The questions that decide whether a purchase in Marbella goes smoothly are rarely about the property. They are about tax, paperwork and sequence — so those are what we have written down.
La Zagaleta sits in Benahavís, not Marbella — a separate municipality with its own town hall and planning rules. What that changes for a buyer.
Read the guide → Buying in SpainWhat a Spanish NIE number is, who issues it, the two routes to getting one, how long it takes, and the mistakes that delay a property completion.
Read the guide → Around MarbellaEstepona borders Marbella but has its own town hall, planning framework and local taxes. What that changes for a buyer — and what stays the same.
Read the guide → Marbella areasWhat the Marbella Golden Mile actually covers, how beachside and mountainside differ, and the licence and planning checks that matter most on this stretch.
Read the guide → MarbellaMarbella's planning history reaches into ordinary purchases. What the licence of first occupation, the registry description and the plan in force actually tell you.
Read the guide → Owning in SpainWhat a non-resident owner of Spanish property files and pays each year — Modelo 210, imputed income, IBI, and the difference between residence and tax residence.
Read the guide → Buying in SpainTransfer tax, VAT and stamp duty, notary, registry and legal fees — how each is calculated, who sets it, and why the reference value can raise your tax bill.
Read the guide → Selling in SpainThe 3% retention, plusvalía municipal, capital gains and the documents a Spanish sale needs — what a non-resident seller should have ready before going to market.
Read the guide → Costa del SolWhat living in Marbella is actually like — the districts, the seasons, the paperwork, the tax residency line at 183 days, and what a purchase does not give you.
Read the guide → MarbellaHow Marbella's areas differ in price, planning position and daily life — and which of them are not in the municipality of Marbella at all.
Read the guide → Buying in SpainWhat a Spanish nota simple shows, what it does not show, and how to spot the discrepancies that matter before you sign a reservation.
Read the guide → Owning in SpainHow Spanish inheritance tax works for foreign owners — who pays, which region's rules apply, the deadline, and why heirs cannot sell until it is settled.
Read the guide →A guide can only take you so far. What applies to your purchase depends on the property, your residency and your timing — that conversation is free and carries no obligation.
