Casares Property Market Insights & Area Guide

Introduction to Casares

Casares is a small municipality with a historic centre in the mountains and a stretch of coast, and the two are very different places. The village is whitewashed and hillside, with narrow cobbled streets, while Casares Costa is a beachside strip of residential urbanisations with a commercial centre of bars and restaurants.

The village sits about 15 km from the coast, roughly 20 to 25 minutes by car along a winding mountain road with views over the Mediterranean and, on a clear day, the African coast. From the village, Estepona and Sotogrande are each around 30 minutes away. From the coast, Gibraltar is roughly 35 minutes and Málaga airport about an hour.

Casares borders Manilva to the east and Estepona to the west. The climate is Mediterranean, with mild winters and hot, dry summers.

Nature and Hiking in Casares

Casares castle seen from a distance

Casares is beautiful in a simple, unpretentious way, and the countryside around the village is a refreshing contrast to the busy coastline below. It suits outdoor enthusiasts and anyone looking for a quieter, more traditional Spain.

The scenery includes the Sierra Crestellina and the Los Reales de Sierra Bermeja area nearby. Birds of prey are often seen in the mountains, and the area lies on a migration route for many birds crossing to Africa.

Just across the boundary, in Manilva, are the Roman baths of La Hedionda, described in our Manilva guide.

Casares Property Market Insights

Casares is one municipality with two very different markets, and the first thing to settle is which of the two you are really looking at.

Casares village and the countryside

The historic centre and the land around it offer Andalusian townhouses, fincas and farmhouses. Turnover is low, the stock is almost entirely resale, and many properties need renovation. In our experience, buyers here know what they want and are prepared to wait for it, and the village suits those who value character and space over convenience, since you will drive for almost everything.

The outskirts of the village

Many foreign buyers choose the countryside just outside the village rather than the village itself. It offers more space, privacy and views, with a range of properties from fincas and farmhouses to luxury villas.

Casares Costa

The coastal strip is where most of the new development in the municipality is concentrated. The usual product is the apartment or townhouse in a gated community with pool and gardens, often close to the beach or to a golf course, with villas on the upper end. New build, off-plan and resale all exist side by side, so there is normally something available at any time. In our experience, this is the part of Casares that works best as a second home, and it is where we focus most of our work.

The top end

Around Finca Cortesín, larger plots and detached villas make up a smaller and more exclusive segment, with a different level of service from the rest of the municipality.

See all the properties available in Casares, or get in touch and we will help you choose between village and coast.

Golf in Casares

Finca Cortesín golf course

Casares has three golf courses, all with very different characters, from one of the best-known courses on the Costa del Sol to a short, flat course for a quick round.

Finca Cortesín

Designed by Cabell B. Robinson, Finca Cortesín is a par 72 course set in rolling terrain with views towards the mountains of Estepona. It hosted the Solheim Cup in 2023. The course belongs to the Finca Cortesín resort, and visitors can play with a prior reservation.

Doña Julia Golf

Doña Julia is an established 18-hole, par 72 course next to the A-7, with views of the Mediterranean and the surrounding mountains. In our experience, it is a good option for golfers living on Casares Costa.

Casares Costa Golf

Casares Costa Golf is a 9-hole, par 68 course laid out across flat terrain in a valley. It suits quick rounds and practice, and has a driving range.

If golf is a priority, many of the properties in Casares are close to one of these courses.

Casares Beaches

Casares beach

The village is inland, so there are no beaches in the historic centre. The beaches are on Casares Costa, around 20 to 25 minutes by car from the village, and they continue the coastline of Manilva to the east and run up to the border with Estepona to the west.

Playa de la Sal

A smaller, quieter cove next to the Torre de la Sal, a 16th-century watchtower. The Chiringuito La Sal is nearby.

Playa Piedra Paloma

A longer beach of dark sand and gravel that reaches the boundary with Estepona, where it continues as Playa Galera. It has several chiringuitos.

The Finca Cortesín resort also runs a beach club on this stretch of coast, for its guests.

