Modern villa with timber soffits, floor-to-ceiling glazing and a rectangular pool — buy a premium apartment · Málaga and Costa del Sol
CROSS-BORDER BUYER ADVISORY · COSTA DEL SOL
One advisorEnglish-speakingBased on this coast

Buy an apartment in Málaga and the Costa del Sol

One English-speaking advisor from NIE to keys. 150k-1.5M scope, no off-shore handoffs, no luxury-only filter.

Book a free property consultationSpeak to a bilingual advisor
4Micromarkets known street by street
150k-1.5MReal scope
1Advisor from NIE to keys
BEFORE YOU BUY

What's the real total cost of buying in Spain?

Six expense lines on top of the listed price. Between 10% and 13% extra for non-resident buyers, factoring currency transfer and bilingual solicitor.

Total extra cost

10-13%

White modern kitchen with island in a Costa del Sol home — the real cost of buying an apartment in Málaga
ITP transfer tax — 7% in Andalucía
Standard rate on resale since 2021. ITP and IVA/AJD are mutually exclusive: 7% ITP on resale OR 10% IVA + 1.2% AJD on new build, never both.
VAT + AJD on new builds
New build from developer: 10% VAT + 1.2% AJD on deed value. 21% VAT on parking bought separately. Resale pays 7% ITP instead.
Notary + Land Registry
Notary 0.4-0.5%, Land Registry 0.2-0.3%. Gestoría 100-300 EUR for filing the inscription once tax is paid.
Bilingual solicitor 1-1.5%
Strongly recommended for non-residents. Reviews nota simple, drafts arras, files Modelo 600 in 30 days and registers the deed.
Currency broker savings
Wise, Revolut, TorFX, Currencies Direct charge 0.5-1.5% vs 3-4% UK high-street banks. On 300k EUR purchase: saving 3-6k EUR.
Budget rule: 10-13% extra
On 250k EUR resale, total budget ~282k EUR all-in including ITP, notary, Registry, gestoría, solicitor and currency transfer.
END-TO-END BILINGUAL

How do we guide you from NIE to keys?

Four phases with a single English-speaking interlocutor from first call to keys handover. No off-shore handoffs.

  1. Bright, welcoming living room with a grey sofa, a round wooden table and plants, set for a first consultation — free initial bilingual call1

    Initial consultation + NIE planning

    Map budget, timeline, area and purpose before showing any property. NIE at Spanish consulate UK/IE (3-6 weeks) coordinated in parallel.

  2. Mediterranean home patio with a timber pergola, palm tree and pool — targeted viewing trip across Costa del Sol neighbourhoods2

    Targeted viewing trip

    Own portfolio + open market filtered to your brief. Three to five back-to-back viewings per day with EUR/m² benchmarks by neighbourhood.

  3. Purchase paperwork and a pen on the table — arras contract and document due diligence before signing3

    Arras contract + due diligence

    Arras penitenciales (Article 1454 Spanish Civil Code) at 5-10%. Nota simple, encumbrances, community fees, IBI, EPC verified before you sign.

  4. Entrance of a whitewashed Mediterranean villa with a rendered boundary wall and an iron gate at dusk — completion at the notary and keys handover4

    Completion: in person or POA

    Notary, bank and Registry coordinated. Sign in person OR remotely via POA at Spanish notary or at UK/IE notary with Hague Apostille.

WHAT THE PROPERTIES LOOK LIKE
  • Whitewashed residential development with gardens, palm trees and a tiled walkway on the Costa del Sol — recent-build community
    Community with shared areas
  • Andalusian cortijo lit at night with a round pool and arches — characterful retreat · Málaga countryside
    Cortijo with character
  • White and grey two-storey villa with glass balustrades, a steel-cascade pool and a clear blue sky — new build from developer
    New-build villa
  • Terrace with a white balustrade, a potted lemon tree and a table laid facing the open sea — seafront holiday home
    Seafront holiday home
  • White modern kitchen with island and wood floor in a refurbished Costa del Sol apartment
    Move-in-ready refurbished interior
  • White villa with a pool and palm tree under a clear sky — first home by the coast
    First home by the coast
PRODUCT COMPARISONS

New build or resale? Holiday home or retirement base?

Two decisions that shape taxation, timeline, refurbishment scope and financing. Each persona reads them differently.

Minimalist freshly refurbished interior with a wood floor — new build versus resale on the Costa del Sol
NEW BUILD VS RESALE

New build vs resale property

New build: modern efficiency, developer 10-year warranty, finalist finishes, but 10% VAT + 1.2% AJD and delivery schedule. Resale: price negotiation, immediate possession, custom refurbishment at 7% ITP.

