Over 40% of Tenerife Home Sales Go to Foreign Buyers

The Canary Islands housing market is increasingly relying on foreign buyers, and this trend is becoming a permanent feature. This has big effects on how easy it is for locals to find homes and on the overall economy and society of the islands.

New figures from the General Council of Notaries show that in 2025, over 40% of home sales in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife were to people from other countries. To be exact, 40.34% of all sales involved a foreign buyer. This puts the province among those with the highest amount of foreign money invested in Spanish homes.

This trend is particularly strong in the south of Tenerife. For example, in towns like Adeje and Arona, foreign buyers made up a huge portion of all property sales – 82.37% and 71.36% respectively. This shows how attractive these tourist areas are to international investors, who are drawn by the good weather, quality of life, entertainment options, and the desire for holiday homes or investments.

Nationally, Santa Cruz de Tenerife isn't alone in this trend, but it is one of the top regions for foreign home investment. Alicante province leads the way, with over half of all sales (51.53%) going to non-Spanish buyers, even more than to Spanish buyers. Málaga is close behind with 42.95% of sales, and the Balearic Islands are nearing 40%. Other areas with a lot of international investment include Las Palmas, Girona, and Murcia.

The most active foreign buyers come from countries like the Netherlands, the UK, Belgium, and Poland. This ongoing trend highlights how certain parts of the Spanish property market, especially popular tourist spots like southern Tenerife, are becoming more international. This brings both challenges and opportunities for managing land and housing policies.