To find a higher figure during the first quarter of the year, we have to go back to 2008 (159,088). This data represent an increase up by 18.5% compared to the same period in 2016. On an annual review, in the last twelve months the real estate transactions amounted to a total of 476,933 with an increase of 13.6% compared to the previous twelve months.
Of the total number of operations, only 10,771 related to new buildings, which accounted for 8.8% of the total. Meanwhile, second-hand properties (112,016) accounted for 91.2%.
Foreigners account for 17% of all purchases
In terms of the nationality of buyers, the number of transactions undertaken by foreign residents in Spain experienced a YoY increase for the 23rd consecutive quarter. Specifically, the number rose by 17.9% compared to the first quarter of 2016, totaling 19,805 sales.
In total, the number of purchases made by foreigners (residents and non-residents) amounted to 20,593, in other words, 16.8% of the total.