The Costa Blanca has strengthened its position as Spain’s leading destination for overseas property buyers, with foreign purchasers accounting for almost half of all home sales.
New figures from property portal pisos.com, based on the latest quarterly report from Spain’s College of Registrars, show that international buyers purchased 44.65% of all homes sold in Alicante province. This is the highest proportion in any coastal province in Spain.
The Costa Blanca comfortably tops the national rankings, ahead of Málaga, where foreign buyers made up 34.3% of purchases, and the Balearic Islands with 28.89%.
Foreign demand continues to shape the market
The figures underline the Costa Blanca’s continued appeal to overseas buyers, who are attracted by the area’s climate, transport links and established international communities.
The report also shows that strong international demand has played a significant role in pushing up property prices.
Average house prices along the Costa Blanca have risen by 46.6% over the past five years. Although this is lower than the increases on the Costa del Sol (73.14%) and in the Balearic Islands (65.04%), it remains well above the rate of inflation over the same period.
Ferran Font, Director of Research at pisos.com, said the link between foreign investment and higher house prices remains particularly strong along Spain’s Mediterranean coast. He added that overseas buyers are now looking beyond the traditional hotspots as prices continue to climb.
Northern Spain attracts more international buyers
While the Mediterranean remains the main destination for foreign purchasers, the report highlights growing interest in northern coastal regions, where homes are generally more affordable.
Pontevedra recorded the biggest increase, with foreign buyers accounting for 3.36% of purchases in 2026, up from just 0.71% in 2021. Asturias, Lugo, A Coruña, Cantabria and Barcelona’s coastline also recorded significant increases.
Font said many international buyers are exploring these areas because they offer lower property prices and a less developed coastline than the Mediterranean.
For example, the average coastal property costs around €201,787 in the Rías Baixas and €184,226 in the Rías Altas, compared with €578,562 in the Balearic Islands and €485,645 on the Costa del Sol.
Tenerife bucks the trend
Santa Cruz de Tenerife was the only coastal province to record a slight fall in the share of foreign buyers over the five-year period. The figure slipped from 26.79% to 26.05%.
Even so, property prices in the Canary Islands still rose by almost 60% during that time. Meanwhile, neighbouring Las Palmas attracted more overseas buyers, who now account for just over one in five property purchases.
The report concludes that Spain’s coastal housing market has seen substantial price growth over the past five years, with the Costa Blanca remaining one of the country’s strongest performers.
While the Costa del Sol, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands recorded even sharper increases, Alicante continues to stand out as the country’s most popular destination for international buyers. That trend is likely to keep demand high and put further pressure on prices, making it harder for local residents to access the housing market.
