British buyers push the Region of Murcia into Spain's top four for foreign home sales
Lower prices and good weather are keeping Murcia high on the list for overseas investors
The Region of Murcia has just ranked fourth in Spain for the number of homes purchased by foreign buyers, according to data from the 2024 Yearbook of the Association of Registrars. It also holds second place for purchases made by non-EU European nationals and comes first among African buyers.
The Balearic Islands remain at the top of the list in Spain, accounting for 30% of all international property purchases, followed by the Valencian Community with holiday hotspots like the Costa Blanca at 28% and the Canary Islands with 24%.
According to the experts, these figures highlight the growing appeal of municipalities and provinces with warm weather and strong sun and beach tourism. On top of this, ever-rising housing and rental prices in major cities like Barcelona are further pushing foreign interest toward the islands and the Levante coast.
The Region of Murcia stands out as the preferred choice for African buyers and is second only to the Balearic Islands for home purchases by non-EU Europeans like the British.
In the first quarter of 2025, foreign property purchases in Murcia actually dropped by 2.42% compared to the last quarter of 2024 and by 1.62% compared to the first quarter of last year. However, this declining trend was seen all across Spain.
Nationwide, transactions by foreign buyers dipped by 0.38% compared to the end of 2024, while purchases by citizens from EU countries drop by 1.31%.
In terms of who’s buying, the British still lead the way in the Region of Murcia, snapping up 22.88% of all homes purchased by foreigners. They’re followed by Moroccans at 14.54% and Belgians at 10.26%. Smaller but still significant activity has been coming from the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, Ireland, France, Ukraine and Romania, although each accounts for less than 10% of the total.
Luxury properties in Murcia have also been drawing international interest. Homes valued at more than €500,000 account for 1.02% of all purchases at the moment, with non-EU citizens responsible for 71.43% of these high-end deals.
Americans show the strongest appetite for upscale properties, representing 51% of purchases of homes larger than 100 square metres.
On the other hand, Italians, French and Argentineans show a preference for smaller properties under 40 square metres.
While many nationalities moving to the Region long-term still choose to buy, the rental market is following a completely different trend.
According to real estate agents in the city of Murcia, South Americans and Africans make up the majority of foreigners looking for rental properties, since most are arriving in Spain in search of work and lack the means to purchase a home.
The steep rise in rental costs in cities like Madrid and Barcelona is also steering more people toward Murcia as an affordable alternative.
In other news: Hotter seas put Murcia on flood watch this autumn
Image: Archive
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