Natalie Knowing where to buy property in the Costa del Sol, Spain, is purely about personal lifestyle preferences and budget. Also called the Sun Coast or Coast of Sun, this large section of the southern coastline in the Malaga Province sits between the Del La Luz and Tropical sections, and is one of Spain’s best sources of foreign money through tourism and real estate.
Knowing where to find your ideal property is about doing your homework; finding a place that fits your property budget and cost of living and matches your lifestyle preferences for a long-term move rather than a swift flight.
Reasons to love this part of Spain include the gorgeous weather, delicious Andalusian cuisine, culture, and art. With Malaga International Airport and its year-round flight schedule just a 30-minute drive away, getting there is easy whether you buy in gated communities for year-round living, a large villa with a private swimming pool, or visit for the coastal lifestyle. So, let’s look at destinations to put on your house hunting checklist.
Where to Buy Property in the Costa Del Sol
1: Marbella for the Exclusive Property Market
The upmarket resort of Marbella, a hang-out destination of wealthy celebrities and influential business people, garners worldwide fame and is the ideal place to look at villas for sale. The Golden Mile leading to upmarket Puerto Banus features Michelin-starred restaurants and designer boutiques before finishing near the state-of-the-art marina with large luxury yachts docked in.
Backed by the Sierra Blanca Mountain range, the region offers more than exclusive lifestyles. World-class courses like Santa Marie and La Quinta lure in avid golfers worldwide. At the same time, water sports enthusiasts and beach lovers adore the 16 miles of coastline featuring famous stretches of sand like Nikki, Puerto Cabopino, and Funny Beaches.
There is always something to do in Marbella, and any potential retiree or holidaymaker need never worry about boredom. If you want a luxury or penthouse, search for properties for sale in cosmopolitan neighbourhoods like Benahavís, San Pedro de Alcantara, and Elviria.
2: Estepona for Sandy Beaches
Surrounded by the sea and mountains, Estepona’s all-rounder attitude attracts overseas home buyers from several countries, but especially Brits. Lured in by diversity, this shines through in restaurants selling various cuisines and a palm tree-lined promenade leading the way to traditional tapas eateries and seafood restaurants. Meanwhile, the Old Quarter and the Coleccion Garo Art Gallery in Plaza De Las Flores Square display its cultural heritage, and 31 top-class golf courses make it one of Spain’s most popular golfing hotspots.
Backed by the Serrania De Rhonda mountain range, villa and apartment owners enjoy 21 kilometres of coastline featuring gorgeous beaches like Playa Rada and El Cristo, which are within walking distance. Meanwhile, Estepona Malaga is on every Mediterranean sailing circle itinerary because of its excellent marinas. The various buyers and vibrant communities make it easy to settle in.
3: Beautiful Mijas for Traditional Choices
The old part, Mijas Pueblo, offers stunning views over the surrounding landscape and displays unique Andalusia in all its charm. Think narrow cobbled streets lined by whitewashed houses that portray a traditional Spanish heritage. This area attracts many tourists and ex-pats who are eager to tap into the time-honoured charm.
New Mijas, known as La Cala or Mijas Costa, is the beachside district boasting top-class blue flag stretches of sand and a promenade lined with cafes and beach bars. The result is two different areas providing every experience on your doorstep, both traditional and touristic. With plenty to see and do, including attractions, historical sites, festivals, parks, and gardens, Mijas is ideal for perfect homes for the summer or a year-round residence. You will find excellent living standards here, with spacious, elegant apartments.
4: Malaga City for Countless Opportunities
This friendly city offers vibrant atmospheres. Surrounded by famous destinations like Torremolinos, the gastronomy, art, culture, nightlife, and shopping collection suit a range of buyers, with minimalist homes, terraced houses, and more property types. Malaga is the central place if you are considering shopping around Costa del Sol, with traditional shops and some great attractions.
As the capital of the province with the same name, tourism is important, but people enjoy coastal living, with stylish beachside houses or spacious, elegant apartments. Sea view properties, naturally, are in demand but come at a higher price tag. In Malaga, expect comfortable living experiences and a central location with easy access to surrounding resorts.
5: Benalmadena
Benalmadena, 12 kilometres from Malaga, offers beautiful beaches and tourist attractions like the Cable car, Tivoli World amusement park, aquariums, and the Buddhist stupa. The large marina (Puerto Marina) brings in yacht owners from near and far. Of course, the nearer the property is to the lively marina, the higher the purchase price, but the luxury homes are stunning settings for spacious living.
Covering the A7 highway, there are good road connections to surrounding areas, and three popular neighbourhoods to live in include Benalmadena Costa, Benalmadena Pueblo, and Arroyo de la Miel. Two-bed apartments are popular here, especially in gated complexes with expansive gardens and a communal swimming pool.
6: Nerja for Your Pick of Properties
For affordable property prices and apartments for sale, look to Nerja, which is popular with tourists thanks to its numerous tourist attractions and natural beauty. Several stunning beaches have blue flag status, including the famous Burriana Beach, and relaxed atmospheres around town make people feel at home.
Having famously hosted two episodes of Emmerdale, Nerja has been a firm favourite of British buyers for decades. Buyers are pleasantly surprised at the wide range of modern apartments and detached houses for sale. Residential complexes are popular, but there are also luxury apartments in neighbourhoods like El Capistrano Village. Overall, people are incredibly pleased with the purchase prices in Nerja.
