Gated luxury villas overlooking golf courses, mountains and the Mediterranean in Benahavís.

Benahavís: the Costa del Sol’s luxury enclave

Benahavís is its own municipality in Málaga province, entirely separate from neighbouring Marbella, and one of the leading locations on the Costa del Sol for privacy and golf. Gated estates such as La Zagaleta, El Madroñal and Los Flamingos sit within its boundaries, drawing buyers who want security, space and golf on their doorstep. Here is what you need to know before buying. Where is Benahavís,...

Traditional Andalusian houses and modern coastal apartments representing Estepona and Marbella.

Estepona vs Marbella: where to buy and why

Estepona and Marbella are neighbouring municipalities on the Costa del Sol — around 30 minutes apart by road, though driving times vary considerably by exact area and traffic — yet they offer distinctly different buying experiences. Marbella delivers established prestige, an international social scene and a mature luxury market, while Estepona offers a more traditional Andalusian town with newer...

Costa del Sol holiday rental terrace with property keys, documents and a key safe overlooking the sea.

Short-term holiday rentals on the Costa del Sol: the 2026 legal framework

If you are buying on the Costa del Sol with any intention of renting the property short-term, the regulatory landscape shifted during 2026, and parts of the national picture are still settling. What has not changed is that the framework which actually governs owners in Andalucía is the regional tourist-rental regime, and that you must register a property before advertising or letting it. This guide...

Off-plan property development in Spain with construction site, architectural plans, contract, keys and model house.

Buying off-plan in Spain: process, risks and buyer protections

Off-plan buying — purchasing a property before or during construction — has been a defining feature of the Costa del Sol market in recent years. It offers the opportunity to acquire a newly built home at a price agreed before completion, with modern specifications and the protections that Spanish law attaches to new construction. It also carries risks that are structurally different from buying a...

Model house, calculator, property documents, keys and euro notes representing Spanish property taxes.

Capital gains, wealth tax and the real cost of owning property in Spain

Buying Spanish property involves much more than the purchase price. Between acquisition taxes, annual running costs, capital gains on sale and — for higher-value estates — the state-level wealth taxes, the real cost of ownership deserves careful planning. This guide gives an overview of the main taxes and costs a non-resident buyer should understand, with a particular eye on the premium market. It is...

Infographic showing Marbella's main residential areas — San Pedro, Nueva Andalucía, Puerto Banús, Golden Mile, Marbella Centro and Marbella East — with a map and short descriptions

Where to Buy in Marbella: Golden Mile, Nueva Andalucía and Beyond

Marbella is the best-known address on the Costa del Sol and one of the most internationally traded luxury property markets in southern Europe. The municipality covers a long stretch of coastline between Estepona to the west and Mijas to the east, and contains a striking range of neighbourhoods — from the characterful old town to the ultra-prime Golden Mile corridor, the golf valleys of Nueva Andalucía...

Spanish property purchase guide with floor plans, keys, passport, calculator and documents on a desk.

Buying Property in Spain as a Non-Spanish National: NIE, Taxes, Legal Process and Costs

Buying property in Spain as a non-Spanish national is generally accessible, but the process involves legal, tax and administrative steps that should be checked carefully before committing to a purchase. Understanding the NIE requirement, the tax structure, the legal process and the real total cost before you begin looking at properties makes the experience considerably smoother. This guide covers the key...

Residency options in Spain for non-EU buyers with a Costa del Sol coastal view

Golden Visa and residency for non-EU buyers in Spain

The route that once allowed non-EU buyers to obtain Spanish residency by purchasing property worth €500,000 or more — the investor visa's real estate pathway — was closed on 3 April 2025. In fact, the change went further than the property route alone: Spain eliminated the entire investor residence visa, ending a twelve-year chapter in which capital investment and residency were directly linked for...

Buying in Almuñécar & La Herradura: the complete Costa Tropical guide

Buying in Almuñécar & La Herradura: the complete Costa Tropical guide

Almuñécar and La Herradura occupy a stretch of the Costa Tropical of Granada — a coastline that is geographically close to the Costa del Sol but administratively and climatically distinct. The municipality sits approximately 25 kilometres east of Nerja and around 80 kilometres from Málaga, in the province of Granada. Its subtropical microclimate — warm winters, mild summers, and conditions suitable...

Salobreña & the Costa Tropical: property and lifestyle guide

Salobreña & the Costa Tropical: property and lifestyle guide

Salobreña is one of the most visually striking towns on the entire Andalusian coast. The old town sits on a rocky outcrop that rises sharply from a coastal plain of sugar cane fields, crowned by a Moorish castle and a cluster of whitewashed houses that tumble down to the plain below. It is a town that resists easy categorisation: part Andalusian village, part beach resort, part agricultural community —...

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