Real estate services on the Costa del Sol

We remain your main contact on the coast and you can turn to us at any time. Even after the handover we help you with defect claims to the developer, recommend tradespeople, insurance, a tax adviser and doctors, and advise you on furniture and equipment. Cleaning, property management and rentals are then provided as agreed by our family property management company. Utility transfers and the non-resident tax return are handled by the lawyer or adviser. We make sure nothing is overlooked.

Yes. Every year a non-resident pays tax on so-called imputed income using form Modelo 210. The base is 1.1% of the cadastral value if the cadastral value has been revised, otherwise 2%. An EU non-resident pays 19% of that. With a cadastral value of 150,000 € and the 1.1% rate, that comes to about 314 € a year. The tax is prorated by the days of ownership, so it is also due for the first, incomplete year, which is the one most often forgotten. For 2025 the return is filed by 31 December 2026; for 2026 onwards between 1 April and 31 December of the following year. Late filing means a surcharge and, after a year, late-payment interest as well.

Insure the building for what it would cost to rebuild, not for the purchase price, which also includes the land and the location. Insure the contents and your liability separately, for example in case you flood the neighbours. If the sum insured is lower than the real value, the insurer reduces the payout proportionally (underinsurance under article 30 of Ley 50/1980). Check the conditions for periods when the apartment stands empty, and always tell the insurer if you rent it out. Damage from extraordinary events such as floods or earthquakes is paid through your ordinary policy by the state Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros, but for a brand-new policy only from 7 days after it starts. The community of owners' insurance covers the common parts of the building, not the contents of your apartment. If you have a Spanish mortgage, the bank may require property insurance, but it must also accept an equivalent policy from another insurer and may not worsen the loan terms because of it (article 17 of Ley 5/2019).

With a resale property, only the holder of the existing contracts changes, which usually takes a few days. With a developer project, the apartment is connected for the first time: the supply point (CUPS code) is created only after the building is completed, so allow roughly 4 to 8 weeks. Photograph all meter readings at the handover. Unpaid energy bills are the debt of whoever signed the contract. Unpaid property tax (IBI) and community fees, however, pass with the property to the new owner, so the lawyer checks them before the purchase. Payments are easiest to set up as direct debits from a Spanish account.

Under EU Regulation No 650/2012, succession is governed by the law of the state where the deceased had their habitual residence, which for most of our clients means Czech or Slovak law. In your will you can also expressly choose the law of the state of your nationality, and that choice holds even if you later move to Spain. Many owners also make a will for their Spanish assets before a Spanish notary, because the inheritance procedure here is then usually simpler. Inheritance tax on the property is paid in Spain. Andalusia grants spouses, children and parents generous relief: a reduction of the tax base of up to 1,000,000 € per heir and a 99% rebate on the tax (Ley 5/2021, articles 28 and 39). An EU non-resident can apply these rules if most of their Spanish assets are in Andalusia. Discuss the specific steps with a lawyer.

For an ordinary apartment, practically not. Spanish wealth tax (Impuesto sobre el Patrimonio) also applies to non-residents, but Andalusia grants a 100% rebate on it (Ley 5/2021, article 25 bis). An EU non-resident can apply it if most of their Spanish assets are in Andalusia. Above 3,000,000 € of net assets in Spain, the state solidarity tax on large fortunes (Impuesto Temporal de Solidaridad de las Grandes Fortunas) is also due, and it is still levied in 2026.

Call or write to us and tell us what you are considering, your budget, how many times a year you want to visit and whether you are looking for a property for your family, with a dog or for rental purposes. We will then prepare a selection from the entire market and go through it with you. You sign nothing, make no commitment and set the pace yourself.

As an EU non-resident you pay 19 percent tax on the difference between the sale and purchase price; the buyer withholds 3 percent of the price by law, which is credited in your return. The town hall charges plusvalía on the rise in land value, usually hundreds to low thousands of euros. Purchase costs (taxes, lawyer, notary) are deductible from the gain, so keep every invoice.

Mainly tax returns for the last two to three years, proof of income, bank statements, an overview of existing loans and evidence of the source of funds. Foreign documents usually need an apostille and a sworn translation into Spanish. Approval takes four to eight weeks, so arrange finance before you reserve.

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.