With the generalization of the vaccination against Covid, foreign buyers of real estate in Spain are back.
Real estate agencies are overwhelmed with requests for visits from the French, English, Germans, Belgians, Swedes and other Europeans . Privileged properties: villas with swimming pools near the sea, but also “aticos” (top floors) with terraces in the cities.
11% of all visits to properties for sale or for rent on the Idealista Real Estate portal are made by foreigners. The three nationalities most present are German, French and British.
The introduction of the European “health pass” has further accelerated the phenomenon as it allows customers to move freely throughout Spain with maximum security. These people have received their two doses of anti-Covid vaccines.
Another parallel phenomenon with the return of tourists, the return to the market of “pisos turisticos” (tourist rentals) whose activity was frozen for lack of customers.
Spain is one of the countries with the highest number of vaccinations in the world with 73% of the population vaccinated , putting Spain in 5th place in Europe after Denmark.
Also Spain has many advantages that are appreciated by foreigners who want to buy in the post-Covid era: the sunniest country in Europe, incredible geographical diversity, a land rich in culture and gastronomy, hospitable population, lower cost compared to other places in Western Europe, good health system, efficient educational system, multiple sports activities, one of the safest countries in the world, nearby destinations, the cheapest real estate in Europe, lower real estate expenses and tax incentives have inherited most of the territory .
According to Idealista data, prices in Spain have fallen by 6% in one year. The largest declines were in Madrid and Barcelona, where rents have fallen 11% and 10% respectively since last year. However, prices in Spain’s two major cities stopped falling in July and remain the most expensive in Spain.
A 13-year high in real estate transactions was also observed, with more than 267,700 transactions between January and June, stimulated by the economic recovery and the catching up of transactions not completed in 2020. 12.5 billion in 2021, 25% more than in 2020, and will be at pre-pandemic levels
In addition, The Economist has published a comparative study on security in 60 world metropolises. And Barcelona is ranked 11th in the world and 4th in Europe.