Alicante led real estate activity last year, ranking as the province in Spain with the strongest sales. It stood out as the leading market in a country where population size and urban demand push volumes higher, reclaiming first place in a ranking Málaga had held in the prior year amid its own thriving residential tourism sector.
The latest Statistical Yearbook from the Registro de la Propiedad confirms an exceptional year for Alicante real estate in 2022, driven in large part by solid foreign demand and a national housing market that remained robust through the year.
In concrete terms, registrars recorded 49,977 property transactions in Alicante, a 37.9% rise from the previous year. After Madrid with 83,388 transfers and Barcelona with 66,537, Alicante ranked third in total transactions, underscoring the province’s strong liquidity and market vitality.
Yet when the data is examined through the lens of transactions per capita, different dynamics emerge. Population-adjusted activity shows Madrid and Barcelona with much higher absolute populations, making Alicante appear less dominant on a per-person basis. Nevertheless, the province clearly leads the per-capita measure, registering 25.99 sales per 1,000 people — almost twice the national average of 13.8 per 1,000, and well above Madrid and Barcelona, which recorded 12.22 and 11.76 respectively.
Alicante thus secures first place in this per-capita ranking, edging out Málaga, which posted 24.12 transactions per 1,000 people after having held the top spot for several years in a row due to the Costa Blanca’s enduring appeal.
Liquidity
Liquidity, defined as the ease with which property can be sold, is a key indicator for market health, especially in regions with a high second-home component where buyers may pause to assess investment returns. A lower liquidity can signal a tougher market, while higher liquidity typically indicates quicker turnover and stronger demand. In this context, Alicante and Malaga stand out as the provinces with the strongest relative activity, followed by Almeria, Castellon, Tarragona, and Girona, each showing solid transaction levels per 1,000 people. In contrast, Orense, Pontevedra, and Lugo show comparatively lower liquidity, highlighting regional disparities within the country.
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Foreign demand continues to shape the Alicante market. Data from population registries show that non-residents accounted for the highest share of buyers last year at 41.75%. They are followed by Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the Balearic Islands, Málaga, Girona, and Las Palmas, reflecting broad regional interest from international buyers seeking coastal homes and favorable prices.
Price: 1,608
Price dynamics show that declared transactions averaged 1,608 euros per square meter, marking an increase of 5.8% from the prior year. Although Alicante remains relatively affordable within Spain, the national average rose to 1,944 euros per square meter, underscoring how regional markets can outperform the national trend while still offering competitive pricing for buyers in Canada, the United States, and other markets seeking value.
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Price dispersion is evident across municipalities and within the province. The most expensive towns with populations over 25,000 include Xàbia at 2,519 euros per square meter, Benidorm at 2,466, Altea at 2,203, Calpe at 2,168, Campello at 2,121, and Denia near 1,993. Coastal hotspots consistently command premium values driven by tourism demand, lifestyle factors, and international buyers seeking turnkey properties near beaches and amenities.
Visible trends also show a growing interest in bare-property transactions, a method by which ownership transfers occur while the seller retains the right to live in the property for a defined period. This approach has gained traction as a strategy to improve retirement income without relinquishing a home. Over the past year, 1,657 such streams were recorded, up 23.7% from the previous year, making the Valencian Community the leader in this category. Madrid followed with 293 cases, Andalusia with 287, Catalonia with 157, and the Canary Islands with 132.
On the financing front, mortgage activity in Alicante remained robust, with 19,387 home loans issued, an 11% rise. As a share of total sales, however, financing remained modest, with roughly 38% of buyers seeking financing before purchasing a home, highlighting a cautious but active borrowing environment that supports ongoing market liquidity.