Note

Buying an apartment in Fuengirola: what to check

§ 1The place

Fuengirola is a coastal town on the Costa del Sol, between Benalmádena and Mijas, with a long seafront, a castle, a port and a dense urban centre of apartment blocks. A suburban rail line connects it with the airport area and Málaga, which we mention as a feature to check, not as a promise. This page belongs to the chapter on what buying in Costa del Sol involves.

§ 2The market

The registry reports that foreigners made up 37.01% of home purchases in the province of Málaga in the second quarter of 2026. We found no official average for Fuengirola, so we print none. Ask local agents for recent sales and compare homes in the same street and year of construction.

§ 3Taxes

A resale apartment pays transfer tax at 7% in Andalusia, and a new one pays VAT and stamp duty at 1.2% on the deed. The local property tax and the municipal tax on the increase in value of urban land are set by the council, as the costs section explains.

§ 4Apartment blocks

The key documents are the community’s statutes, accounts, minutes and reserve fund. Ask about the lift, the roof, the façade and the pipes, and whether the community has an inspection report. The law makes necessary maintenance mandatory, so planned works become bills. A low reserve fund is a warning.

§ 5Noise

Dense towns are noisy: traffic, bars, building work and the summer crowds. The location checks section explains how to check noise and neighbours. Visit on a weekend night and a weekday morning, and in winter.

§ 6Tourist lets

Many apartments in Fuengirola are used for tourist lets, and others are in buildings where the statutes forbid them. The regional notice sets a capacity of fourteen square metres built per place, with a minimum of twenty-five, and regional registration and the community’s prior express approval also apply. Check each before you rely on lets.

§ 7Flood risk

Heavy rain can flood low streets and underpasses. Check the national flood viewer and ask the council and neighbours. The location checks section explains.

§ 8Who it may suit

It may suit buyers who want a lively resort town with services and transport, and who accept noise and seasonal change. Buying in Benalmádena covers Benalmádena to the west and buying in Mijas covers Mijas to the east.

§ 9What we could not verify

We found no official average for Fuengirola and did not read the municipal rules or the rail timetables.

§ 10Questions to ask on site in this place

Ask about the community, the licence of the building and the flood history of the street. Ask the community administrator, if there is one, for the statutes, the last accounts and the minutes of the previous meetings. Visit in winter and in August, because the coast is quiet in the cold months and crowded in the summer. Write down the answers and compare them with the documents your lawyer receives from the registry and the town hall.

§ 11More on this topic

Marbella property prices explains what to check when buying in Marbella and Málaga property prices explains what to check when buying in Málaga city.

Estepona property prices explains what to check when buying in Estepona and buying in Nerja explains what to check when buying in Nerja.

General information only. This is not legal, tax or financial advice. Check your own situation with a qualified adviser.