The Costa Blanca coast can no longer be regarded solely as a place for seaside holidays in the sun or simply as another real estate market on the map of Spain. In recent years, this region has strengthened its position as one of the largest international housing markets, driven by foreign buyers, second-home purchases, real estate investment and the Mediterranean lifestyle, which continues to attract thousands of Europeans.
However, the latest data point to a more demanding market: fewer homes are being sold than during the most active periods, financing has become more expensive, affordability for local residents has become more difficult, and prices in many areas remain high. But this has not diminished the appeal of the province of Alicante, which retains a unique position among European housing markets.
Fewer transactions, but interest remains
According to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE), 12,785 residential properties were sold in the province of Alicante in the first quarter of 2026, almost 1,100 fewer than in the same period of the previous year. The decline, of around 8%, reflects a shift in trend after several years of intense activity. The adjustment was most noticeable in the new-build segment, where the number of purchase and sale transactions fell by 16% to 2,433.
Costa Blanca remains a popular destination for foreign buyers, although it is entering a new phase. Now the decision to buy requires more information, more trust, a more thorough analysis of the area and more professional support.
Foreign buyers shape the Alicante market
The share of foreign buyers is one of the key factors explaining the uniqueness of Alicante. In recent years, foreigners have participated in approximately half of all real estate transactions in the province. In 2025 alone, 31,010 citizens of other countries visited notary offices in Alicante to purchase property, representing more than 20% of all foreign buyers registered in Spain.
According to the Notarial Association of the Valencian Community and the Ministry of Transport, in five municipalities of Alicante foreigners already account for more than 70% of transactions: Teulada (almost 87%), Orihuela (84%), Calpe (78%), Torrevieja (77%) and Guardamar del Segura (71.6%). In absolute figures, Torrevieja leads with 5,595 transactions in 2025. These data show that each area has its own buyer profile, its own market rhythm and its own balance between housing, services, the international community and lifestyle.
A new buyer profile on Costa Blanca
The foreign buyer interested in Costa Blanca no longer fits exclusively the classic profile of a tourist buying an apartment to spend a few summer weeks there. The market is developing toward a more stable model: the hybrid foreign resident.
This profile combines long stays, remote work, active retirement, real estate investment and family use of the property. For many Europeans, buying a home in the province of Alicante means not simply owning a holiday property, but building a longer-term relationship with the region.
More than 42% of those who buy a “second home” in Spain spend more than four months a year there, and around 30% plan to make it their permanent place of residence in the future. From May to September, the average occupancy of homes sold in recent years exceeds 85%.
The region’s investment potential
The international housing market in Alicante stands out not only for its volume, but also for its investment potential. According to notarial data, the average budget of foreign buyers in the province has increased over five years from €154,038 to €216,602. This figure is around €80,000 higher than the average investment by local buyers. The ranking of average spending in the first half of 2025 is led by Dutch buyers – with an average of €315,334, ahead of Swiss buyers (€286,446) and Norwegians (€276,110).
According to data from the General Council of Notaries, 39.59% of the 55,978 residential properties sold in the province in 2025 belonged to foreign citizens (of which 11.73% were residents and 27.86% were non-residents). Some of these properties return to the market as a result of family changes, decisions concerning assets or new life projects of their foreign owners. This shows that Costa Blanca is also a turnover market.
This trend in housing is not limited to the main tourist areas of Costa Blanca, but extends across almost the entire Mediterranean coast, where new opportunities have appeared for permanent residence, investment or the purchase of a “second home”.