Food and Dining in Casares

Dinner at a restaurant in Casares

The cooking is typically Andalusian, with grilled meat, rice and seafood, and the village has taverns around its squares as well as restaurants with views over the valley.

Sarmiento, Brasa Andaluza

Set on the hillside above the village, Sarmiento cooks Andalusian dishes over charcoal using local seasonal produce, with panoramic views of the countryside. The restaurant is listed in the Michelin Guide. In our experience, it is worth booking ahead.

Kabuki Raw, Finca Cortesín

Kabuki Raw is the signature restaurant of the Finca Cortesín resort, with Japanese-inspired cuisine and a Mediterranean touch. It is also included in the Michelin Guide, and reservations are required.

Fiestas and Local Events in Casares

The municipality has three population centres, the historic village, Secadero and Casares Costa, and its main celebrations are spread across all of them.

Semana Santa

Holy Week is celebrated in the historic village with processions through its narrow streets, and the setting is one of the most atmospheric in the area.

Feria de Agosto

The summer fair is held around the first weekend of August, with the old town decorated with lanterns. Expect live music, dances in the village squares and a programme of concerts and activities across the three centres.

Fiestas patronales

The village also celebrates its patron saint festivities in honour of the Virgen del Rosario del Campo, with religious and local events.

Exact dates change every year, so we recommend checking the municipal calendar on the Casares town hall website before planning a visit.

History and Places of Interest

Casares castle

The origins of Casares go back to Roman times, and according to local tradition Julius Caesar was healed by the waters of the Baths of La Hedionda and ordered the town to be built as a sign of gratitude. The village as we see it today dates from the Moorish period, and since 1978 it has been protected as a Conjunto Histórico Artístico.

Castillo de Casares

The ruins of the Moorish castle crown the top of the village, and the streets below grew around it. The climb is steep, and the views from the top are among the best in the area.

Iglesia de la Encarnación

The church of Our Lady of the Incarnation, dating from the 17th century, stands in the upper part of the village and is still in use.

Fuente de Carlos III

The fountain in the village centre is one of its best-known landmarks and a favourite spot for photographs.

Birthplace of Blas Infante

Casares is the birthplace of Blas Infante, born here on 5 July 1885 and known as the father of Andalusia. His house on Calle Carrera has a permanent exhibition on his life and work, and it also acts as a tourist information point.

The Areas of Casares

The white village of Casares seen from a distance

Casares is not one place but several, and each suits a different kind of buyer.

Casares Village

The hillside village with its castle and Andalusian houses. Property here is mostly resale and character-led, and it is for buyers who want village life rather than a beach routine.

Casares Costa

The coastal strip, where most new developments are found, close to the beach.

Doña Julia

A residential and golf area on Casares Costa, next to Doña Julia Golf.

Casares del Sol

A golf-oriented residential area on the coast.

Torre de la Sal

The stretch of coast around the 16th-century Torre de la Sal watchtower, with urbanisations a short walk from the sea.

Finca Cortesín

The most exclusive part of the municipality, built around the Finca Cortesín resort and golf course.

Secadero

A coastal village with a more local character than the urbanisations of Casares Costa.

Casares FAQs

Below, some of the most common questions about the Casares area have been answered. If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

What’s the difference between buying in Casares village and Casares Costa?

Casares is a single municipality with two very different centres. Up the hill is the historic village and the countryside around it: whitewashed houses, Andalusian townhouses and fincas, with very low turnover. Few properties come up in a year and most need renovating, so the people who end up buying here usually arrive knowing what they want and prepared to wait. Down on the coast is where almost all the municipality’s new development goes up, with something available at any time, finished or under construction. The 15 km of mountain road between them matter more than they look: they shape everything from where you do your shopping to how often you actually get down to the beach in August.

What kind of property is for sale in Casares?

The dominant product is the two or three bedroom apartment in a gated development, with a pool, gardens and, in the more recent ones, a gym and social area. Above that come townhouses and villas on frontline golf, and at the top end, detached villas on large plots around Finca Cortesín. Plots to build on do come up, but rarely. Inland, the village and its surroundings supply fincas and traditional houses: a small market and almost entirely resale.

