English-speaking property lawyers. Serving international buyers across Andalusia.

Property Lawyer on the
Costa del Sol

Buying a home, villa, finca or commercial property in Marbella, Estepona, Sotogrande, Fuengirola or Málaga? We are regulated Spanish lawyers, not intermediaries, and we take the reins of your purchase from the first checks to the notary.

We act independently from the estate agent and the seller, so our only duty is to you. And you can buy without travelling to Spain: with a power of attorney, we handle everything on your behalf.

We do not sell houses. We sell peace of mind, today, in two years and in ten.

David Peralta, English-speaking property lawyer on the Costa del Sol
Your lawyer
David Peralta
Lawyer · Managing Partner · ICAS
Leads our real estate practice. Over 10 years advising Spanish and international buyers, with close attention in English and Spanish.
Why choose us
99%+
of the purchases we advise close successfully
4.8★
Google rating, 119 reviews (Sep 2026)
100%
independent: never the agent’s or the seller’s
POA
buy by power of attorney, without flying to Spain
Recognised by
Premios Derecho
Best Lawyers
Acquisition International
Emprendedores
Tell us about your case

Thinking of buying on the Costa del Sol?

Send us the property or your questions. We explain your options in clear English, with no obligation. We meet clients in Marbella by appointment, and we can also handle your purchase by video call and email.

Why it matters

For a foreign buyer, a Spanish lawyer
is not optional

Real Spanish lawyers, not a foreign-run agency Many advisers working with expats know Spanish civil, property, planning and tax law only on the surface, and that is where costly mistakes happen. We are qualified Spanish abogados, regulated by the Ilustre Colegio de Abogados de Sevilla, and we carry out a genuinely deep analysis of the property.

Your lawyer gives you certainty that the whole operation is done strictly according to the law. You feel supported at every step, and your legal team stays in control of the purchase.

We become the interlocutor of your compraventa. If you prefer, you delegate the signing to us through a power of attorney and never travel to Spain. Either way, what we give you is peace of mind.

Experience in the area

We are not new to the Costa del Sol

We have spent years advising property transactions in Málaga, Marbella, Estepona, Fuengirola and across the province. Spanish and international clients have trusted us with their purchase, sale or lease.

We have handled significant transactions and demanding purchases on the Costa del Sol. What matters is the care with which we review every operation and the close attention, in English and Spanish, from start to finish.

Your lawyers

The lawyers who will handle your purchase

David Peralta
David Peralta
Managing Partner · Real Estate
Leads our real estate practice. Over 10 years advising foreign buyers across Seville, Cádiz and the Costa del Sol, from apartments to hotels and country estates. Member of the ICAS.
Nicolás Hernández Romero
Nicolás Hernández Romero
Partner · Corporate & Business Law
Lawyer and economist, 20+ years of experience. Structures property and hotel acquisitions through Spanish companies. Recognised by Best Lawyers 2026.
How we work

We check first, then we proceed

You tell us the property you love. From that moment we take control: first we investigate it in depth, and we only move forward if the purchase is safe.

No risk for you If the due diligence shows the operation is not viable, your funds on account are kept as credit towards a future purchase. You never lose money for making sure.
1
You tell us the property
You choose the home; you place funds on account so we can start.
2
Deep legal due diligence
Land Registry, cadastre, debts, planning. Certainty that the property is worth it.
3
Only if it is safe, we proceed
If it is sound, we run the full operation. If not, we tell you and stop in time.
4
Your funds, protected
If we do not continue, the amount stays as credit for your next purchase.
End to end

Everything we do for you

Taking the reins means this: we are the interlocutor of your purchase and you have the certainty that your legal team controls every step.

