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Spain · Andalusia

Costa del Sol: a second home on the sunny coast.

Mild winters, long summers, and just one flight from Central Europe. From Marbella to Estepona we help you find the apartment or villa, and take you through every step of buying in Spain.

A year on the coast Prices and yields
Infinity pool in the Benahavís hills at sunset
Same time zone as Budapest About 3.5–4 hours to Málaga EU member state, euro
A year on the Costa del Sol

What is life like here, month by month?

The coast is sheltered by mountains, so winters are mild and summers long and dry. Pick a season to see what it's like to be there, and what it means as an owner.

Daylight hours, MálagaBudapest for comparison

WinterDecember to February

What it's like

As an owner

Daylight hours mid-month, astronomical calculation, rounded (Málaga 36.7°, Budapest 47.5° north). Weather varies year to year; the descriptions are general.

Areas

Four places on the coast, four different paces

A busy marina or a quiet hill village, a walkable old town or a villa with a garden. These are the towns where we search most often.

Family villa with a pool in Nueva Andalucía below La ConchaLively all year

Marbella

The best-known town on the coast. A whitewashed old town around Plaza de los Naranjos, a seafront promenade, and Puerto Banús marina nearby.

From apartments to villas, the widest choice

Andalusian cortijo with a fountain courtyardSea and mountains

Golden Mile

The strip between Marbella and Puerto Banús, between sea and mountains. Villas on large plots and beachfront complexes, one of the most sought-after parts of the region.

Villas, spacious beachfront apartments

The Balcón de Europa viewpoint in NerjaA calmer pace

Estepona

West of Marbella, with a flower-filled old town and a long promenade. Quieter, with many new developments and often a lower entry price.

New-build apartments, penthouses

The white houses of Mijas Pueblo on the hillsideGolf and quiet

Benahavís

A mountain village above the coast, behind Marbella. Golf courses, quiet residential estates, sea views, and well known for its restaurants.

Villas and apartments by the golf course

Towns in numbers, 2026

Price per m², rent and estimated yield along the coast

The asking price is what you see in listings; the notarial price is the average of sales actually signed. The gap between them tells you a lot.

TownAsking price
idealista, July 2026		Notarial sale price
Q1 2026		Rent
idealista, Sept 2026		Est. gross yieldSuits
MarbellaGolden Mile, Puerto Banús€5,950/m²€4,864/m²€23.6/m²/monthapprox. 4.8%Year-round living, the widest choice, strong rental demand
Benahavísgolf and hills€5,496/m²€4,718/m²no separate datano dataGolfers, buyers after quiet and views, villas
Esteponaold town and new builds€4,902/m²€3,384/m²€21.1/m²/monthapprox. 5.2%A calmer pace, new-build apartments, a lower entry price
Fuengirolaurban seafront€4,451/m²no separate datano separate datano dataA year-round town, train to Málaga, apartments
Benalmádenamarina and hills€4,175/m²no separate datano separate datano dataSea-view apartments close to the airport
Málagathe regional capital€3,937/m²no separate data€16.5/m²/monthapprox. 5.0%City life, university and jobs, long-term letting

Sources: idealista asking prices (July 2026) and rents (Q3 2026); notarial data from the Portal Estadístico del Notariado (Q1 2026). Yield: our own estimate from rent divided by asking price, before costs, taxes and voids, for long-term letting.

Covered terrace with a dining table and sea view
The terraceHere you spend most of the year outdoors.

Check which way the terrace faces and how much shade it gets in the afternoon. It matters more than the floor area.

Buying in Spain

Five steps to the keys

The Spanish process is well regulated, but full of unfamiliar terms. We take you through it with a local partner lawyer, in English or Hungarian.

  1. NIE number first step

    The Spanish foreigner identification number, without which you can't buy property. A lawyer can obtain it for you under a power of attorney, so it's worth starting early in the search.

  2. Spanish bank account

    You pay the price and taxes through it, and later the utilities and community fees.

  3. Reservation and private contract

    First we reserve the property with a deposit. The lawyer checks the title, charges and permits, then a private contract is signed, typically with 10% of the price paid.

  4. Notary

    The deed of sale is signed before a notary. You pay the balance and receive the keys. With a power of attorney this is possible without being there in person.

  5. Land registry

    The deed is entered in the property register, and the transfer tax must be paid by then. From now on the property is officially in your name.

€450,000
€200,000€2,000,000
Transfer tax, ITP (Andalusia, 7%)€31,500
Notary, registry, lawyer (estimate, approx. 1–2%)€4,500–9,000
Total cost, approx.€486,000–490,500

An indicative estimate, not an offer. New builds carry 10% VAT (IVA) plus stamp duty instead of ITP. Our local partner lawyer calculates the exact amount before you buy.

Detailed calculator

Every year, as an owner

IBI local property tax
varies by town
based on the cadastral value, yearly
Non-resident income tax if not let
19%
for EU citizens, on 1.1–2% of the cadastral value
Non-resident tax if let
19%
for EU citizens on net rental income, costs deductible
Community fees, refuse, insurance
depends on property
in complexes this includes pool and garden upkeep

Free to buy as an EU citizen

EU citizens buy on the same terms as Spanish buyers. No permit is needed; an NIE number and a Spanish bank account are.

