Fortunes from Mexico and the US dominate luxury housing purchases in Barcelona and Madrid

The 28001 postal code in Recoletos (Madrid) is the most expensive in Spain (€11,142/sqm), followed by Barcelona's Eixample (€7,348/sqm).

Facade of a luxury apartment building with balconies and glass windows in Barcelona's Eixample.
IA

Facade of a luxury apartment building with balconies and glass windows in Barcelona's Eixample.

Foreign investors, primarily wealthy individuals from Mexico and the United States, have concentrated the majority of luxury housing transactions in the most exclusive postal codes of Madrid and Barcelona between September 2024 and August 2025.

The Recoletos neighborhood in Madrid (postal code 28001) is confirmed as the most expensive in Spain, with an average price of 11,142 euros per square meter. According to data from the Portal Estadístico del Notariado, of the 764 transactions closed in this district, 30.89% were made by foreigners. Among these, Mexicans account for 21% and Americans for 16.78%.
In Barcelona, the most luxurious area is postal code 08008, surrounding the Jardins del Palau Robert in the Eixample, where the square meter reaches 7,348 euros. In this area, six out of ten homes are acquired by foreigners. In the 111 registered transactions, Mexicans, Israelis, and Americans jointly accounted for 25% of the purchases. Demand for luxury flats in Barcelona diversifies: Dreta del Eixample competes with the upper zone.

"Latin Americans, in particular, are looking for physical, personal security. Being able to walk without an escort and wear a nice watch is unthinkable in their cities. In Mexico, for example, they live in golden cages, without freedom."

Iván Barrondo · Head of John Taylor in Spain
US investors, often retirees over 50 or 60, view Spain as a destination for a "golden retirement," attracted by legal security, favorable tax burdens, and quality of life. In Madrid, the most significant sale of the year was an apartment overlooking the Retiro that reached 20 million euros.
Regarding the Israeli community, which has a historical presence in Catalonia (especially in Sant Cugat and Valldoreix), their investment has recently slowed down due to factors such as urban regulation, including the requirement for 30% protected housing in new developments. All data is sourced from the Portal Estadístico del Notariado.