Investors from Abroad Fuel Alicante’s Real Estate Market
Many real estate agents and entrepreneurs in Alicante note a steady trend: buyers come from outside Spain. International buyers are drawn to the Costa Blanca, where higher budgets often translate into more profitable deals for local agencies. The average price paid by foreigners for a home in the province, especially in the first half of the year, sits around 174,741 euros. Data from the Valencian Notaries Union shows that Spaniards account for about 47.7% of purchases, serving both local residents and buyers from other regions.
One striking nuance is that this average is influenced by buyers with varied purchasing power, including economic migrants whose budgets tend to be lower. When looking at the notaries data, Dutch buyers stand out with an average expenditure of 281,301 euros per home in Alicante. This figure marks a substantial rise from the previous year’s 239,436 euros and coincides with a rapid recovery after the pandemic. The volume of transactions from the Netherlands has nearly tripled since early 2019, highlighting a renewed and growing interest from Dutch investors.
Close behind, Swiss buyers show an average spend of 279,393 euros per property on the Costa Blanca. However, their total purchase volume remains more modest, comprising 178 transactions in the January-June period compared with 1,412 from the Dutch buyers. This suggests a high average price per sale but a smaller overall market footprint for Switzerland in this period.
An additional portion of the market includes Estonian buyers, who average 234,187 euros per purchase but contribute a smaller number of transactions, at 38 deals. Belgian buyers also spend on average more than 200,000 euros—232,853 euros per purchase—followed by Norwegians at 212,683 euros, the French at 208,343 euros, and Germans at 202,156 euros on average per property.
In the lower-to-mid range, traditional buyers from the United Kingdom and Sweden still figure prominently. These two groups maintain a steady presence, with British buyers averaging 176,741 euros per home. Although their deal volume is high—2,372 transactions in the first half—they still trail the Dutch in total value, contributing a remarkable 415 million euros in the January-June period, a significant portion of the provincial activity. Swedes allocate an average of 174,288 euros per home, while purchasing fewer properties than before.
Foreign buyers also show a preference for certain areas. For instance, British buyers are most active in Orihuela, Sweden favors Torrevieja, and Belgians often target Guardamar, Calpe, and Benissa. Dutch buyers tend to dominate El Campello, while Altea attracts a notable share from Dutch investors and others. Denia and its surroundings see strong Dutch and German activity, with Russians remaining present despite broader market restrictions. Benidorm and the Bay area record high levels of foreign purchases in the first half of the year. Among nationalities, Algerians emerge as the largest group by transaction count, while Moroccans concentrate more in Elche, Villena, and Alcoy. In the interior, Romanians represent a sizable share in Elda, though total operation numbers remain relatively small, with only a dozen deals recorded in the period.
These patterns illustrate how international demand shapes Alicante’s property market. Europeans tend to drive the most expensive segments, especially in single-family homes and new constructions. Notaries’ data show that two out of every three luxury chalets sold in Alicante end up in the hands of foreign buyers, underscoring the strong appeal of premium segments to overseas investors. Yet foreign buyers also participate across the spectrum, contributing to a broad and dynamic market that sustains activity year after year.
Overall, the Alicante real estate market demonstrates a robust mix of national and international buyers. The continued interest from European buyers alongside a rising presence from other regions underscores Alicante’s role as a key hub for property investment in the Costa Blanca. The ongoing balance between price levels, transaction volumes, and regional preferences indicates a healthy, diversified market that appeals to a wide range of investors seeking a second home, a vacation residence, or a long-term investment.