Buying in Spain from abroad: how remote viewings are changing the prime property search

For international buyers, purchasing property in Spain no longer begins with a flight. Increasingly, it starts with a conversation, a clear brief and a carefully structured remote viewing.

Across Spain’s prime residential markets, remote viewings have moved from being a convenience to an accepted part of the buying process. What was once an exception is now standard practice among internationally mobile buyers, family offices and lifestyle led purchasers.

This shift reflects how buyers approach major decisions today. According to the latest data in 2025 from Spain’s Colegio de Registradores, foreign buyers account for around 15 percent of all residential property purchases nationwide, a figure that rises significantly in prime urban and coastal markets. A substantial share of these buyers are non residents at the point of purchase, meaning early decisions are often made from abroad.

Dils Lucas Fox’s own transaction data reinforces this picture. Based on sales contracts signed in the first half of 2025, 61.6 percent of buyers in the prime segment were international, with the majority coming from Europe, North America and increasingly global wealth hubs. For many of these clients, early engagement with the market happens while they are still living abroad.

Spain continues to feature prominently in international coverage as a destination for long term lifestyle investment rather than short term relocation. Buyers are increasingly establishing a second base before transitioning more fully over time. Property searches rarely align neatly with travel schedules, particularly at the top end of the market. Remote viewings allow momentum without pressure.

Remote viewings also reflect a broader change in buyer expectations. Serious purchasers are less interested in volume and more focused on relevance. Rather than spending days visiting unsuitable properties, they want curated access, context and candid feedback. A well run remote viewing does not replace a physical visit. It improves what comes before it.

Technology has enabled this shift, but trust remains central. High quality live walkthroughs, detailed commentary, floor plan analysis and neighbourhood insight are now baseline expectations in the prime market. Buyers expect advisers to explain how a property compares to others in its segment and to place each opportunity within a wider market context.

For buyers purchasing from abroad, the success of a remote viewing depends less on technology and more on the quality of advice behind it. At Dils Lucas Fox, remote viewings are delivered through the firm’s Premium Advisory Service, designed for international and high value buyers who require structured guidance rather than access alone. Advisers act on a buyer’s behalf on the ground, refining briefs, filtering opportunities and providing market context so that each viewing sits within a broader strategic framework.

This advisory led approach reflects how prime transactions are increasingly executed. According to the Dils Lucas Fox 2026 Market Report, the prime segment has shown notable resilience, with stock levels holding steady even as wider listings declined. In this environment, informed decision making matters more than speed, particularly for buyers engaging remotely.

Importantly, buying from afar does not mean rushed buying. In practice, it often leads to more considered decisions. Buyers who use remote viewings effectively tend to arrive with clarity, realistic expectations and a stronger understanding of value. They are better prepared to act when the right opportunity appears.

For sellers, the shift also broadens the pool of qualified interest. Properties can be presented to serious buyers regardless of location, without losing the nuance that prime homes require.

As Spain continues to attract international purchasers seeking long term lifestyle and investment opportunities, buying property without being there is likely to remain part of the process. Not as a substitute for visiting, but as a smarter and more informed way to begin.

In today’s market, buying in Spain from abroad is no longer unusual. What matters is having the right structure, the right information and the right adviser on the ground.