Meva Journal
Notes on buying — and living well — on the Costa del Sol.
Written by the people who do the viewings: what each town is really like, what a purchase costs, and where the market stands right now.
Guides Latest
NIE number for buying property in Spain
The NIE is the tax number you need to buy in Spain. It is not residency, and for most buyers abroad a lawyer obtains it.
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Guides
NIE number for buying property in Spain
The NIE is the tax number you need to buy in Spain. It is not residency, and for most buyers…
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Guides
Buying costs and taxes for non-residents (new build)
Budget roughly 12-14% on top of a new-build price on the Costa del Sol. Here is what each part is.
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Guides
Off-plan property in Spain: how your deposit is protected
Spanish law requires a bank guarantee or insurance for every amount you pay before completion. Here is what to check.
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Guides
Mortgages for non-residents in Spain
Non-resident mortgages on the Costa del Sol usually cover 60-70% of the price. Plan the deposit, the paperwork and the…
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Lifestyle
Living on the Costa del Sol year-round
Climate, schools, healthcare and the trade-offs if the Costa del Sol is a home, not a summer bolt-hole.
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Guides
Does buying property in Spain give you residency?
Buying a home does not give you the right to live in Spain. The golden visa ended in 2025. Ownership…
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Lifestyle
Living the Mediterranean year round
Three hundred days of sun is the headline. What keeps people here is the rhythm: mornings outside, slow lunches, and…
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Guides
New build or resale: how to choose on the Costa del Sol
Off-plan buys you specification and staged payments. Resale buys you certainty, mature gardens and a price you can negotiate today.…
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Locations
Marbella, Estepona or Benahavís: choosing your stretch of coast
Twenty minutes of driving separates three very different lives. A frank look at who each municipality actually suits.
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Guides
What buying really costs in Andalusia
Transfer tax, notary, registry, legal fees: budget 10 to 12 per cent above the purchase price, and know which line…
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Market
Market notes: where the coast stands in 2026
Prime stock is scarce, international demand is steady, and the gap between well-priced and optimistic listings has never been more…
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Guides
A checklist for international buyers
NIE, bank account, lawyer, mortgage, notary. The sequence matters as much as the paperwork — here is the order that…
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Buyer guides
The three things every buyer asks us first.
From reading to viewing
Research is useful. A shortlist is better.
Tell us how you want to live on this coast and we’ll send a handful of homes that genuinely fit — with the honest notes that never make it into a listing.