Where Do American and British Buyers Buy Property Abroad? The 2026 Map
Published on: June 26, 2026
Americans and Britons are the two most active outbound property-buying nations on earth, and their money does not go to the same places. The American map is anchored in the Americas and southern Europe. The British map is anchored on the Mediterranean coast. Both have been redrawn over the last two years by Brexit, by the closure of Spain's golden visa, and by the end of Portugal's property route to residency.
This is where the two groups are actually buying in 2026, based on the latest data from the US National Association of Realtors, Knight Frank, and Spain's property registry, and what is driving each flow.
The American buyer abroad
For most of the last decade, outbound buying by Americans was a quiet niche. That is changing. In the NAR's 2025 survey, 16% of US agents reported a client looking to buy property in another country, up from 9% the year before. The destinations break down clearly:
- Mexico is the single most popular destination. Proximity, established expat communities, and lifestyle pricing keep it at the top.
- Latin America and the Caribbean follow, with Grenada, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic named most often.
- In Europe, Portugal leads, then the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain.
Two motivations dominate. Most American clients are buying a vacation home or a rental property rather than a primary residence, and when they find what they want, they pay cash close to half the time. The logic is consistent: Mexico and the Caribbean for sun, proximity and price; Portugal and Italy for lifestyle and a long-running (if now narrower) reputation as a soft landing in Europe.
The British buyer abroad
The British map is older, deeper and heavily Mediterranean. Brexit changed the rules of engagement, not the destinations.
- Spain is the perennial number one. In 2024, a record 139,102 homes were sold to non-residents, and British buyers led that group with roughly 11,900 purchases (about 8.6%). Around 275,000 UK nationals are legally resident in Spain. The Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Alicante and Mallorca remain the core areas.
- France is second, helped by proximity to the UK and a well-regulated purchase process run through a notaire.
- Portugal is third, centred on the Algarve, Lisbon and Porto. In early 2025, British buyers accounted for around 11% of Portugal's luxury-market sales.
- Italy, Greece and Cyprus round out the European list.
Outside Europe, Australia is the most popular destination for British expats (around 23% of Britons living abroad), though foreign-ownership rules there generally bar non-residents from buying established homes. In the US, British buyers make up roughly 5% of foreign purchasers in Florida.
The structural shifts both groups now face
The destinations are familiar, but the 2026 rulebook is not. Four changes matter:
- Brexit's 90/180 rule. British citizens can now spend only 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area as visitors. Buying a home does not change that. Long stays require a local visa.
- Spain's golden visa is closed. Under Organic Law 1/2025, Spain abolished its investor residence route with effect from April 2025. Brits and Americans can still buy freely, but the property no longer comes with a fast track to residency.
- Portugal's property route to residency is gone. Real estate was removed as a qualifying investment in 2023. Portugal's golden visa survives through funds, not property.
- The UK non-dom regime ended in April 2025. UK residents are now taxed on worldwide income, which is nudging some high-net-worth buyers to formalise a move abroad rather than keep one foot in each system.
The through-line is that property and residency are decoupling in the headline markets. For buyers who want a second passport or residency rights alongside the home, the action has shifted to Greece, Turkey, the UAE and Georgia, where a purchase can still lead to status. We map that in detail in our guide to residency-to-citizenship timelines.
American vs British destinations, side by side
| Rank | American buyers head to | British buyers head to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico | Spain |
| 2 | Costa Rica / Caribbean | France |
| 3 | Portugal | Portugal |
| 4 | United Kingdom | Italy |
| 5 | Italy / Spain | Greece / Cyprus |
What this means for 2026
Lifestyle and holiday demand still drive the overwhelming majority of cross-border purchases for both nations, which is why the Mediterranean and the Caribbean keep their place at the top. But the buyers chasing residency or a passport are increasingly looking past Spain and Portugal toward markets that have leaned into investment migration rather than away from it. If you are weighing where to buy, separate the two goals early: a holiday home and a route to residency are no longer the same purchase in most of Europe.
This post sits alongside our deep dives on where German buyers go abroad and the 2026 Chinese outbound buyer, which complete the picture of how the world's largest buyer pools are moving.
Frequently asked questions
Can Americans get residency by buying property abroad?
In some places, not most. Spain and Portugal no longer offer a property route. Greece, Turkey, the UAE and Georgia still tie residency (and in Turkey's case, citizenship) to a qualifying purchase, with different thresholds and conditions.
Can Brits still buy property in the EU after Brexit?
Yes. EU countries place few restrictions on foreign ownership, and the buying process is largely unchanged. What changed is the right to stay: the 90-day Schengen limit means long stays now require a national visa.
Which country is easiest for US and UK buyers?
Spain, Portugal, France and Italy all have well-trodden, foreigner-friendly purchase processes. For Americans, Mexico is the most popular by a wide margin thanks to proximity and price.
Where do Americans buy in Europe?
Portugal first, then the UK, Italy and Spain, according to the latest NAR outbound data.
Disclaimer. This article summarises published market data and is general information, not investment or immigration advice. Residency and tax rules change frequently. Confirm current rules with a qualified adviser before buying. Information was believed accurate at the time of writing in 2026.
A note on the numbers: where no source is named, the market figures in this article (prices, yields, costs) are indicative estimates compiled from publicly available market data and industry reporting at the time of writing. Markets move and rules change, so treat them as a starting point and verify current figures with official sources before acting on them.
