Buying in Benalmadena: Arroyo de la Miel, the marina and the pueblo

Benalmadena is really three towns in one: a hillside pueblo with Andalusian character, Arroyo de la Miel as the busy residential and transport hub, and Benalmadena Costa with its beachfront promenade and marina. Buyers typically choose between them based on budget, lifestyle and how much they want to rely on a car. The three faces of Benalmadena Benalmadena Pueblo sits inland on a hillside, with...

Property ownership costs and budgeting on the Costa del Sol, Spain

The cost of living on the Costa del Sol: a buyer’s budgeting guide

Buying a home on the Costa del Sol is only the first financial commitment. Once the purchase completes, owners face recurring costs — property tax, community fees, insurance, utilities and, for non-residents, an annual tax obligation — on top of everyday living expenses that vary with lifestyle, property type and location. This guide sets out, in general terms, what to plan for and where to get...

Living in Frigiliana: village life, views and white-village lifestyle

Life in Frigiliana: the rhythm of a white village

Frigiliana sits inland, a short drive up from the coast, its whitewashed houses climbing a hillside on the southern flank of the Sierra Almijara. Daily life here follows the pace of a hill village rather than a beach town: mornings begin on steep, quiet streets, and routines are shaped by slopes and long views rather than sand underfoot. It suits people drawn to quiet, character and a strong sense of...

Things to do in Nerja: a resident’s year-round guide

Daily life in Nerja moves at the pace of the coastline it sits on: unhurried, outdoor, and shaped by light rather than a clock. It suits people who want a walkable town with a real community behind the postcard views, rather than a purely seasonal resort. Mornings tend to start on the promenade or in the old town, and the rhythm barely changes whether it is January or July. The Balcón de Europa and...

Spanish will, house key and property plans overlooking a Mediterranean villa

Spanish wills and inheritance tax for property owners

Owning property in Spain brings Spanish procedures and Spanish tax obligations into your estate. Those are separate questions from the law that decides who inherits, and the two are easily confused. This guide explains, in general terms, why many foreign owners make a Spanish will, how the law governing a succession is determined, and how Spanish inheritance tax works in Andalucía. Why consider a...

Aerial view of Mijas, Málaga, with mountains, golf courses, residential areas and the Mediterranean coast

Buying in Mijas: Mijas Pueblo, Las Lagunas and Mijas Costa

Mijas is one of the largest and most varied municipalities on the Costa del Sol, taking in the whitewashed hill village of Mijas Pueblo, the everyday town of Las Lagunas behind Fuengirola, and the coastal strip of Mijas Costa. It suits buyers who want a settled, year-round base with a genuine choice of setting, approximately 25 to 40 minutes from Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport. Three very different...

Aerial view of Torre del Mar beachfront, palm-lined promenade and urban centre with the Axarquía mountains in the background

Buying in Torre del Mar & Vélez-Málaga: the Axarquía’s coastal town

Vélez-Málaga is the administrative capital of the Axarquía, and Torre del Mar is its coastal heart — a long beachfront promenade, a grid of accessible apartments and townhouses, and a market that generally offers a more affordable entry point than better-known towns further along the coast. This guide looks at where to buy, what it costs, and what everyday life looks like. One municipality, two...

Passport, mortgage documents, calculator and property keys on a terrace overlooking the Spanish coast.

The non-resident mortgage guide for buying Spanish property

Buying property on the Costa del Sol or Costa Tropical as a non-resident with Spanish bank financing is available to many overseas buyers, subject to the lender's eligibility and affordability assessment. Lenders offer dedicated non-resident mortgage products, though terms differ from those available to Spanish residents — particularly regarding loan-to-value ratios, documentation requirements, and the...

Modern luxury villa with an infinity pool and Mediterranean views in Marbella.

Marbella’s prime market: where the €1M+ buyer should look

Marbella's €1M+ market is not one market but a collection of distinct micro-markets, each defined by location, property type and lifestyle. For an international buyer with a €1–3 million budget, the right choice depends on whether you prioritise beachfront prestige, golf-valley space, marina lifestyle or quieter modern villas. This guide breaks down the prime zones and the kind of property a...

Flower-lined Andalusian street with white houses, palm trees and Mediterranean coastal views in Estepona.

Buying in Estepona: Areas, Lifestyle and the New Golden Mile

Estepona has transformed over the past decade from a quiet fishing town into one of the most active property markets on the Costa del Sol — attracting both lifestyle buyers and investors drawn by its price growth in recent years, expanding infrastructure and reputation for lower entry prices than Marbella in many segments. The municipality offers a range of distinct zones, from the charming historic...

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