Anna Hartz
U.S. Buyers Are Flocking to Rural Galicia
Many Americans are searching for quiet places to settle down, away from the fast pace of modern life.
Some are looking across the Atlantic, to Spain. Not the sunny beaches in the south or big cities like Barcelona, but small towns in the green, northern part of the country.
That’s exactly what happened to Richard S. and his wife from Kansas, wrote 2oMinutos.
The Power of the Camino
Neither had ever been to Galicia before. They have no Spanish roots. But in 2023, Richard walked the Camino de Santiago.
The 42-day hike across northern Spain left a deep impression on him. He loved the people, the food, and especially the landscape.
The hills, forests, and quiet countryside reminded him of nothing back home.
He returned a year later to do another walk, this time from Coimbra in Portugal to Santiago again. That trip sealed the deal. He wanted to move to Galicia.
Back in Kansas, he and his wife started looking at homes online. Eventually, they found a 270-year-old stone house in A Estrada, a small town in Pontevedra province.
The home is over 500 square meters and sits on a large plot filled with fruit trees and vineyards. It cost €300,000. They bought it just three weeks ago.
Full Time Residents?
They’re not alone. More Americans are now buying homes in the north of Spain. Before the pandemic, very few foreigners chose places like Galicia or Asturias.
Now things are changing. According to notary data, Americans are paying high prices and often choosing homes with charm and history over modern apartments.
Experts say these buyers aren’t just investors. Many want to live full time or spend long stretches of the year in Spain.
Some are reacting to U.S. politics. Others want to raise their children in a calmer setting or work remotely in peace.
“There are people who disagree with Donald Trump’s measures and decide to come to Spain to work remotely and raise their children away from those policies,” tells Rosy Costoya, general manager of Grupo Country Homes, to 20Minutos.
For Richard, it’s simple. He wanted nature, quiet, and a home with a story. He’s planning to restore the house and welcome friends and family.
And he thinks more people he knows will follow his lead. “Once they see Galicia,” he says, “they’ll understand why we chose it.”