BREXIT DOESN'T SCARE BRIT BUYERS

Number of Costa property buyers from the UK soars by 9.5%

WHATEVER kind of Brexit lies ahead, it certainly hasn't scared-off British buyers looking for homes in the sun.

The latest figures released by the regional property registration office shows that the number of buyers from the UK increased by 9.5% in 2018 - and experts reckon that trend could continue.

Of the 23,060 properties sold to non-Spanish citizens in Alicante province last year, almost 5,000 were sold to Britons.

The 4,931 properties purchased by UK citizens represent an outstanding 9.5% increase on the figures for 2017 (4,500) and all this despite the uncertainty surrounding Britain's departure from the EU.

For once 'blame it on Brexit' appears to have a positive slant, especially in the secondhand property market that accounted for the majority of transactions.

It's great news for the Costa Blanca as the overall figure represents 22% of all property transactions involving foreign citizens in Spain - so it's safe to say that almost one in every four properties sold to a foreign national in Spain is located in Alicante province.

The 23,060 property transactions involving non-Spanish buyers last year also represent almost three-times the number reported in 2010 - in the middle of the economic crisis - which further confirms the Costa property market is booming once again.

British buyers have increased despite the considerable increase in the average price paid for their new second-hand properties - rising from €133,956 in 2017 to €146,880 last year.

The rise in British buyers has more than compensated the fall in customers from other countries such as Belgium (down 5.5% from 2,573 in 2017 to 2,430 last year) and Sweden (down 4.6% from 2,453 to 2,339).

Meanwhile, although in smaller figures, increases have been registered in the number of buyers from France (+3.61%1,407 transactions in 2018), Germany (7.4%, 1,306), Norway (1.5%, 1,219), Russia (6.93%, 1,158) and Holland (12.1%, 1,115 transactions).

Nationalities per town

While British buyers are majority in practically all areas, certain ones appear to be more favoured.

Such is the case of Jávea, Pego, Teulada, Benissa, Campello and Orihuela Costa (a town that accounts for 20% of all transaction involving British buyers on the Costa Blanca).

Swedish buyers prefer Torrevieja, Belgian favour Calpe and Altea, Norwegians love Alfaz del Pi and Russian buyers have a soft-spot for Benidorm and Villajoyosa.

The nationality that spend most on their Costa properties are the Swiss - with an average price tag of €254,953 - and the Dutch (€220,721).