Which parts of Casares should I look at?

It comes down to three choices. The Casares Costa and Doña Julia strip holds the residential product near the beach and the golf, and in our experience it is the one that works best for a second home. The Finca Cortesín area concentrates the top of the market, with larger plots and a different level of service. And the village and its surroundings offer Andalusian character and more space for the same money, with the trade-off that you’ll drive for everything. You can see all the properties available in Casares filtered by area and type.

What amenities are there locally?

Casares Costa has supermarkets, restaurants and everyday services, with Estepona around 15 to 20 minutes away for everything else: hospital, shopping centres and international schools. Málaga airport is about an hour away on the AP-7 and Gibraltar around 35 minutes, which matters if you fly back to the UK regularly.

What’s the difference between new build, off-plan and resale?

All three exist side by side in Casares, and the choice changes more than you’d think. Buying off-plan gets you in at the lowest price and spreads the payments across the build, but usually around eighteen months to two years pass between reservation and handover. Finished new build saves you that wait, at a slightly higher price and with less room to choose aspect or floor. And resale opens up the village and the older developments on the coast, with renovation as a cost to budget for. On tax, the first two are charged VAT plus stamp duty and the third transfer tax.

What guarantees do I have if I buy off-plan?

The developer is legally required to guarantee every payment you make before completion through a bank guarantee or insurance policy, and to hold the money in an account separate from its own. If the build isn’t delivered or the developer defaults, you get your money back with interest. Before signing the reservation, check that the guarantee exists and is in your name: it’s the thing most often overlooked and the thing that causes most problems. Beyond that, the property is covered by the statutory warranty periods: one year on finishes, three on installations and ten on structural elements.

What taxes and costs are involved?

New build is charged 10% VAT plus 1.2% stamp duty. Resale is charged 7% transfer tax. To either you need to add notary, land registry and your lawyer’s fees, which brings total costs to around 12-14% on new build and slightly under that on resale. Worth knowing that the rates are regional rather than provincial: you pay the same in Casares, in Estepona or in Sotogrande, so crossing the provincial line changes nothing.

What are the running costs once I’ve bought?

Three recurring ones, and a fourth that only affects non-residents. Council tax is billed once a year. The community fee depends entirely on what the development has: one with extensive gardens, several pools and security will cost considerably more than a straightforward block, so get it in writing before you sign. Utilities, as anywhere. And if you don’t pay tax in Spain, there’s an annual non-resident income tax return on the property whether you let it or not.

Can I get a mortgage if I’m not resident in Spain?

Yes. Spanish banks lend to non-resident buyers routinely, though at a lower percentage than to residents and with more paperwork: proof of income from your home country, banking history and, in some cases, sworn translations. The process takes longer than a domestic mortgage, so it’s worth starting it alongside the reservation rather than afterwards. We can put you in touch with lenders who work regularly with international buyers in the area.

What do I need in order to buy as a foreigner?

An NIE, the foreigner’s identification number, which you cannot sign the deed or pay the taxes without. Also a Spanish bank account, which in practice you’ll need for utilities and council tax. You don’t have to live in Spain or be an EU citizen to buy. The usual process is reservation, private purchase contract and then the deed before a notary, with an independent lawyer reviewing each step. We don’t act as your lawyer: we always recommend you appoint your own.

Can I rent the property out to holidaymakers?

It depends on the community before it depends on the licence. Since 3 April 2025, a community must authorise new tourist rentals by a three-fifths majority of owners, while rentals already operating legally can continue. On top of that, the property needs to be registered in Andalucía’s tourism register and hold its tourist rental licence (VUT, previously known as VFT), with the technical requirements met. In Casares Costa the demand is real, thanks to the beach and the golf courses, though concentrated in season. Check the statutes and the minutes of recent AGMs, and in new developments ask the developer what the deed of horizontal division says. Rules in this area change, so confirm the current position with your lawyer before buying.