Where are the best places for expats to buy property on the Costa del Sol?
If you have fallen in love with the Costa del Sol and decided to make it your new home, you are in good company. Figures compiled by the Spanish Ministry of Housing for the first half of 2024, show that international buyers account for 28 percent of all properties purchased in Málaga Province. This equates to 18,780 properties. It’s easy to understand why this sun-drenched stretch of coastline is a magnet to expat families and retirees, who ae enticed by the beautiful climate, lifestyle and landscapes.
Planning and research
Even before making the decision to move to the Costa del Sol, like most of us, you probably already had a wish-list, possibly including a mansion in Zagaleta, the ultra-private residential resort in Benahavís or you have dreamt of snapping up luxury villas for sale in Marbella or frontline golf properties, all with swimming pools and those must-have sea, mountain or golf views.
However, buying a property, either in your home country or abroad, is one of the most important financial commitments you will ever make, so it’s essential to get it right. Even though you may be familiar with the Coast, having enjoyed many holidays in hotels or rental properties, your priorities will most likely be different when it comes to looking for property for sale on the Costa del Sol. This means a more level-headed approach is required, that will include establishing a realistic budget and your requirements for every day living, including the area you would like to live.
To kick start your research, we’ve compiled a list of the five of the most popular places to live on the Costa del Sol for expats. Let’s start with the capital city of the Costa del Sol and birth place of Pablo Picasso, Málaga.
Málaga
This charming city is extremely popular with expats and was recently voted the second-most popular global destination (behind Dubai) amongst digital nomads based on its quality of life (Executive Digital Nomad), due to the high quality of life. Gastronomy, superb beaches, weather and excellent travel links including an international airport and fast train links to Madrid and Barcelona, are just some of its winning attributes.
There is also a thriving technology park (Parque Tecnológico de Andalucía) has over 65 technology and engineering companies, including Ericsson and Huawei. The recently redeveloped IGY waterfront and marina can accommodate the world’s biggest mega-yachts, and is now a contender as Europe’s number destination for nautical tourism. It is also home to luxury real estate, including new beachfront developments offering access to luxury penthouses and apartments with unrivalled uninterrupted sea views.
Estepona
Estepona is a vibrant coastal town on the western side of the Costa del Sol, and together with Marbella and Benahavís, it is part of a sought-after area known as the Golden Triangle due to the high demand and calibre of properties. The town is also known for its golden sandy beaches with a 1.5km promenade (the longest in Spain), a busy marina and colourful flower-filled town centre, packed with restaurants, cafes, bars, independent stores and shaded plazas. Extensive investment has seen the town become Málaga’s first low emission zone and there has been substantial investment from big name hotel groups including the Ikos Resort Group, Unicorn Royal Emirates and the Santa Maria Hotel and a new shopping centre is being planned to rival the Marbella’s La Cañada.
When looking for properties to buy in Estepona, you have the choice of luxury villas, beachfront developments and golf properties, for example in the upmarket Finca Cortesín Hotel & Golf Spa to the west, and on the New Golden Mile, El Paraiso and Atalaya Golf and Country Club. It is also on this stretch of coast that you’ll find the 5-star Kempinski Bahia Hotel, Selwo Safari Park and an equestrian school (Escuela De Arte Ecuestre Costa Del Sol) to name but a few attractions.
Marbella / Golden Mile
One third of the aforementioned Golden Triangle, Marbella is arguably one of the most well-known up-market destinations in the world, a favourite amongst the rich and famous since the 1950s. More recently in 2022 and again in 2024, it was voted the best European Tourist Destination, out of 500 top destinations.
If you have a healthy budget and you’re looking to buy property in Marbella, one of the most sought-after postcodes in Spain is Marbella’s famous Golden Mile, connecting the town centre with Puerto Banús. This stretch of coastline is home to the iconic Marbella Club Hotel and the Puente Romano Beach Resort, which between them provide a choice of boutiques, art galleries, tennis clubs and Spas. There is also a cornucopia of restaurants, including Leña, Nobu and Cipriani Marbella, bars, nightclubs, beach clubs including MC Beach and the Trocadero. However, the most famous Marbella club, Nikki Beach Marbella can be found in Elviria (East Marbella) and Ocean Club in Puerto Banús.
Puerto Banús, designed in the style of a traditional Andalusian village was created to rival St. Tropez. It has a beautiful marina full of superyachts, designer stores, restaurants, bars and beach clubs. There is also a branch of Spain’s main department store El Corte Ingles. Directly above Puerto Banús, there is the up-market residential area of Nueva Andalucía. With its wide tree lined streets, high calibre properties and fantastic amenities including Aloha College International School, restaurants, shopping centres, hairdressers, gyms and spas, and on Saturday mornings there is a colourful market.
Mijas
The municipality of Mijas is located at the heart of the Costa del Sol, and offers something for everyone, as it has two different personalities; Mijas pueblo is a traditional inland white village located 430 metres above sea level, and Mijas Costa is a much livelier coastal resort, including La Cala, spanning 14kms of beaches, with an impressive 6km promenade. Add to this no less that 12 golf courses and you have pretty much hit the spot for all tastes. If you are considering looking at homes for sale in Mijas Costa, you’ll be impressed with the Blue Flag beaches dotted with chiringuitos, beach clubs, restaurants and modern residential developments.
If your preference is to explore the Mijas village property for sale, you’ll find a completely different artistic vibe. The village has several resident artists and there the Mijas Contemporary Arts Centre, plus there is an annual blues festival.
Fuengirola
If you are considering buying property in Fuengirola, you will be pleasantly surprised at the affordable prices in this lively beach resort. Located on the eastern flank of Mijas, Fuengirola’s excellent transport links (including a train station), make it convenient for travelling to Málaga to work, to the airport and the neighbouring resorts. Popular with families, the area is blessed with 8kms of coastline and there is a busy city centre with a shopping mall, cinema complex and of course there is lots of scope for outdoor activities, including water sports.
Foodies can enjoy a varied selection of restaurants and tapas bars, including the acclaimed Michelin-starred Sollo, specialising in sustainable gastronomy. A further accolade was bestowed on fish and seafood restaurant Los Marinos Jose, which was named as The Best Seafood Restaurant in Europe by the Opinionated About Dining (OAD) guide.
The former fishing village Los Boliches also falls within Fuengirola, which today is a popular holiday destination and it is also hosts the annual Feria Internacional de los Pueblos, where you can sample cultures and foods from all over the world.
Of course, these are just five of our favourite destinations, there are also many other towns and villages, such as Torremolinos, Benalmadena (Pueblo, Costa and Arroyo de la Miel), Elviria, Puerto del la Duquesa, Casares and Sotogrande, just waiting to be explored.
Get in touch with Pardalis Estates to gain access to the best property for sale on the Costa del Sol, find out whether a property in Mijas, new apartments in Estepona or maybe a Marbella real estate would be the right choice for you. Call + 34 951 272 598, WhatsApp + 34 613 645 845, email [email protected] or visit the website www.pardalisestates.com.
