Property News & Expat Guide for Spain

Spain has become Europe’s top destination for real estate investment in the CBRE European Investor Intentions Survey 2026, overtaking the United Kingdom, Germany and France. The survey, based on responses from nearly 700 investors, places Spain first in Europe for cross-border property capital.

The result marks the culmination of a five-year rise. Spain did not appear in the ranking in 2021, entered in seventh place in 2022, rose to fourth in 2024, climbed to second in 2025 and now takes the top position.

Key findings

The survey highlights several trends shaping investor sentiment across the European property market.

• Spain ranked first among European countries for expected real estate returns in 2026, named by just under half of cross-border investors
• Madrid holds second place among Europe's most attractive cities for investment, retaining its position for the second consecutive year
• Barcelona ranks fourth — making Spain the only country with two cities in the top five, alongside London (1st), Warsaw (3rd) and Milan (5th)
• 89% of surveyed investors expect purchasing activity to increase or remain stable in 2026
• 83% expect sales activity to increase or remain steady, signalling improving alignment between buyers and sellers on pricing
• The residential sector remains the most preferred asset class for the second consecutive year, accounting for 34% of responses

Spain's 2025 investment figures

Total real estate investment in Spain reached €18.4 billion in 2025, representing a 31% year-on-year increase and the highest volume since 2018, exceeding the European average growth rate. Madrid and Barcelona together accounted for 58% of the total investment volume, reflecting strong demand from institutional investors as well as high-spending property buyers.

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com