Madrid, 15 October 2026 — Moroccan nationals have overtaken first half of 2026 British buyers as the largest group of foreign purchasers of flats and houses in Spain. According to the latest statistics from the Consejo General del Notariado (notariat), 4,960 purchase deeds were attributed to Moroccan buyers, ahead of 4,541 transactions by buyers from the United Kingdom. They were followed by Italy with 4,109, Romania with 3,974 and Germany with 3,907 purchases. Foreign buyers accounted for a total of 62,327 purchases of flats and houses, down 13.0 per cent on the same period a year earlier. Foreign buyers made up 18.3 per cent of all property transfers.
The notarial statistics distinguish between foreign residents and non-residents in Spain. Purchases by foreign non-residents fell the most (down 18 per cent). The authors cite the abolition of the so-called Golden Visa and a generally subdued market with higher financing costs as possible reasons. Average prices per square metre illustrate the market segmentation: foreign buyers paid an average of €2,644 per square metre. Foreign non-residents paid considerably more (3.493 €/m²), while foreign residents paid €2,102/m². The difference between the two groups was therefore €1,391 per square metre.
Prices also varied by country of origin: buyers from the United States, Sweden and Germany reported the highest average purchase prices. According to the notariat, buyers from Morocco, Romania and Ecuador paid the lowest average prices. This range reflects differing preferences for regions and locations, as well as the greater presence of affluent second-home buyers among foreign non-residents.
Foreign transactions fell in most Autonomous Communities. Particularly sharp declines were reported in Cantabria, the Canary Islands, the Autonomous Community of Madrid and the Balearic Islands. In traditionally popular coastal and island markets, higher prices and financing costs are weighing particularly on purchases by foreign non-residents, while foreign residents have remained relatively more stable as a proportion of buyers in mainland regions with lower prices.
The figures cited come from the notarial statistics for the first half of 2026, published on 15 October 2026. They are based on notarised purchase contracts and allow for analysis by country of origin and residency status. Any broader assessment should take into account interest-rate trends, recent visa reforms and the seasonal distribution of purchase deeds.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).