Family-run real estate agency on the Costa del Sol

Payments are made in euros, and all of them must go by bank transfer so they can be traced. If you are paying from another currency, rates at banks and specialist currency providers vary considerably, so compare them before any larger payment. The bank and the notary will want proof of where the money comes from, such as bank statements or a tax return, so prepare it in good time.

IBI property tax, community fees, waste collection and insurance. On top of that the non-resident tax return, either on deemed income if you do not rent the property out, or on rental income. Allow roughly €4,000 to €8,000 a year, more for larger properties. If you rent the property out, in our experience about eight weeks of summer rentals cover all the annual costs. We will tell you the exact amount for a specific property before you buy.

Because life goes on here all year round. The sun shines on more than 320 days a year and winter days are around 18 degrees, give or take three. Málaga Airport has direct flights from many European cities. The coast has more than 70 golf courses, hospitals and international schools. We chose this place ourselves and have lived here since late 2018.

Yes, gladly. Send us the link, and we will check whether the property is still available and on what terms, and go and see it. Because agencies share their listings, we guide you through the purchase just as we would for a property from our own portfolio, and the price stays the same for you.

For a resale, from €6,000 up to roughly 1% of the price. It is paid into the lawyer's client account and is refunded if the legal check finds a problem. Two to four weeks later comes the deposit contract (arras), usually 10% of the price. For a developer project the reservation is usually €6,000 to €12,000 and goes to the developer. It counts towards the first instalment of up to 30% of the price. It is refunded in full if the problem lies with the developer, for example if the project does not start or is delayed. If you change your mind, the reservation is forfeited in full or only in part, depending on the developer's terms. Always pay the reservation by transfer to the account named in the contract, never by card and never to a private account.

By law. The developer must cover every advance with a bank guarantee or insurance (Ley 38/1999, first additional provision). The guarantee must be individual, in your name and for your specific unit, issued by a bank or insurer rather than the developer, and must cover the amounts paid including VAT and statutory interest. Payments go only to a special account reserved for the construction. Before each payment, check that the guarantee covers it. The reservation deposit is not covered by the guarantee. In all our years of practice, our clients have never lost their money.

Yes, and for many buyers it is the simplest route. Your home bank can lend against property you own in your own country, but usually not against a property in Spain. A Spanish mortgage is the alternative, harder with income outside the euro, and we are happy to advise you on it.

Not always. Estepona in a listing can mean the town centre, the New Golden Mile between Estepona and Marbella, or places further west or up in the hills. We always tell you how far it is to the beach, the shops and the restaurants.

The neighbourhood, view, orientation, terrace and condition of the property decide, often more than the number of bedrooms. Puerto Banús is a different world from Nueva Andalucía or Sierra Blanca. We always compare the specific apartment, not the project’s “from” price.

Not automatically. Renting to tourists requires a licence, and the rules vary by municipality and by the building’s rules, so we check them before the purchase. Where renting is possible, in our experience the return is roughly 5 to 8% a year.

It happens. The best apartments sell first and prices rise gradually as sales progress. That is why, before the reservation, we always confirm the specific available apartment, its price and the payment schedule with the developer.

Our family property management company. It takes care of cleaning, rentals and property management. You agree the scope and price in advance, based on what you need.

Who will be the owner and in what shares, how you will pay for the purchase and how you will show where the money comes from. Discuss inheritance and taxes with a lawyer and a tax adviser. We are with you throughout the purchase, from start to finish.

The basics are good insurance and an alarm. When you are away, our family property management company keeps an eye on the property.

It depends on when you want the keys, how you want to pay and which area you prefer. A developer project offers the widest choice and you pay in stages. With a completed new build from a developer, you get the keys straight after the purchase. A resale property has finished surroundings and the purchase is quicker. On the first and second line by the sea we often recommend a resale property, while beyond the A-7 road developer projects tend to make more sense.