Taxation

10% VAT + 1.2% AJD vs 7% ITP Andalucía

Delivery

12-30 months vs 30-60 days completion

Customisation

Finalist finishes vs refurbishment freedom

Warranty

10-year developer vs survey + due diligence

Premium furnished living room with a cream sofa, blue cushions and framed artwork — holiday home versus retirement base
HOLIDAY HOME VS RETIREMENT BASE

Holiday home vs retirement base

Holiday home: occasional use with potential buy-to-let income. Retirement base: full-time residence after relocation. The choice drives healthcare, airport access, currency exposure and HMRC residency considerations.

Annual usage

Weeks vs full-time after relocation

Healthcare

Travel insurance vs S1/private GP cover

Airport access

Málaga AGP 30-45 min by car

Tax residency

UK domiciled vs Spanish 183-day rule

WHY CHOOSE US

Why entrust your Spanish property purchase to us?

Four measurable differentiators vs UK-based bridges, luxury agencies and Spanish portals.

White and grey minimalist villa with glass balustrades, a steel-cascade pool and a blue sky — property managed by Demo Inmobiliaria

Single English-speaking advisor end-to-end

Same person from first email to keys handover. No intake → admin → completion handoffs. Native Spanish-side bilingual fluency.

Spanish-side local, not UK-bound subcontracted

We work this coast ourselves, not from London. Survey Spain and Property Guides outsource the Spanish-side execution. We are the Spanish side.

Integrated network: solicitor · mortgage · currency · notary

Bilingual solicitor, non-resident mortgage broker, currency broker (Wise/TorFX/Currencies Direct), notary. Vetted contacts under one roof.

Post-purchase continuity under one roof

Rental management, refurbishment coordination, energy certificate renewal, and eventual sale — same advisor, same team.

White villa with a pool and palm tree under a clear sky — one adviser from NIE to keys at Demo Inmobiliaria
ONE ADVISER
From the first coffee to the keys in your hand, the same person walks you through it. No middlemen, no luxury bias.
4micromarkets known street by street
150k-1.5Mreal price scope
1adviser, NIE to keys
HOW IT WORKS

What does the process look like step by step?

Ten milestones from first contact to title change. Expect 3-6 months for a non-resident with NIE and Spanish mortgage.

  1. 01

    First contact + bilingual brief

    Call, WhatsApp or email in English to map budget, timeline, area and purpose before showing anything.

  2. 02

    NIE application coordinated

    At Spanish consulate UK/IE (3-6 weeks) or in-person in Spain (1-2 weeks). No NIE means no signature.

  3. 03

    Targeted search + dossiers

    8-12 property dossiers with EUR/m² benchmarks by neighbourhood and community fees included.

  4. 04

    Viewing trip arranged

    Three to five properties back-to-back per day with airport transfer. Technical on-site analysis of surfaces, noise and community.

  5. 05

    Arras contract signed (10% deposit)

    Article 1454 Spanish Civil Code penitential arras, reviewed by bilingual Spanish solicitor before signing.

  6. 06

    Due diligence: nota simple + community

    Encumbrances, IBI, community fees, EPC and ITE all verified before exchange.

  7. 07

    Non-resident mortgage broker

    Vetted bilingual brokers connect you with Spanish banks. LTV 60-70%. Law 5/2019 LCCI shifts constitution costs to the bank.

  8. 08

    Currency transfer broker

    Wise, Revolut, TorFX, Currencies Direct vs UK high-street bank. On 300k EUR, broker saves 1-2% = 3-6k EUR.

  9. 09

    Completion at Spanish notary

    In person OR remotely via POA at Spanish notary or UK/IE notary with Hague Apostille. Each clause read aloud before signature.

  10. 10

    Modelo 600 + Registry + keys

    Modelo 600 with ITP filed in 30 days. Deed inscribed. Utilities transferred. Keys handed over.

MICROMARKETS

Which Costa del Sol areas do we cover?

Four micromarkets known street by street. This is where our UK and Irish purchases are concentrated.

  • Seafront residential blocks with palm trees at sunset in La Carihuela — buy an apartment in Torremolinos, Playamar and La Carihuela

    Torremolinos

    Carihuela, Playamar, Pueblo and Calvario. First-line and second-line beachfront with established British, Irish and Nordic presence.

    Buy in Torremolinos
  • Mediterranean home lit at night with a round pool and arches — buying an apartment · Benalmádena and Puerto Marina

    Benalmádena

    Arroyo de la Miel, Costa, Pueblo and Puerto Marina. Horizontal layout and stable climate — preferred area for UK retirees and second-home buyers.

