Buying Property on the Costa del Sol

Around three months from an accepted offer to completion at the notary. The private purchase contract usually follows two to four weeks after reservation, with completion one to two months later. The Land Registry then updates the title in your name within about a month.

Typically around 1% of the purchase price, deducted from the total at completion. It is generally non-refundable if you simply change your mind — but returned if due diligence uncovers a serious legal or planning issue.

The arras deposit — normally 10% — cuts both ways. A buyer who withdraws forfeits the deposit; a seller who withdraws must return it twofold. This is why the private purchase contract, not the reservation, is the real point of commitment.

No. A Power of Attorney allows your lawyer to obtain your NIE, sign the contracts and complete at the notary on your behalf. Many of our clients purchase entirely from abroad and visit only for viewings — or after the keys are theirs.

By banker's drafts (cheques bancarios) issued by a Spanish bank — the standard, secure method for completion in Spain. If the seller has an outstanding mortgage, one draft goes directly to their bank to cancel it on the same day. This is one of the reasons a Spanish bank account is strongly recommended.

Three layers. Legal: ownership, debts, charges and community or tax arrears via the nota simple. Urbanistic: planning compliance, the First Occupation Licence (LPO) and any extensions or reforms. Technical: the condition of the structure and installations — especially important for villas.

Ownership costs in Spain are modest: annual IBI (local property tax based on cadastral value), Basura (refuse collection) and, if you are not tax resident in Spain, a small non-resident income tax on imputed income — payable even if you never rent the property out.

For most buyers, no. It concerns net Spanish assets above roughly €3.7 million per person after allowances, and mortgage debt secured on the property reduces the taxable base. For acquisitions at that level, we structure the review with a specialist tax advisor before you commit.

Usually yes, but holiday lets in Andalucía require a tourist rental registration, and individual communities can restrict or prohibit them. If rental income is part of your plan, we verify both points before you reserve — not after.

In most cases, personally — it is simpler, cheaper and cleaner on resale. A corporate structure only tends to make sense if you already hold assets through one, or a specialist advisor recommends it for your specific tax position. We can connect you with the right advisor to decide.

Not legally — but strongly recommended. It makes banker's drafts at completion, utility direct debits, community fees and any mortgage far simpler to manage. We help clients open one as part of the preparation stage.

With an established developer, yes — Spanish law requires stage payments to be protected by a bank guarantee (aval bancario), so your deposits are secured if the project fails to complete. The practical risks are delays of 6–12 months and finishes that differ from the showroom, which is why the developer's track record and contract terms are part of our due diligence.

No more than five or six. Beyond that, homes blur together and decisions get worse, not better. A curated shortlist seen properly — with a second, evening visit to the finalists — beats a marathon of fifteen viewings every time.

Because negotiations turn emotional quickly — and emotional deals die. An agent and a lawyer between the parties keep the discussion objective, keep momentum on the paperwork, and know when a small concession wins a large one. Sellers in this market also prioritise certainty: a calm, prepared buyer often beats a higher but messier offer.

It depends on how you want to live: the Golden Mile and Puerto Banús for beachfront prestige, Sierra Blanca and La Zagaleta for gated privacy, Nueva Andalucía for golf and family life, San Pedro for a relaxed town-and-beach rhythm, Benahavís and Estepona for space and long-term potential. We profile each in depth in our area guides.

Yes — and it offers the most control over the result, at the cost of time and complexity. Budget conservatively for plot preparation (geotechnical studies, retaining walls, soil works), verify buildability before reserving, and note the tax difference: private land carries 7% Transfer Tax, while land sold by a company is typically subject to 21% VAT.

An agent is not legally required — but on the Costa del Sol, listings are widely shared between agencies, so the real difference is not access but how the agency works for you: curating the search, handling negotiation and coordinating lawyers, banks and surveyors. On a resale purchase the agency commission is paid by the seller, so our work as your buyer's agent costs you nothing.

One practical note: working with several agents at once usually creates duplication and weaker advice. One trusted real estate agency, committed to your brief, serves you better.

The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is Spain's identification number for foreigners — required for any property purchase. It can be obtained in Spain, at a Spanish consulate abroad, or by your lawyer under Power of Attorney, usually within a few weeks.