Moroccans become top foreign homebuyers in Spain

Moroccan citizens have become the leading foreign nationality purchasing housing in Spain during the first half of 2026, according to data from the General Council of Notaries. With 4,960 acquisitions, Moroccans accounted for 8% of foreign transactions, surpassing the United Kingdom, which recorded 4,541 acquisitions.

Despite the change in leadership, the overall foreign real estate market in Spain has experienced a decline. Total foreign acquisitions fell by 13% year-on-year to 62,327 transactions, marking the sharpest decrease since the first half of 2020. The decline was particularly notable among non-residents, which saw an 18% drop.

The shift in rankings is largely driven by the residency status of the buyers. Approximately 98.7% of Moroccan purchases were made by residents already living in Spain, whereas over 52% of British purchases were made by non-residents. This suggests that Moroccan activity is primarily driven by the established community within Spain rather than external investment, while the British market is more heavily weighted toward second homes and overseas investors.