Journal
Who Buys Property on Costa Blanca North in 2026
By Elia Living ·
Who is buying on Costa Blanca North — and why it matters
Around 44 per cent of all homes sold in Alicante province now go to foreign buyers, according to Notaría data for Q1 2026. In eight Costa Blanca North municipalities, that figure exceeds 80 per cent. In Jávea specifically, international buyers account for 64 per cent of single-family home sales.
These are not abstract statistics. They reflect a buyer pool that is genuinely diverse — different nationalities, different motivations, different ideas of what the perfect property looks like. If you are trying to understand how this market works, understanding who you are sharing it with is the place to start.
What follows draws on official Notaría figures, provincial registry data, and our own day-to-day experience as a buyer's agent operating across Jávea, Moraira, Dénia and the wider Marina Alta. We see who is looking, who is buying, and what they prioritise. Here is the picture.
Dutch and Belgian buyers: the largest and most active group
Dutch non-resident buyers purchased 6,289 homes across Spain in 2025 — more than any other foreign nationality, according to the Notary Council's annual figures. In Costa Blanca North specifically, their presence is even more pronounced, with Jávea and Moraira among the most sought-after addresses.
Belgian buyers add to this Northern European wave. Together, Dutch and Belgian buyers make up a substantial share of activity in the premium urbanisations — Montgo Estates, El Portet, Balcón al Mar, Benissa Costa. Their search criteria are consistent: a detached villa with a private pool, sea views if the budget allows, modern or renovated interiors, and enough outdoor space for summer living. Many are buying a principal second home rather than a holiday let, and they return to it most summers.
Budgets cluster between €600,000 and €1.5 million, though we regularly see Dutch buyers at higher price points when a property ticks all the boxes. They tend to be well-informed and well-prepared, often having visited several times and researched the market carefully before approaching an agent.
British buyers: embedded, experienced, and evolving
British buyers remain a force. Nationally they accounted for 7 per cent of all foreign buyer transactions in the first half of 2026 — the highest share of any single nationality — with 3,511 purchases in that six-month period. Their footprint on Costa Blanca North predates almost every other nationality's, and the established British communities in Jávea, Moraira, Calpe and Dénia reflect decades of consistent purchasing.
The character of British buying has shifted post-Brexit. The buyers we are seeing now are typically serious: they have done their due diligence on the Schengen 90-day rule, they understand the Non-Lucrative Visa option, and they are thinking carefully about long-term use — including retirement. Impulse purchases have largely given way to researched decisions.
British buyers span the widest property-type range of any group. Entry-level apartment purchases in Calpe or Dénia sit alongside €2 million villa acquisitions in Moraira. The most common sweet spot in our own experience: a three- or four-bedroom resale villa in a well-established urbanisation, priced between €450,000 and €900,000, with a pool and garden and good access to amenities.
German buyers: quality-focused, concentrated in the north
German buyers recorded 6,233 home purchases across Spain in 2025 — close behind the Dutch — and their interest concentrates heavily on the northern Costa Blanca. Jávea, Moraira, Calpe and Dénia consistently appear in German property searches, and in the luxury segment, German and Swiss buyers together account for roughly 40 per cent of activity in Dénia, according to market analysis by Luxinmo.
What German buyers value is quality: sound construction, energy efficiency, good privacy, and a property that will hold its value. Many approach the purchase methodically, commissioning independent surveys and legal due diligence that goes beyond the Spanish standard. They are less likely to be swayed by views alone, and more attentive to what a property actually costs to run.
In terms of property type, detached villas dominate — often with a preference for newer build or recently modernised homes rather than 1980s resale stock that needs significant work.
Polish buyers: the fastest-growing group in the province
Poland recorded 2,850 property transactions in Alicante province in 2024 alone — a figure that reflects a sustained surge rather than a one-year spike. Growing direct flight connections between Polish cities and Alicante-Elche airport have made the logistics easier, and word of mouth within Poland's property-owning community is powerful.
Polish buyers in Costa Blanca North typically target Jávea and Dénia. Average budgets, at around €462,838 in 2024, sit below the Dutch or German averages, but the picture is shifting: we are seeing more Polish buyers at the €700,000–€1 million level as the cohort matures and confidence in the market grows.