01
Deep legal due diligence
Land Registry (nota simple), cadastre, charges, embargoes, debts, community and planning status. We confirm the property matches what you are told and what you want.
02
Negotiation & contracts
We negotiate terms, prepare the offer and reservation, and draft the arras (deposit) contract and any extensions or annexes.
03
Your mortgage, reviewed
We support the application, check the conditions match the law and what was agreed, and attend the transparency deed.
04
Notary, no surprises
We liaise with the notary in advance, send all documents and review the draft deed. On signing day we can attend the notary in person, or sign for you under a power of attorney so you do not have to travel.
05
After completion
We check that taxes are correctly paid and that the property is properly registered at the Land Registry. And we remain available if any issue arises.
06
Your shield vs the agency
We make sure the agency charges only when entitled, and we strike out abusive arras clauses that load foreign buyers with costs the law does not require.

How much does a lawyer cost on a purchase?

In Spain, full end-to-end advice on a purchase is typically between 1% and 2% of the price (plus VAT), depending on the price and the complexity of the operation.

1-2% +VAT
of the purchase price, by amount and complexity. Contact us for a fixed quote covering exactly what you need.

It may seem a large investment, but this is not the weekly shopping: a mistake on a property purchase costs thousands of euros. The lawyer’s fee is tiny next to the risk. It is an investment in peace of mind.

One fixed price, tailored to you We agree a closed fee upfront covering all the steps you want included. We also handle limited services, such as reviewing a single arras contract, adjusting our fee to the actual work involved.
Taxes & costs 2026

What you will really pay in taxes and fees

Resale
Transfer tax (ITP): 7% of the price in Andalusia. Plus notary, Land Registry and legal fees.
New-build
VAT 10% + Stamp Duty (AJD). Plus notary, Land Registry and legal fees.

As a guide, budget 10-13% on top of the price. If the seller is a non-resident, a 3% retention applies on account of their capital gains tax, which we manage. Note: Spain’s Golden Visa was abolished in April 2025; you can still buy freely, but the purchase no longer grants residency.

Where & what

Areas and properties we handle

Where

Marbella, Estepona, Sotogrande, Fuengirola, Benalmádena, Mijas, Málaga and the wider Costa del Sol.

What

Villas and townhouses, apartments, off-plan, rustic land and country estates (fincas), commercial premises, hotels and tourist-licence (VUT) properties.

The cost of going without

A good lawyer is not an expense: it is what saves you the disaster

We have seen buyers who did not take advice come back months later after losing more than €20,000-30,000: hidden charges, incomplete due diligence, or an arras contract that did not make the purchase conditional on the mortgage being approved.

With our advice, that loss would have been reduced by more than 80%. Simply removing abusive arras clauses often saves the buyer costs the law never required them to pay.

99%+
of the purchases we advise close successfully.
-80%
reduction in loss versus buying without advice.
€0
at risk on your funds if the operation is not viable.
Frequently asked questions

Questions from buyers on the Costa del Sol

Do I really need a lawyer to buy in Spain?+
It is not legally compulsory, but for a foreign buyer it is essential. Unlike in the UK, the notary does not check for hidden charges, planning issues or debts on your behalf, and does not negotiate for you. An independent Spanish lawyer does exactly that, before you sign.
Can you handle everything if I cannot travel to Spain?+
Yes. With a power of attorney we obtain your NIE, run the due diligence, sign at the notary and register the property for you. Most of our international clients complete without ever flying over.
How much does it cost?+
Full end-to-end advice is typically 1-2% of the price plus VAT, depending on amount and complexity. We give you a fixed quote in writing before we start. We also offer limited services, such as reviewing only the arras contract.
What taxes and fees should I budget for?+
Around 10-13% on top of the price: ITP (7% on resales in Andalusia) or VAT + stamp duty on new-builds, plus notary, Land Registry and legal fees. If the seller is non-resident, a 3% retention applies, which we manage.
Does buying still grant residency?+
No. Since April 2025 the Golden Visa no longer exists, so buying no longer grants residency. You can still buy freely; if you also want to live in Spain we advise on the Non-Lucrative Visa, the Digital Nomad Visa and the Beckham Law tax regime.
4.9 out of 5 · 67 ratings
Peralta Rojas Abogados
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