Buying a property

Questions regularly asked by people considering buying a property in Marbella and across the Costa del Sol, with links to our answers. Our job is to help and advise you when buying Costa del Sol property. If you're not sure where to start, you can start by asking us.

Questions by subject

• Getting started and understanding the buying process
• Narrowing down your property search
• Deciding how many properties to view
• Knowing when not to buy a property
• Taking time to think before buying
• Finding an estate agent you can trust
• Who is working for me as the buyer?
• How does a Property Finding Service work?
• Choosing the right type of property
• Choosing a property layout that suits you
• Choosing the right floor in an apartment building
• Countryside, coast and inland living
• Walking distance and living without a car
• Buying a renovated property
• Deciding what a property is worth
• Making an offer and reserving a property
• Mortgages and finance
• Legal advice when buying
• LPOs, AFOs and property documentation
• Buying a new-build property
• Buying a beachfront apartment

Getting started and understanding the buying process

• How do I buy a property on the Costa del Sol?
• Do I need to be in Spain to buy a property?
• How long does it normally take to buy a property in Spain?
• What additional costs should I allow for when buying a property in Spain?
• Can an estate agent help me after I have completed my purchase?

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Narrowing down your property search

• Where do I start my Costa del Sol property search?
• How do I narrow down my Costa del Sol property search?
• How do I decide what is essential when choosing a property?
• Why is knowing what I don't want so important in a property search?
• What are the red flags that would make me reject a property?
• Why does the same Costa del Sol property appear on several portals?
• Can property portals filter homes according to how I want to live?
• Should I work with agents or look at the property portals myself?
• How do I decide what is the right Costa del Sol property for me?

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Deciding how many properties to view

• How many Costa del Sol properties should I look at before I buy?
• Could the first property I view be the right one?
• Should I view a few more properties before deciding?
• Can viewing too many properties make the decision more difficult?
• Should I keep looking after I have found the property I want?

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Knowing when not to buy a property

• Should an estate agent tell me not to buy a particular property?
• Should I view a property if it clearly doesn't fit what I am looking for?
• What if the property I want doesn't exist within my budget?
• How do I decide which compromises I can comfortably make when buying a property?
• When should I walk away from a property and look at another option?

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Taking time to think before buying

• Should I take time to think before buying more than one property?
• Should an estate agent ever tell me to slow down before buying?
• How can I avoid getting carried away when buying property?
• Should I buy several off-plan properties at the same time?
• Can a good estate agent help me avoid making a hasty buying decision?

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Finding an estate agent you can trust

• How do I find an estate agent I can trust on the Costa del Sol?
• How do I find an estate agent who will give me honest advice?
• How do I find an estate agent who will put my interests first when buying a property?

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Who is working for me as the buyer?

• Can an estate agent work for me as the buyer?
• Who is actually working for me when I buy a Costa del Sol property?
• Does the estate agent work for the buyer or the seller?
• Can I have somebody searching the whole property market for me?
• Do I actually need a property finding service?
• Can a property finder advise me not to buy a particular property?

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How does a Property Finding Service work?

• What does a Property Finding Service do?
• How can a property finder save me time?
• Can a property finder search properties listed by other estate agents?
• Can a property finder help me buy a property being sold privately?
• How can I be sure that a property finder is genuinely working for me?
• Does having somebody working for me as a buyer cost more?
• How is a Property Finding Service paid?
• Do I pay a property finder if I do not buy a property?
• Do I have to work exclusively with one property finder?

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Choosing the right type of property

• Should I buy a villa or a large apartment on the Costa del Sol?
• Do I really need a villa to accommodate my children and grandchildren?
• Could a large apartment give me enough space for visiting family?
• What are the maintenance differences between a villa and an apartment?
• Would a large penthouse be easier to maintain than a villa?

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Choosing a property layout that suits you

• Why can the same Costa del Sol property suit one buyer but not another?
• How do I decide whether a property layout will work for me?
• Could an open-plan bedroom work for me?
• Can my property requirements change over time?
• Should an estate agent's personal taste influence which properties they show me?
• Should I reject an unusual property layout without considering how it might work for me?

