Marbella Real Estate: Villas, Apartments and Penthouses

The Golden Mile runs between Marbella town and Puerto Banús and is home to some of the most expensive plots. Puerto Banús is the marina and nightlife centre. Nueva Andalucía, known as the Golf Valley, has golf courses and gated communities. Sierra Blanca sits on the hillside above, with large villas, while the old town is a whitewashed pedestrian core. East of town are Elviria and Cabopino with beach clubs, and west towards San Pedro de Alcántara there are more affordable flats.

Málaga airport is around 45 minutes away by motorway, and the AP-7 and A-7 serve the coast. Buyers come from northern Europe, the Middle East, the UK and increasingly from the US and Latin America. Check community fees, security, water supply and whether urbanisation roads are public or private.

Foreigners can buy freely in Spain, though you need an NIE (foreigner's tax number). Budget for:

• Resale: transfer tax (ITP) in Andalusia is 7% of the price.
• New build: VAT of 10% plus stamp duty (AJD) of 1.2%.
• Notary, registry and legal fees: around 1-2%.
• Annual taxes: IBI property tax, and non-resident income tax on imputed or actual rental income.
• Plusvalía municipal: normally paid by the seller.

Spain ended its property-based golden visa in April 2025, so residency by purchase is no longer available; ask a lawyer about non-lucrative or digital-nomad visas. Marbella also has strict rules for tourist rentals, so confirm licensing before assuming holiday income. See the Spain buying guide and Spain mortgages, where non-residents can usually borrow 60-70% of value.

A typical Marbella purchase runs as follows. First, obtain an NIE and open a Spanish bank account. Then agree a price and sign a reservation agreement with a small deposit. Your lawyer checks the title at the Land Registry (Nota Simple), confirms there are no debts, licences are valid (especially for extensions and pools) and that community fees are paid. After that comes the private purchase contract (contrato de arras) with a deposit of around 10%, and finally completion before a notary.

Pay particular attention to licences of first occupation for new builds, to whether the villa is on urban land, and to unresolved planning legalisation, which has been a recurring problem in parts of Andalusia. Independent legal advice, not the seller's lawyer, is strongly recommended. You can sense-check pricing with the valuation tool or contact us for introductions via the contact page.

Within reach are Estepona, which is more affordable, and the exclusive hill village of Benahavís. To the north-east, compare Alicante on the Costa Blanca. For city options look at Madrid or Barcelona, or for beach-resort apartments, Benidorm. The Spain overview lists more.