7: Torremolinos for Fabulous Beaches
As another Andalusian hotspot with scenic beauty, Torremolinos is the first choice of many expats when looking for somewhere to live. Sitting west of Malaga airport, enjoy the six main beaches to chill out on, a 7-kilometre-long promenade with stunning sea views, and cafes serving international cuisine.
Torremolinos is famous for its nightlife scene, and alongside its urbanisation program, it made a considerable effort to keep green spaces and promote peaceful atmospheres. Meanwhile, any hard-core golfer can swing their club on several golfing courses. Various nationalities living in Torremolinos promote multicultural atmospheres that makes it easy to settle in.
8: Fuengirola for Charming Lifestyles
Despite being a popular tourist destination and attracting large expat communities, this once-small charming village, a famous Andalucian town maintains cultural heritage status. Like other Andalusian villages, Fuengirola’s leading trade was fishing and agriculture. But then, tourism took over this sleepy fishing village. As tourism progressed, so did living abroad, or buying summer holiday homes.
Approximately 25% of registered citizens come from other countries. Masses of British tourists visit during summer. While Fuengirola has embraced modern living, international buyers don’t have to look far to see traces of the old days. The town centre train station runs to Malaga city, whereas the bus station offers alternative methods of public transport. The bus service includes nearby places and others along the A7 highway nearby. Finally, Fuengirola is a 30-minute drive from Marbella City.
Those who love golden sands will enjoy the 7 kilometres of beachfront promenades fronted by sandy and blue flag beaches on the coast. Indeed, social town life revolves around the beaches, whether swimming, jogging, walking the boardwalk, or relaxing in beach clubs and seaside restaurants serving delicious food.
Choose from several sun-kissed beaches, including Carvajal, Las Gaviotas, Los Boliches, El Ejido, San Francisco, and Torre Blanca. All are beautiful locations and favourites with people from European countries, making it a delightful pot of cultures. One thing is for sure: when it comes to beaches and the coast, Fuengirola town is famous.
9: Sotogrande for profitable investments
Just 25km from Gibraltar’s delights, this lovely area is ideally situated to explore all Spain offers. Internationally recognised as a leading destination for golf, sailing, and equestrian sports, Sotogrande is popular with sports lovers. Sun worshippers also enjoy beautiful beaches and upmarket beach clubs, while the marina promotes several restaurants with fine cuisine dining. Sotogrande is ideal for upmarket lifestyles and the finer things in life.
This captivating destination in Spain’s Cadiz province is known for its ideal investment opportunities and vibrant culture. It’s near the beautiful Guadiaro Estuary, a protected natural marshland reserve. Visit the beaches of Sotogrande Port Beach, Torrequadiaro Beach, Alcaidesa Beaches of Torrecarbonera and Hacienda, Cala Sardina Beach, or Playa El Cabrero and Cala Taraje. Fantastic beach clubs such as Club de Playa El Octógono and Club de Playa El Cucurucho are fabulous summer venues.
The marina is the also place to hang out, and this yacht club offers a high-class marina with a 683-berth capacity. This central location is 24 kilometres from Gibraltar, Marbella is 57 km away, and Cadiz is 124.4 km. If you fancy a few days away, visit Granada or Seville.
Golfing Properties in Southern Spain
Having hosted more than 50 tournaments, this Spanish region excels at championship courses and villas with private pools. Unsurprisingly, the excellent courses make local property desirable to buyers looking for strong letting potential. The Real Federación Española de Golf shows that 68 per cent of golf courses in Spain now have a direct or indirect link with a real estate development.
Golf properties within the famous Golden Triangle, formed by joining Los Monteros and Guadalmina along the coast with Benahavís inland, are especially desirable. The beautiful valley of Mijas, including the La Cala golf Resort within the famous Campo Asia prestigious golf course, is more affordable for new golf homes. Homeowners enjoy stunning panoramic views over the golf course and La Cala de Mijas. La Cala Golf Club, Academy School, and various sports facilities, like tennis courts, are all nearby. Residents can reach beautiful beaches in just 10 minutes.
Sotogrande also boasts some of Spain’s best courses. Also, a few have the prestigious title of being some of the world’s best. Other courses also make the resort superb for avid golfers, like the San Roque Club, La Reserva Golf, Almenara Golf, Club de Golf La Cañada and Real Club de Golf of Sotogrande.
Is Property on the Costa del Sol a Good Investment?
Whether you want a ground-floor apartment or a detached villa, buying property in Spain means diversifying your portfolio and adding to your net worth. The real estate markets offer much potential, from sleepy fishing villages to prestigious communities. However, don’t jump straight into the deep end. All good investments involve local research and asking questions.
Anybody who knows their markets will verify that a fantastic investment opportunity needs careful investigation. Whether you want rental income or capital appreciation, every neighbourhood has different prices per square meter, rental yields, and yearly appreciation rates. So, take your time and look at keeping your investment property for at least five years.
Where do Most Expats live in Costa Del Sol?
Expats live all over the region, from white-washed villages to beachfront complexes and luxury properties near marinas. Mijas, a top destination, separates into Mijas Pueblo Blanco, the white village with narrow streets, and Mijas Costa, covering the beachside areas, which is excellent for affordable housing. Expats love Marbella East for exclusive resorts. The Golden Mile is home to luxury resorts, while Fuengirola is perfect for families at affordable prices.
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Search for property now by browsing our affordable apartments and luxurious villas portfolio. From apartments within walking distance to amenities to rural homes away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, each listing contains everything you need to know. Just use the contact details to find out more or to arrange viewings. Call our real estate professionals today to learn more about where to buy property in the Costa del Sol. We are a Spot Blue real estate agency, and we have helped many people purchase a home in Spain.