Holiday-rental income potential plays a larger role in Polish buying decisions than it does for Dutch or German buyers. The combination of capital appreciation and rental yield matters, and buyers in this group are often comparing Costa Blanca North carefully against alternatives in Portugal or Croatia.
Scandinavians, Irish, French and other nationalities
Norwegian buyers have a long-standing affinity with Altea and the marina towns, and their presence — while smaller in volume — is consistent in the upper-middle price bracket. Swedish buyers have historically clustered further south, but demand from Sweden in Costa Blanca North has grown.
Irish buyers find particular appeal in the British-facing communities of Jávea and Moraira, where familiar services, English-language infrastructure and a recognisable social scene make the transition easy. Their profile is similar to British buyers' in terms of property type, with a slight tilt toward villas over apartments.
French buyers are a growing presence in Dénia and Altea, attracted partly by cultural and gastronomic affinity and partly by the relative value compared to the French Riviera. Belgians, as noted above, often travel with Dutch buyers as part of a broader Northern European community.
What they actually buy: property types by buyer group
Across all nationalities, 86 per cent of foreign purchases in Alicante province are resale properties. New-build represents only 14 per cent — a figure that reflects both the limited supply of new development on Costa Blanca North and a buyer preference for established urbanisations with mature gardens and proven values.
The dominant property type is the detached villa with pool. This is what the vast majority of foreign buyers on Costa Blanca North are looking for, regardless of nationality. The specific requirements vary — size, modernity, proximity to the coast, sea views, rental licence eligibility — but the basic template is consistent.
Apartments serve a different buyer: those with smaller budgets, those buying primarily as an investment, or those who want a low-maintenance bolt-hole. They are more prevalent in Calpe, the Dénia marina area, and parts of the Arenal in Jávea.
Foreign buyers pay a measurable premium. Non-resident foreign buyers in Alicante province paid an average of €2,895 per m² in 2024, compared to €1,659 per m² for Spanish nationals — a 75 per cent premium. This reflects both the concentration of foreign buying in higher-end coastal locations and the fact that foreign buyers compete for a genuinely limited stock of premium properties.
What this means if you are buying now
The diversity of this buyer pool has a practical consequence: competition for the right properties is real, and it comes from buyers across six or eight nationalities who have often already visited multiple times and know the market well.
It also means that working with an agent who understands the full buyer landscape — not just one nationality's preferences — gives you a clearer picture of what you are bidding against. At Elia Living we work exclusively on behalf of buyers across Jávea, Moraira and Marina Alta. Understanding who else is in the market is part of how we help our clients move at the right moment and pay the right price.
Frequently asked questions
Which nationality buys the most property on Costa Blanca North? Dutch and Belgian buyers are currently the most active group in the premium northern towns — Jávea, Moraira and Benissa — and Dutch non-resident buyers topped the national rankings in 2025 with 6,289 purchases across Spain. British buyers held a 7 per cent share of all foreign purchases nationally in H1 2026, the highest of any single nationality.
What percentage of Costa Blanca North property sales go to foreign buyers? Around 44 per cent of all Alicante province sales go to foreign buyers (Q1 2026, Notaría data). In the most internationally oriented municipalities it reaches 80 per cent or above; in Jávea, international buyers account for 64 per cent of single-family home sales.
Do most foreign buyers purchase resale or new-build properties? Resale strongly dominates: 86 per cent of foreign purchases in Alicante province are resale homes. New-build represents only 14 per cent, limited by supply constraints in the main Costa Blanca North towns.
What type of property do most foreign buyers look for? A detached villa with a private pool is the dominant target across all nationalities. The specific requirements differ — some buyers prioritise sea views, others modern interiors or large plots — but the villa-with-pool format is consistent. Apartments attract buyers at lower budgets or with a stronger focus on rental yield.
Do foreign buyers pay more than Spanish buyers? Yes. Non-resident foreign buyers paid an average of €2,895 per m² in Alicante province in 2024, compared to €1,659 for Spanish nationals. This premium reflects both location preferences and competition for a limited supply of coastal properties.
Which towns attract which nationalities? Dutch and Belgian buyers concentrate in Jávea, Moraira and Benissa. British buyers are spread across all the major towns, with particular depth in Jávea, Moraira and Calpe. German buyers focus on Jávea, Moraira, Calpe and Dénia. Polish buyers favour Jávea and Dénia. Scandinavians are drawn to Altea and the marina towns. French buyers cluster in Dénia and Altea.