    Buy in Benalmádena
  • Fuengirola residential block with white balconies and glazed bay windows — buy an apartment in Fuengirola and Los Boliches

    Fuengirola

    Los Boliches, Los Pacos, Torreblanca and Centro. Wide promenade, suburban train to Málaga AGP and active English-speaking community.

    Buy in Fuengirola
  • White and grey villa with glass balustrades, a steel-cascade pool and a blue sky — buying an apartment · Málaga city and the Old Town

    Málaga city

    Soho, Old Town, East and Pedregalejo. Cultural density and very differentiated neighbourhood micromarkets — favoured by city retirees and remote workers.

    View Málaga properties

No obligation

The initial consultation by phone or WhatsApp is free: we cover areas, prices and taxes before you sign anything.

Speak to a bilingual advisor
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Frequently asked questions

The questions UK, Irish and EU buyers ask most often before starting a property purchase in Spain.

  • How much does buying in Spain cost on top of the listed price?

    10-13% extra for non-residents. ITP 7% (resale) OR 10% VAT + 1.2% AJD (new build), notary 0.4-0.5%, Registry 0.2-0.3%, gestoría 100-300 EUR, bilingual solicitor 1-1.5%. Currency factored separately.

  • Do UK citizens still need an NIE post-Brexit?

    Yes, the NIE is mandatory regardless of nationality. Needed to sign the deed, open a Spanish bank account, take out a Spanish mortgage and file Modelo 600. Apply at Spanish consulate UK/IE (3-6 weeks) or in Spain.

  • Yes. Spanish banks lend at LTV 60-70% (vs 80% residents). Debt-to-income under 30-35%. Docs: 3 years P60/SA302 (UK) or Form 11 (Ireland), bank statements, employment letter. Pre-approval recommended.

  • It applies when you sell, not when you buy. Capital gain by non-EU non-resident sellers (UK post-Brexit) is taxed at 24%. The buyer retains 3% on Modelo 211 as payment-on-account; the difference is reclaimable.

  • ITP (transfer tax) at 7% Andalucía applies to resale. AJD (stamp duty) at 1.2% applies to new build deeds. IVA (VAT) at 10% applies to new builds from developer. Mutually exclusive on a single transaction.

  • Yes. A POA granted at a Spanish notary in a pre-purchase visit OR at a UK/IE notary with Hague Apostille lets your bilingual solicitor sign completion on your behalf. Many UK and Irish buyers complete entirely remotely.

  • Under Law 11/2021, ITP is calculated on the higher of the declared price OR the cadastral reference value published by Catastro. If it exceeds your price, you pay tax on the higher figure. Always verify at sede.catastro.gob.es before arras.

Mediterranean villa garden with a pool, an empty lounger and a white balustrade at sunset — start your property search with Demo Inmobiliaria

Ready to start your property search in Spain?

If you have a clear brief, we send a first curated selection within 48 hours. If you're still exploring, an initial bilingual consultation by phone or WhatsApp is free.

Start your search todaySpeak to a bilingual advisor

Buy an apartment in Málaga and Costa del Sol — cross-border buyer's guide

We guide UK, Irish and EU non-resident buyers through Spanish property purchase with a different model than UK-based bridges (Property Guides, Survey Spain), luxury agencies (Knight Frank, Engel & Völkers) and Spanish portals (Idealista, Fotocasa).

We serve the underserved 150k-1.5M EUR middle-market that luxury and mass-market advisory cover poorly from a Spanish-side execution standpoint.

The process includes NIE at Spanish consulate UK/IE (3-6 weeks), nota simple due diligence at the Land Registry, arras contract under Article 1454 Spanish Civil Code, full tax breakdown (ITP 7% Andalucía resale OR IVA 10% + AJD 1.2% new build, Modelo 600 in 30 days, valor de referencia catastral Law 11/2021), non-resident mortgage LTV 60-70% with Law 5/2019 LCCI protections, currency transfer through Wise/TorFX/Currencies Direct (saving 3-6k EUR on 300k EUR), and completion in person OR remotely via POA with Hague Apostille.

We operate the Torremolinos-Benalmádena-Fuengirola triangle and Málaga city with one English-speaking advisor coordinating an integrated network: bilingual Spanish solicitor, non-resident mortgage broker, currency broker, notary contacts, independent property appraiser before signing, and post-purchase rental management.

Post-Brexit: the 24% capital gains retention applies when you sell, not when you buy.

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  • buy property Costa del Sol
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