Foreign Buyers in Barcelona vs Alicante and Málaga: Why Barcelona Is Different

When people think of foreigners buying property in Spain, they often picture the Costa Blanca or the Costa del Sol.

The data backs that up. In Alicante province, 43.3% of all homes sold in 2025 were bought by foreigners. In Barcelona province, the figure was 14.2%.

That difference matters more than it seems. It tells you who you are competing with when you buy in Barcelona, and how to prepare.

Where in Spain do foreigners buy the most homes?

Measured by share of all purchases, the most international provinces in 2025 were:

• Alicante: 43.3%
• Málaga: 32.8%
• Santa Cruz de Tenerife: 30%
• Balearic Islands: 29.9%
• Girona: 25%

Barcelona comes in at 14.2%. In the Community of Madrid it was 6.9%.

Does Barcelona have few foreign buyers?

No. Foreigners bought 10,414 homes in Barcelona province in 2025, the third-highest number of any province after Alicante (23,110) and Málaga (11,846).

The difference is scale. Barcelona is a large city with a deep local market, so even a high number of international buyers is still a minority of all buyers.

Who are the foreign buyers in Barcelona?

Mostly people who already live here. In Barcelona province, 88.8% of foreign buyers were residents of Spain.

The coast looks very different. In Alicante, only 32.1% of foreign buyers were residents, and in Málaga 29.2%. Most foreigners buying there live abroad and are buying a second home.

So Barcelona's international buyers are, in practice, part of the local market: people who work, raise families and pay rent in the city before they buy. For how this compares across Catalonia, see our article on Barcelona, Girona and Tarragona.

What does a local-driven market mean for buyers?

It means your main competition is people who know the city well. Spanish buyers and foreign residents already know the neighbourhoods, can arrange a viewing at short notice, and often have their financing lined up.

When a well-priced flat comes up in a sought-after area, these buyers can move quickly. An international buyer who needs weeks to arrange a trip, compare areas or speak to a bank is at a disadvantage, regardless of budget.

It also means demand in Barcelona does not depend on one nationality or on second-home buyers. Prices are shaped mainly by people who live and work in the city.

How can international buyers compete in Barcelona?

By arriving prepared. A few things make the biggest difference:

• Financing first. A mortgage pre-approval or proof of funds lets you make a serious offer straight away.
• A clear shortlist of neighbourhoods. Decide where you want to live before you start viewing, not during.
• The ability to act quickly. If you cannot be in Barcelona at short notice, have someone on the ground who can view, check and negotiate for you, such as a buyer's agent like MySpot Buyers.
• Know the process. Understand how the arras contract and deposit work before you find the right home, so you are not learning under pressure.
• Early due diligence. Checking the Nota Simple, the community's finances and the building's condition early means you can move fast without cutting corners.

What does this mean for sellers in Barcelona?

Your most likely buyer already lives in the city. That includes many international residents, who may be more comfortable viewing and negotiating in English, German or another language than in Spanish.

Marketing that reaches both local and international residents, with clear documentation ready from the start, gives a home the widest serious buyer pool.

A local market with an international mix

Barcelona is not the Costa Blanca. Its foreign buyers are numerous but they are a minority, and most of them already live in the city.

For international buyers, that means competing with people who know the market from the inside. The ones who succeed are not necessarily the ones with the biggest budgets, but the ones who are ready when the right home appears.

MySpot Barcelona works with local and international clients in English, Spanish, Catalan and German. If you are buying, our buyer's agent service MySpot Buyers supports you through the entire search and purchase process. If you are selling, find out how we market homes in Barcelona.

Sources

• Association of Registrars of Spain and General Council of Notaries, Relationship of Nationality in Housing Purchases and Mortgage Financing 2025.