Competa, Frigiliana and Nerja: foreigners now lead the house hunt

Overseas buyers now lead the house hunt in three Axarquia towns: Competa, Frigiliana and Nerja. According to Idealista’s first-quarter 2026 listing visits, Competa saw 61.3 percent foreign demand, making it the fourth most popular destination for Spanish-speaking foreigners in Spain. Frigiliana and Nerja followed closely behind with 57.1 percent and 56.1 percent foreign demand, respectively. Only Mallorca resorts surpassed Competa in popularity.

In all three locations, more than half of the people browsing homes for sale lived outside Spain. This figure represents search interest rather than signed sales, but it mirrors what agents have observed in the eastern Costa del Sol, where northern Europeans have been hunting village houses and coastal flats before booking viewings.

Britons lead searches in Competa and Frigiliana, with Dutch and German buyers following in Competa and Dutch and Swedish buyers in Frigiliana. Nerja, however, stands out with Swedes leading the pack, ahead of UK and Dutch house hunters.

Malaga province as a whole has a 27.1 percent foreign share, placing it third in Spain after Alicante and the Balearics. Britons remain the top nationality across the province. Axarquia's share jumps above 50 percent in these three towns, indicating a surge in competition for rural stays and well-priced properties. Stock is thin, and a listing can draw several overseas viewers in just a few days. Buyers should still check community fees, water, and non-resident tax before signing any deals.