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Choosing the right floor in an apartment building

• Should I buy a ground-floor, middle-floor or top-floor apartment?
• What are the advantages of a ground-floor apartment?
• Are ground-floor apartments less private?
• Is a middle-floor apartment a good compromise?
• Is a penthouse always better than an apartment on a lower floor?
• What should I check before buying a top-floor apartment or penthouse?
• Which apartment floor is best for outdoor living?

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Countryside, coast and inland living

• Can I have both countryside and beach life on the Costa del Sol?
• If I live inland, can I still enjoy the Costa del Sol lifestyle?
• Can I live close to nature without feeling isolated?
• Where can I combine peaceful countryside living with access to Marbella's beaches and amenities?
• Is living 20 minutes from the coast worth it?
• Should I buy near the beach or further inland?
• What do I gain by buying further inland on the Costa del Sol?
• Can I get more space and privacy by living away from the coast?
• Is it worth paying more to live close to the beach?

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Walking distance and living without a car

• Where can I live within walking distance of the beach, shops and restaurants?
• What does “within walking distance of everything” really mean?
• Can I live on the Costa del Sol without using a car every day?
• Which areas of Fuengirola are within walking distance of the beach and everyday amenities?

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Buying a renovated property

• Why do some renovated homes feel better than others?
• What should I look for when viewing a renovated property?
• How can I tell whether a renovation has been thoughtfully designed?
• Should a renovation preserve the original character of a home?
• Is a completely modern interior always better in a renovated property?

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Deciding what a property is worth

• How do I know whether a Costa del Sol property is the right price?
• How much should I offer for a property?
• What will the seller actually accept for the property?
• Is there a correct price for a property?
• Should I make a low offer to see what happens?
• How do I know when to improve my offer rather than walk away?
• Could I lose a property by offering too little?

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Making an offer and reserving a property

• How do I reserve a property on the Costa del Sol?
• What information do I need to provide when making an offer?
• What happens once my offer has been accepted?
• What does a property reservation agreement include?
• Is a property reservation deposit refundable?
• Where is my reservation deposit held?
• Can I sign a reservation agreement from abroad?
• How quickly do I need to pay the reservation deposit?
• What happens after I reserve a property?

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Mortgages and finance

• Can foreigners get a mortgage in Spain?
• Can a non-resident get a Spanish mortgage?
• Should I arrange finance in Spain or in my home country?
• Can I get a fixed-rate mortgage in Spain?
• Can I arrange a Spanish mortgage in my home currency?
• Should I get mortgage approval before I start viewing properties?
• Who can give me independent mortgage advice in Spain?

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Legal advice when buying

• Do I need a lawyer to buy a property in Spain?
• Should I use a local lawyer when buying property in Spain?
• Can I use a lawyer from my home country?
• How does a lawyer protect me when I buy a Spanish property?
• Should I buy a Spanish property in my own name or through a company?
• Should I consider inheritance planning before buying a property in Spain?
• Can I find an independent Spanish property lawyer who speaks my language?

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LPOs, AFOs and property documentation

• What is an LPO and why do I need one?
• Does every Costa del Sol property need an LPO?
• Why do some older Spanish properties not have an LPO?
• Should I buy a property that doesn't have an LPO?
• Can the absence of an LPO affect my mortgage?
• Does having an LPO tell me everything about a property's legal status?
• Can I reserve a property while my lawyer checks its legal and planning status?
• What is an AFO?
• Does every country property need an AFO?
• Should I buy a property that needs an AFO?
• Can I make an offer subject to an AFO being obtained?

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Buying a new-build property

• Should I buy a new-build villa before it is completed?
• What are the advantages of buying a villa that is already well under construction?
• Is it easier to assess a new-build property once construction is well advanced?
• Can I personalise a new-build villa that is already under construction?
• Can I buy a brand-new villa without managing the construction myself?

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Buying a beachfront apartment

• What makes a beachfront apartment suitable for year-round living?
• Is every beachfront apartment suitable as a permanent home?
• What should I look for when buying a beachfront apartment to live in all year?
• Can a beachfront apartment provide enough space and practicality for permanent living?

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Have we missed your question?

If you have a question that we haven't answered, we'd love to hear it, and we will do our best to give you an answer. Call us on (0034) 952 90 52 00, WhatsApp us, or email info@michael-moon.com.