No more Golden Visa

Spain ended residence permits linked to property purchases on 3 April 2025. EU citizens don't need one anyway.

New holiday lets need the community's yes

Since 3 April 2025, starting a new tourist let requires explicit approval from three-fifths of the co-owners.

Registration number

Since 1 July 2025 tourist lets also need a national registration number, alongside Andalusia's regional VFT register.

General information based on the 2025–2026 rules, not legal or tax advice. Our local partner lawyer checks the specific property and your situation.

Spanish properties

A selection on request, within days

We don't publish Spanish listings at the moment. Many good properties on the coast are only available for a short time, so we search to your brief together with our local partners.

  1. 1 working dayA short call about the town, how you'll use it and your budget.
  2. 3–5 working days5–8 properties with photos, floor plans and a full Spanish cost breakdown, including our local partners' stock.
  3. AlongsideA quick check: title, charges and, if it matters, whether holiday letting is allowed.
  4. ThenA viewing trip planned into 2–3 days, or a video walkthrough.

What are you looking for on the Costa del Sol?

Where?
What type?
How would you use it?

Thank you, we'll be in touch.

Property types

Village, golf or new build?

Along the coast you will find very different homes. These are the most common ones our clients ask about.

The white village of Casares on its hilltop
White villageA house on the hillQuiet local life. Usually older buildings, so plan for renovation.
Living room facing the fairway in a La Cala townhouse
GolfA villa by the courseAround Benahavís and Marbella. Higher prices, sought-after rentals.
Kitchen and living area in a new-build Mijas Costa apartment
New buildAn apartment with a shared poolMany new projects around Estepona and Mijas, often with staged payments.
FAQ

What people ask about buying in Spain

Can I buy as a foreigner?

Yes. As an EU citizen you buy on the same terms as a Spanish buyer; non-EU buyers can buy too. You'll need an NIE number and a Spanish bank account, and we help arrange both.

What annual costs should I expect?

Local property tax (IBI), community fees, utilities and insurance. As a non-resident you also file a Spanish tax return every year, even if you don't let the property. We total these before you buy.

Can I let it as a holiday home when I'm not using it?

In Andalusia tourist letting requires registration, and some towns or communities restrict it. Since 2025 a new holiday let also needs the community's approval and a national registration number. If letting matters to you, we check this while selecting.

Does buying come with residency?

Not any more: Spain's Golden Visa ended on 3 April 2025. EU citizens can live in Spain without a permit, but must register if they stay longer.

What yield can I expect from letting?

For long-term letting, idealista's 2026 rents and asking prices give a gross yield of about 4.8% in Marbella and 5.2% in Estepona, before costs and taxes. Holiday letting can earn more, but it's seasonal and requires a licence.

How long does the purchase take?

As a guide, a few weeks from private contract to notary. The NIE number and bank account take longest, so it's best to start those first.

Who checks the legal side?

Our independent Spanish partner lawyer, coordinated by our legal counsel, Dr Georgina Gősi. You receive every key document with a plain-language summary.

Journal

More on the Costa del Sol

All articles
Costa del Sol · Buying9 min read

A Spanish mortgage as a non-resident: how much will banks lend, and what does it cost in 2026?

60–70% loan-to-value, who pays what under Ley 5/2019, fixed or variable, Euribor in 2026 and a worked €420,000 example for non-residents.

Costa del Sol · Neighbourhoods9 min read

Frontline beach or frontline golf: what makes a Costa del Sol property worth more?

Frontline beach, golf views, orientation and micro-location: what justifies paying more on the Costa del Sol, and how to check a listing.

Costa del Sol · Living9 min read

Holiday home, winter base or a move? Living longer on the Costa del Sol as a Hungarian

EU registration, tax residence, healthcare with an S1 or private cover, flights and daily life: what to know before spending longer in Spain.

Costa del Sol · Legal & tax10 min read

Owning Spanish property as a Hungarian: which taxes to expect

Non-resident income tax even on an empty flat, IBI, wealth tax in Andalusia, capital gains on sale and the Hungary–Spain tax treaty, explained plainly.

Costa del Sol · Market10 min read

The Costa del Sol property market in autumn 2026: numbers, drivers and honest risks

Prices by town, foreign demand, new supply, interest rates, licensing and water: where the Costa del Sol market stands in 2026 and what to watch.

Costa del Sol · Investing10 min read

Holiday letting on the Costa del Sol in 2026: licences, restrictions and real returns

The VFT licence, the community vote, Málaga's moratorium and the VAT debate: what a legal holiday let needs in 2026, and what it really earns.

Free guide

Buying in Spain, step by step

A 5–8 page A4 guide you can save as a PDF.

  • NIE, reservation, arras, notary
  • Costs for resale and new-build
  • The lawyer’s due-diligence checklist

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Costa del Sol

Let's plan your viewing trip together.

Before you book a flight, we talk through what you're looking for. That way, on the coast you only view properties that are genuinely in the running.

Phone, WhatsApp · Mon–Fri 9:00–18:00 CET+36 70 603 3333
Emailinfo@monveroestates.com

How a viewing trip comes together

  1. We clarify your needs and budget by phone or video.
  2. We preselect and coordinate the viewings.
  3. On site, our local partner accompanies you.
  4. You fly home with a written comparison.
Let's find a date