Guides to buying, moving and living on the Costa del Sol
How buying a home in Spain works, what moving here involves, and how tax and money change when you do. Written from official sources and our own experience on the coast.
- Money and tax Capital gains tax when you sell a property in Spain: residents and non-residents How capital gains tax works when you sell a property in Spain: resident savings bands, the non-resident flat rate and 3% retention, plus main-home reliefs.
- Money and tax How much can you pay into a Spanish pension each year? The limits for employees and autónomos How much can you pay into a Spanish pension? The personal cap is 1,500 euros, but employees reach 10,000 and autonomos 5,750 via a workplace plan.
- Money and tax How Spain taxes savings and investment gains: the rates for residents in 2026 How Spain taxes savings and investment gains for residents in 2026: the 19 to 30 percent bands and why the date you become resident matters most.
- Money and tax Investment accounts and insurance bonds in Spain: how each is taxed How investment accounts and insurance bonds in Spain are taxed for residents, from rates to deferral, withdrawals, wealth tax and succession.
- Money and tax Modelo 720: declaring your assets abroad once you live in Spain Modelo 720 explained: who must file, the €50,000 thresholds, what counts, the 31 March deadline and how the 2022 EU court ruling ended the old fines.
- Money and tax Non-resident tax in Spain: what you pay on a Spanish property you don't live in Non-residents with a Spanish home pay income tax on a notional rent plus IBI every year, even when it's empty. Here's what you owe and when to file.
- Buying a home Buying property in Spain as a foreigner: the full process and costs On a €1m home, where you buy can swing your buying costs by €65,000. A foreign buyer's guide to budgeting by region and running the purchase in order.
- Buying a home How to get an NIE number in Spain (and why you need it to buy property) You can get a Spanish NIE number remotely by Power of Attorney, before you fly. Here are the three routes and when to pay someone to do it.
- Moving to Spain International schools in Marbella: how to choose, and when to apply When to apply to international schools in Marbella, how British, IB and Spanish curricula compare, and why a confirmed place should decide where you buy.
- Moving to Spain Moving to Spain from the UK: a step-by-step guide for 2026 A step-by-step guide to moving to Spain from the UK in 2026: rent through two seasons, settle your tax while UK-resident, then buy on the Costa del Sol.
- Moving to Spain Taking your dog to Spain from the UK: the rules and the paperwork Taking a dog to Spain from the UK means a timed run of microchip, rabies jab and Animal Health Certificate, plus Andalucía registration on arrival.
- Buying a home Spanish mortgages for non-residents: how much you can borrow and what banks ask for What a non-resident can borrow for a Spanish mortgage in 2026: typical loan-to-value, the documents banks ask for, fixed versus variable, and costs on top.
- Moving to Spain Spain's Golden Visa has ended: what non-EU buyers can do instead Spain abolished the Golden Visa in April 2025. For non-EU buyers, the property and the right to live in Spain are now two separate applications.
- Money and tax The Beckham Law explained: Spain's special tax regime for people moving to work in Spain Spain's Beckham Law can shelter a qualifying newcomer's foreign income for up to six years, but only if you move for work and plan it before you arrive.
- Moving to Spain Retiring to Spain from the UK: a practical guide to retiring in Marbella How to retire to Spain from the UK: the non-lucrative visa, S1 and private healthcare, pensions and tax, the 90/180 rule, and where to live near Marbella.
- Buying a home The nota simple: how to check a Spanish property's title before you buy Learn what a nota simple shows about a Marbella property's owner and debts, what it leaves out, and when to order one before you sign a reservation contract.
- Interiors Mediterranean interior design: how to bring it to a Marbella home How to bring Mediterranean interior design to a Marbella home: natural materials, earthy palettes and lighting that work with the coastal light all year.
- Areas and lifestyle La Zagaleta, Benahavís: a guide to the estate, the homes and daily life La Zagaleta is a gated estate in Benahavís with resident-only golf, 24-hour security and large plots. Where it is, what it costs and who it suits.
- Areas and lifestyle Marbella's Golden Mile: a guide to the area, the homes and daily life Where Marbella's Golden Mile runs, how beachside and north of the A-7 differ, distances to Puerto Banus and the old town, 2026 prices and who it suits.
- Moving to Spain Working as an autónomo after moving to Marbella: a practical guide How to register and work as an autónomo in Spain after moving to Marbella: the steps, the 2026 cuota bands, quarterly filings and common mistakes.
- Market updates Marbella Luxury Market October 2026: Price Growth, Softened Volumes and the French Buyer Surge Spanish house prices rose 9% in H1 2026 as transaction volumes fell 13%. Here's what scarce prime land, new villa supply and French capital mean for Marbella.
- Areas and lifestyle Discovering the Hidden Gems of Marbella: A Guide to Authentic Spanish Culture and Lifestyle Beyond the glamour, Marbella holds a deeper story. Discover the authentic Spanish culture, local neighbourhoods, and hidden gems that make this city truly special.
- Buying a home Spain's end to golden visas and the future of real estate investment Golden Visa Sunset: Spain’s Visa Policy Evolves Our Deep Dive into the End of Spain’s Golden Visa provides you with everything you need to know
- Buying a home Understanding Andalusia's New Tourist Accommodation Regulations: What Owners Need to Know Plus: 27 Things you can’t miss if you own a tourist rental property in Andalucia! … One significant update to the regulations is the introduction of a cap on the number of tourist accommodation units an owner can operate. Specifically, an owner is limited to operating just two units, whether directl
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