have very different favourite corners of the country.

From Dutch buyers eyeing the Costa Blanca to Germans searching for homes in the Balearics, Britons looking towards the Costa del Sol and Americans increasingly interested in Valencia, the map of foreign property demand is revealing some interesting patterns.

New analysis from Idealista shows which Spanish provinces attract the greatest share of overseas property interest, as well as the nationalities driving that demand.

The figures are based on visits to properties for sale during the first quarter of 2026. They measure property-search demand rather than completed purchases, but provide a useful snapshot of where international buyers are currently looking.

Alicante leads the way

Alicante is Spain’s biggest magnet for overseas property hunters, with 32.3 per cent of demand coming from abroad. That puts the Costa Blanca province comfortably ahead of the rest of Spain.

And while Alicante attracts buyers from numerous countries, Dutch visitors are the leading foreign nationality in the province.

The strength of international demand is even clearer in some of its individual towns. Moraira, Benitachell and Benissa all recorded foreign demand between 50 and 60 per cent, meaning overseas interest accounts for more than half of property-search activity in those destinations.

Mallorca has a clear favourite

The Balearic Islands rank second, with foreigners responsible for 28.2 per cent of property-search demand.

Here, there is a much clearer nationality story. German buyers dominate foreign demand, accounting for 43.5 per cent of it across the islands.

Mallorca’s resort markets are particularly international. Canyamel, Cala d’Or and Cala Ratjada all recorded foreign demand above 60 per cent.

Palma is also a major international market. Foreign buyers generated 18.5 per cent of property-search demand in the capital, with Germans accounting for 44 per cent of that foreign interest. Swedish buyers followed at 11.7 per cent, while British demand stood at 5.9 per cent.

Málaga attracts buyers from Britain and beyond

Málaga comes third nationally, with 27.1 per cent of property demand coming from overseas.

At provincial level, Britons are the leading foreign nationality, reflecting the Costa del Sol’s long-established popularity with UK residents and buyers.

But Málaga city offers another twist.

Foreign demand represents 14.8 per cent of property-search activity in the city, and Americans are the leading foreign nationality. It is one of several major Spanish cities where US interest is now particularly noticeable.

Germans dominate the Canary Islands

The Canary Islands also feature prominently.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife recorded 26.5 per cent foreign demand, placing it fourth nationally. Once again, Germans are the biggest foreign group, accounting for 22.4 per cent of foreign demand.

Further east, Las Palmas recorded 20.3 per cent foreign demand, with Germans again leading, at 21.3 per cent. The figures underline the continued importance of Germany to Spain’s island property markets.

Girona has a strong French connection

Girona sits fifth in the national ranking, with 22.5 per cent of property-search demand coming from abroad. Here, geographical proximity appears to play a major role.

French buyers account for 32.8 per cent of foreign demand, making France the dominant international market in the province. The pattern is particularly notable in a province that stretches from the Catalan capital towards the Costa Brava and the French border.

Where the British are looking

Britons remain an important force across several Spanish markets.

They are the leading foreign nationality in Málaga, Almería, Murcia, Granada and Cádiz, according to the idealista analysis. Almería recorded 17.4 per cent foreign demand, Murcia 15.8 per cent, Granada 15 per cent and Cádiz 11.5 per cent.

The figures show that despite the increasingly diverse international property market, British buyers continue to have a substantial presence in southern Spain.

Valencia’s American surprise

Then comes one of the more intriguing findings.

Valencia province recorded 11.7 per cent foreign property-search demand, putting it well below Alicante, the Balearics and Málaga.

But Valencia city tells a different story.

In the city, foreigners accounted for 13.6 per cent of demand, and Americans were the leading foreign nationality. That does not mean Americans are buying more homes than everyone else. The figures measure people viewing properties for sale online, rather than completed transactions.

Nevertheless, it places Valencia among a select group of Spanish provincial capitals where Americans are currently the largest foreign audience for property listings.

The US also leads foreign demand in Málaga, Barcelona, Girona, Tarragona and Cádiz.

For Valencia, the finding comes as the city prepares to gain a new direct connection with the United States. United Airlines is due to launch a Newark-Valencia service in 2027, potentially making the destination even easier for American travellers and prospective property buyers to reach.

A changing map of foreign demand

The latest figures reveal that there is no single international buyer dominating Spain’s property market.

Dutch buyers are particularly important in Alicante, Germans in the Balearics and Canary Islands, French buyers in Girona and Britons across much of southern Spain.

But American interest is becoming increasingly visible in Spain’s major cities, with Valencia standing out as an especially interesting market.

And while the country’s traditional coastal hotspots continue to dominate foreign demand, the figures suggest that Spain’s international property map is becoming more varied.

For overseas house hunters, the question is no longer simply whether to buy in Spain. It is which corner of Spain they want to buy into.