PropertinspainBuying in Spain from abroad

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Buying property in Marbella: what to check

By Daniel WhitcombeReviewed by Marta Calderón IbáñezPublished Updated Stage 3: Choose where and what

Quick answer

Marbella is a luxury market on the Costa del Sol with many urbanisations, golf and marina developments. Check the licence and the registry, the urbanisation’s rules and charges, and the tourist-let rules, which combine regional, national and community layers. Andalusia taxes resale homes at seven per cent.

Applies toBuyers considering an apartment, townhouse or villa in the Marbella area.

On this page: 10 sections
  1. The place
  2. The market
  3. Taxes
  4. Urbanisations and communities
  5. Licences and title
  6. Tourist lets
  7. Flood, fire and coast
  8. Who it may suit
  9. What we could not verify
  10. More on this topic
Checked 26 October 2026by Marta Calderón Ibáñez. Claims on this page are tied to the sources listed at the end.

§ 1The place

Marbella is a municipality on the Costa del Sol in the province of Málaga, west of the provincial capital, between the sea and a line of hills. It is widely associated with the luxury end of the foreign market, with marina developments, golf courses and many gated urbanisations. This page belongs to the chapter on the Costa del Sol chapter, and it describes what to check, not what to pay.

§ 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, among the highest provincial shares. Prices in a luxury market vary enormously, and the registry’s provincial figures do not describe Marbella. We found no official average for the municipality, so we print none. Ask local agents for recent sales with dates.

§ 3Taxes

A resale home in Andalusia pays the transfer tax at 7%, and a new home pays VAT and stamp duty at 1.2% on the deed, according to the sources we read. The costs section explains. Non-residents also pay annual taxes, and a withholding applies to the sale, as the section on owning and selling explains.

§ 4Urbanisations and communities

Many homes belong to communities with shared pools, gardens, security and sometimes golf or club facilities. The community sets charges and rules. Ask for the statutes, the accounts, the minutes and the reserve fund. A large urbanisation may have several layers of community, which is a question for your lawyer. The legal process section explains debts attached to a property.

§ 5Licences and title

Ask the town hall for the planning status of the home in writing and check that the building and any extension match the registry and the cadastre. A pool or a terrace added without licence can cause problems at the deed and at resale. The legal section explains the checks.

§ 6Tourist lets

Tourist lets need the regional authorisation, regional registration and the community’s prior express approval. The regional notice sets a capacity based on fourteen square metres built per place, with a minimum of twenty-five. The section on renting and investing explains. Many urbanisations ban or limit lets in their statutes.

§ 7Flood, fire and coast

Hillside homes face fire risk and some streams flood in heavy rain. The location checks section explains how to test a plot. The ministry’s coastal strategy for Cádiz, Málaga and Almería shows erosion is a recognised problem on parts of this coast.

§ 8Who it may suit

It may suit buyers who want a developed market with services and who accept high prices and charges. Homes in Estepona covers Estepona to the west and homes in Mijas covers Mijas to the east.

Homes in Málaga covers Málaga.

§ 9What we could not verify

We found no official price average for Marbella and did not read the municipal planning rules.

§ 10More on this topic

Homes in Fuengirola explains what to check when buying in Fuengirola and homes in Benalmádena explains what to check when buying in Benalmádena.

Homes in Nerja explains what to check when buying in Nerja.

FAQRelated questions

What kind of homes are in Marbella?

The area is known for apartments and townhouses in gated urbanisations, villas on the hillside and near the golf courses, and marina developments. Each has different community charges, rules and services, so ask for the documents before you value one.

Are community charges high?

They can be, especially with pools, gardens, security and services. Ask for the accounts and the budget for the last years, and for any planned works or special charges, before you commit.

Can I let a Marbella home to tourists?

Possibly, if the regional rules, regional registration and the community’s approval all allow it. Check each layer and the town’s rules before you rely on the income.

Sources

About this page

Written by

Daniel Whitcombe

Writer, buying and living in Spain

Daniel writes the chapters on how a purchase runs, who can buy, where to buy and how to check a location. He writes for readers who are new to the Spanish system and prefers plain explanations that name the official source. He is not a lawyer or adviser.

Reviewed by Marta Calderón Ibáñez, chief editor and source editor, 26 October 2026. Checked: Figures and rules checked against the official texts listed below

Found an error? Report it. Each report gets a dated reply, and confirmed corrections are logged on the updates page.

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