Mark Stücklin
The British remain one of the most important foreign-buyer groups in Spain, but the latest quarterly figures suggest their market share is still well below pre-Brexit levels — and slipping further behind other nationalities in growth terms.
Based on the most recent data from the Spanish Land Registrars, UK nationals bought 1,874 homes in Spain during Q2 2025, up 3% year-on-year but almost 9% below the average of the past decade. Over the first half of the year, they purchased roughly 3,985 homes, which is 5% more than in the same period last year, but still 6% below the ten-year average.
Losing ground to other foreign markets
While the British market is holding steady in absolute terms, it is shrinking in relative terms. Total foreign demand grew by more than 11% in Q2 and 15% in the first half, meaning other nationalities are expanding their presence faster. The British share of the foreign market in Q2 stood at 7.8%, just above its lowest point in the past decade and far from its heyday close to 20%.
Long-term perspective
An index of British demand set at 100 in 2015 now stands at 84, compared to 216 for the foreign market as a whole. In other words, while total foreign demand for Spanish property has more than doubled since 2015, British demand has fallen back by around 16% over the same period.
For buyers, this relative softening could mean less competition and potentially more bargaining power in traditional British hotspots. For vendors and agents, it’s a reminder that while the UK remains a key market, relying on it exclusively is riskier than in the past.
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