A surface-treating agent for imparting both water repellency or unsusceptibility to water absorption and excellent antifouling properties to a surface of a material, especially a material for outdoor use; and a material whose surface has been treated with the surface-treating agent. A solution or dispersion which contains a water repellent or water absorption inhibitor, preferably a water repellent or water absorption inhibitor of the silane, siliconate, silicone, silicone/silane composite, and/or fluorochemical type, and a titanium oxide doped with at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of copper, manganese, nickel, cobalt, iron, and zinc, preferably an amorphous titanium oxide or an amorphous titanium oxide which has been peroxidized at least partly, is used to form, on a surface of a base material and/or in a surface layer thereof, a layer comprising the water repellent or water absorption inhibitor and the titanium oxide doped with at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of copper, manganese, nickel, cobalt, iron, and zinc.