Poles remain among the top eight foreign buyers of real estate in Spain

Poland among the top eight foreign buyers

In the second quarter of 2026, foreign demand for residential real estate increased in both percentage share and number of transactions. The share of purchases of residential real estate by foreigners amounted to 15.98% compared to 13.92% in the first quarter of 2026, reaching a historical maximum. The total number of such transactions slightly exceeded 26,800. Among the transactions made by foreigners, the largest shares were held by: British (6.99%), Dutch (6.94%), Germans (6.11%), Moroccans (6.09%), Romanians (5.7%), Italians (5.13%), French (4.97%) and Poles (4.33%). It is worth adding that all autonomous communities recorded a quarterly increase in the share of residential property purchase transactions made by foreigners.

The number of transactions concluded by Poles amounted to 1,143, which means an increase in the second quarter by 1.5%. For comparison, the highest dynamics in this group was recorded by Romanians: 18.2%. The number of purchases made by the Dutch increased by 14.1%, the British by 10.5% and the Germans by 8.3%.

– The increase in the number of transactions made by Poles on the Spanish market shows the actual direction in which we are heading. This is related to the change we have observed in customers’ approach to these purchases. Buying real estate on the Costa del Sol today is less spontaneous and much more thoughtful. For many Polish families, it is part of a long-term strategy related to diversification and securing assets, preparing for their dream retirement and finding a place that will serve future generations. – comments Tatiana Pękala, owner of Dream Property Marbella.

Record prices throughout Spain

The average price of residential properties in Spain in the second quarter of 2026 was €2,487/m2, an increase of 2.4% compared to the previous quarter and a new historical high. The average price for the last 12 months was €2,392/m², growing by 9.2% year on year.

The price index calculated using the repeat sales method (IPVVR) maintained an upward trend and increased by 3.14% quarterly. As a result, IPVVR reached the highest level in the history of the entire data series, setting its seventh consecutive high.

Across the entire Spanish housing market, which includes transactions by both domestic and foreign buyers, 167,934 transactions were recorded in the second quarter of 2026. While this number remained high, it was 5.7% lower than the previous quarter and 2.3% lower than a year earlier. The most transactions were concluded in Andalusia (34,495 transactions), Catalonia (26,703) and the Valencian Community (25,137).

– The market has moved from sprint speed to marathon pace, but that doesn’t mean it’s losing energy. Prices continue to rise as the number of properties in attractive locations is limited and demand, both domestic and foreign, remains significant – says Tatiana Pękala.

Costa del Sol is still at the forefront of interest among foreign buyers

The province of Malaga is one of the regions with the highest share of foreign buyers in Spain. In the second quarter of 2026, this share amounted to 37.01% of all transactions in the province – the second highest result in the country after Alicante (46.43%). The average price per square meter in the province of Malaga reached €3,347/m2 (an increase of 0.2% q/q). On an annual basis, the average price for the last 12 months was €3,254/m2 (an increase of 10.8% y/y).

– On the Costa del Sol, I increasingly talk to clients who ask first about the tourist license, legal status and expected increase in value, and only then about the sea view and amenities. This is exactly the moment when the market ceases to be an exotic curiosity and becomes a space for conscious financial decisions – notes Tatiana Pękala.

Loans available, but customers are more cautious

In the second quarter of 2026, 129,240 new residential mortgages were registered in Spain, compared to 133,618 in the previous quarter, a decrease of 3.3%. The highest number of mortgages were registered in Andalusia (25,501), Catalonia (22,844), the Community of Madrid (20,604) and the Valencian Community (15,574). The interest rate on newly granted mortgage loans increased by 0.04 percentage points, recording the second consecutive quarterly increase and thus confirming the change in the current trend. The average interest rate was 3.03%.

– The most important thing for Polish buyers is that Spanish banks are still willing to finance the purchases of foreigners, although today they verify income and the origin of capital much more carefully than two or three years ago. I always advise you to start by talking to the bank before choosing a specific property. This allows you to realistically assess the budget and save time and nerves, says Tatiana Pękala.

– I have been observing this market for almost 20 years and I clearly see one regularity: anyone who treats the purchase of real estate in Spain only as an “opportunity to grab” acts at their own risk. The market has entered a maturity phase in which the winners are those who approach the purchase as a serious investment – with a detailed check of the legal status and analysis of the property’s potential – sums up Tatiana Pękala, owner of Dream Property Marbella.