Real estate in Spain in the 2nd quarter of 2026: we have complete data
Poles maintain a strong position among foreign property buyers in Spain. According to the latest data from Registradores de España for the second quarter of 2026, they ranked eighth among the most active foreign buyers. At the same time, the Spanish residential market set another price record, and apartments on the Costa del Sol remain particularly sought-after properties by clients from abroad.
What will you find in the article?
- Poles buy properties in Spain – latest data
- Record property prices in Spain
- Apartments on the Costa del Sol: foreign demand remains very high
- More and more questions about legal status and tourist license
- Mortgage in Spain: available, but requiring preparation
- Buying property in Spain: less impulse, more strategy
This is an important signal for those considering purchasing an apartment, vacation home, or investment property in Spain. The market remains active but is increasingly less like a place for spontaneous decisions. Rising prices, limited supply in the best locations, and greater buyer awareness mean that today, legal analysis, financing plans, and long-term strategy gain special importance.
Poles buy properties in Spain – latest data
In the second quarter of 2026, foreigners made just over 26,800 residential property purchase transactions in Spain. Their share of the total market reached 15.98%, compared to 13.92% in the first quarter of the year. This is a historically high level.
You can find the data from Q1 in our article: “Foreign buyers in Spain, data for Q1”.
Among foreign buyers, the largest shares were held by the British, Dutch, Germans, Moroccans, Romanians, Italians, and French. Poles accounted for 4.33% of purchases made by foreigners, which allowed them to maintain eighth place in this ranking.
During the analyzed period, Poles completed 1,143 transactions, which is 1.5% more than in the previous quarter. The growth rate was lower than that of some other nationalities, including Romanians, Dutch, or British, but the sustained scale of purchases confirms that properties in Spain remain a lasting interest among Polish clients.
– The increase in the number of transactions carried out by Poles on the Spanish market shows the actual direction we are heading. This is linked to a change in clients’ approach to these purchases. Property purchases on the Costa del Sol are today less spontaneous and definitely more thoughtful. For many Polish families, it is part of a long-term strategy related to diversification and asset protection, preparation for the dream retirement, and finding a place that will serve future generations – comments Tatiana Pękala, owner of Dream Property Marbella.
Record property prices in Spain
The second quarter of 2026 brought another price record in the Spanish residential market. The average price of residential properties reached €2,487 per m². This is an increase of 2.4% quarter on quarter and the highest value in the history of this data series.
The trend is even clearer over the annual perspective. The average price from the last 12 months was €2,392 per m², which means an increase of 9.2% year on year. Meanwhile, the price index based on the repeat sales method – IPVVR – rose quarterly by 3.14%, reaching the seventh consecutive record high.
However, this does not mean that the number of transactions grows endlessly. Throughout Spain, there were 167,934 residential transactions, which is 5.7% fewer than in the previous quarter and 2.3% fewer than a year earlier. The market remains strong but is clearly entering a more balanced phase.
– The market has shifted from sprint speed to marathon pace, but that does not mean it is losing energy. Prices are still rising because the number of properties in attractive locations is limited, and demand – both domestic and foreign – remains significant – assesses Tatiana Pękala.
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Apartments on the Costa del Sol: foreign demand remains very high
For those interested in buying property in Andalusia, data from the Malaga province, which includes the most important Costa del Sol locations such as Marbella, Estepona, Benahavís, Mijas, or Fuengirola, is particularly significant.
In the second quarter of 2026, as many as 37.01% of all residential transactions in Malaga province were made by foreign buyers. This was the second highest result in Spain – after the Alicante province, where the share of foreign buyers was 46.43%.
The average price per square meter in Malaga province reached €3,347 per m², representing a slight increase of 0.2% quarter on quarter. Over the last 12 months, the average was €3,254 per m², which is 10.8% higher than a year earlier.
These data do not mean that all apartments on the Costa del Sol are appreciating at the same rate. The market is very diverse: new developments behave differently, so do sea-view apartments, properties in golf complexes, or houses in the most prestigious parts of Marbella and Benahavís. In the best locations, limited supply continues to exert strong pressure on prices.
More and more questions about legal status and tourist license
The profile of the buyer is also changing. Whereas earlier conversations often started with the view, distance to the beach, or estate infrastructure, today many clients first ask about formalities, legal restrictions, and investment potential.
– On the Costa del Sol, I increasingly often talk to clients who first ask about the tourist license, legal status, and expected value growth, and only then about sea views and amenities. This is the moment when the market ceases to be an exotic curiosity and becomes a space for conscious financial decisions – notes Tatiana Pękala.
If the purchase is meant to be investment-oriented, before signing a reservation agreement it is worth verifying, among other things: the property’s legal status, community documentation, the possibility of short-term rental, any restrictions in the community statutes, maintenance costs, and the realistic income model. A tourist license should not be treated as an automatic addition to the purchase but as an element requiring separate analysis.
Mortgage in Spain: available, but requiring preparation
In the second quarter of 2026 in Spain, 129,240 new mortgages on residential properties were registered – 3.3% fewer than in the previous quarter. The most were granted in Andalusia, Catalonia, Madrid, and the Valencian Community.
The average interest rate on new mortgages was 3.03%, rising by 0.04 percentage points compared to the previous quarter. For foreign buyers, it remains key that Spanish banks still finance non-resident transactions, but analyze income sources, financial history, and origin of own capital more thoroughly.
Therefore, it is worth starting the purchase process with an initial conversation with a bank or mortgage broker. This allows for determining a realistic budget, estimating the required down payment, and avoiding a situation where the dream property turns out to be financially unattainable.
Buying property in Spain: less impulse, more strategy
The Spanish residential market still offers many opportunities, but a purchase should be preceded by thorough due diligence. High foreign demand and rising prices do not exempt buyers from the obligation to check the property, its documents, and the purpose it is intended to serve.
– I have been observing this market for almost 20 years and I clearly see one rule: whoever treats buying property in Spain solely as a “catching opportunity” acts at their own risk. The market has entered a maturity phase where those win who approach the purchase as a serious investment – with detailed verification of legal status and analysis of the property’s potential – summarizes Tatiana Pękala.
For Polish clients interested in buying property in Spain, today the key is combining emotion with analysis. The Costa del Sol still attracts with its climate, lifestyle, and international character, but the best purchasing decisions are based on data, good preparation, and support from local experts.
[Data source: report Estadística Registral Inmobiliaria – Q2 2026, prepared by Registradores de España.]
