This is a website for buyers, owners, and sellers of property in Spain, offering reliable information and resources to help you get things done with confidence. It is run by Mark Stücklin, author of the Spanish Property Doctor Column in The Sunday Times (2005-2008), and the book ‘Need to Know: Buying Property in Spain’ published by Collins.
A closer analysis of the latest housing market figures from the General Council of Notaries suggests that Chinese demand is responding best to the Golden Visa stimulus introduced by the Spanish Government last September, though results overall are still disappointing.
Looking at non-resident demand for Spanish property in the first quarter of this year broken down by nationality, and comparing it to the same time last year, Chinese demand is in a league of its own when it comes to year-on-year growth, up 666% (see chart above). No other country comes close, though it has to be said that Chinese non-resident demand started from a low base of less than 10 sales in the first quarter of 2013, rising to 69 sales in the first quarter of this year.
The next best performer in terms of non-resident demand growth since the Spanish Golden Visa scheme came into force was the USA, up 143 per cent since last year, all according to the latest figures from the notaries.
The only other country with an increase of more than 100 per cent was Argentina, up 115% to 28 sales, once again starting from a very low base.
Big increases in purchases by non-residents from countries outside the EU are likely to be driven by ‘Golden Visa’ buyers.
However, the Spanish Golden Visa scheme has not been a great success since it was launched last year, partly because it is still early days, but mainly because competitors like Malta and Portugal offer more attractive Golden Visa packages.
David Hughes says:
Hi Mark, I have been trying to sell my old restored 35o year old water mill for 20 years, on & off , i have payed many estate agents lots off money to put it on there web sites, and nothing hapens, can you help me ?, Kind regards David.
Mark Stücklin says:
Hi David, I’m sorry about the late reply – for some reason I didn’t see this when you posted it. Have you managed to sell yet?
Paul Williams says:
It would be useful to see the graph of actual sales. A growth rate on 10 sales for China is always going to look distorted in such a large market. So in 2013 the Chinese bought 10 properties in Spain. But in 2014 they had an incentive through the Golden Visa hence the rise to 59. Would be interesting to see the figures for 2015 now Spain has finally got going on this programme. The USA figures may surprise some. But there is considerable interest coming out of the USA for golden visas. Not least of all due to the onerous tax implications of being a US citizen whereby the US taxes you wherever you live, unless you denounce US citizenship.