You’ve Just Lost a €2m Sale
A Swedish, a German and a French estate agent are chatting in a bar in Marbella after a game of padel (of course). What language do you reckon they are speaking? English. And we know that in their home countries, stereotypically, the Germans and the French resent speaking English. But here… It’s the common language, get over it.
Picture this: Your English sucks, and you’re showing a stunning beachfront villa in Marbella to a wealthy Swedish couple. You don’t speak Swedish either. They make their best efforts to understand your Spanish. The property is perfect for them, the price is right, and they’re clearly interested. But as the conversation deepens into financing options and legal processes, you watch their confidence evaporate. They switch to English with each other, then ask if you can explain everything again “in English, please.”
You’ve just lost a €2 million sale.
It’s a taboo topic, but this scenario plays out daily across Spain’s most lucrative property markets. In the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, the Balearic Islands, and the Canary Islands, English isn’t just helpful -it’s the difference between thriving and merely surviving as a real estate agent.
Here’s the reality that many agents still haven’t grasped: In most of Spain’s Coastal international property hotspots, English is the common language for real estate.
While you might assume Spanish would be the default, the numbers tell a different story.
English is the language that most foreign buyers use to communicate, negotiate, and make purchasing decisions, even when it’s not their native tongue.
Before we get all excited… There are niches within niches, so Polish agencies selling to Polish buyers, Russian-speaking agencies selling to Russian buyers, and so on. Here, I am talking about the broader international market if you are selling to it.
Many agencies on the Costa del Sol, for example, have teams composed of people who speak multiple languages so they can cover more bases, but it is rare for English not to be one of them…
There are also some regional considerations, in Catalonia, French might be more prevalent, and in Mallorc,a we know Ze Germans are market leaders.
However…
If you’re a real estate agent working in these areas without fluent English, you’re limiting your client base.
Below are the top foreign buyer nationalities of Spanish properties in the first quarter of 2025 (Land Registry)
| Nationality | % of Foreign Buyers |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 8.24% |
| Germany | 6.35% |
| Netherlands | 6.05% |
| Morocco | 5.95% |
| France | 5.13% |
| Romania | 4.82% |
| Italy | 4.79% |
| Belgium | 4.77% |
| Poland | 3.90% |
| China | 3.73% |
| Ukraine | 3.42% |
| Sweden | 2.49% |
| Russia | 2.11% |
| United States | 2.03% |
| Ireland | 1.74% |
| Bulgaria | 1.00% |
| Czech Republic | 0.98% |
| Norway | 0.98% |
English Is the Shared Language of International Property Deals
Most foreign buyers in coastal and island resorts fall into two groups:
- Native English speakers
- Non-native speakers who use English as a second language
In practice, English becomes the standard language for property transactions, negotiations, and documentation.
Who Uses English to Buy Property in Spain?
Here’s a breakdown of common buyer nationalities and how likely they are to use English during the buying process.
Almost Always Use English:
- British One of the largest buyer groups in Spain’s resort areas. English is expected at every stage.
- Irish, Americans, Canadians, Australians Native English speakers, often purchasing luxury or second homes.
- Scandinavians (Swedes, Norwegians, Danes) Highly proficient in English. Rarely use Spanish.
- Dutch and Flemish-speaking Belgians Fluent in English and prefer it for real estate transactions.
- Germans Many speak excellent English and use it by default.
- Poles and other Central Europeans Use English as a bridge language. Rarely speak Spanish.
May Use English or Spanish:
- French, Italians, Portuguese Some may speak Spanish, but English is often preferred for clarity—especially in legal or financial matters.
Likely to Use Spanish:
- Latin Americans (Argentinians, Colombians, Venezuelans, etc.) Spanish is their first language, but they make up a small minority in Spain’s coastal resort markets.
Relying Only on Spanish Limits Your Market
If you don’t speak English, your realistic client base is restricted to:
- Local Spanish buyers
- Some Latin American clients
- A small number of Europeans who also speak Spanish
You are missing the majority of international demand. This is especially true in the higher-value segments of the market, where buyers often expect smooth communication and full transparency in English.
What This Means for Your Business
Whether you’re listing a villa in Marbella or a penthouse in Ibiza, fluency in English is now a business requirement, not a luxury.
Practical Steps:
- Invest in professional English-language training for yourself or your team
- Translate your listings and marketing content properly. Avoid machine translations
- Hire bilingual agents or collaborators
- Offer English-language contracts, brochures, and guides
- Adapt your sales process to help English-speaking buyers feel confident and informed
Final Thought
Spain remains one of the world’s top destinations for foreign buyers. But in the property market, the language they rely on is English. Agents who understand and adapt to this reality will win more clients, more referrals, and more deals.
