Whether you’re a frequent visitor to the Costa del Sol or are thinking of moving to the area, you need to decide whether to rent or buy a property. Both options come with advantages and disadvantages. And of course, the ultimate decision will depend on your personal circumstances, finances and medium-term plans. In this blog post, we look at the pros and cons of renting or buying real estate on the Costa del Sol and then crunch the numbers.
The advantages of buying property on the Costa del Sol
If you plan to visit several times a year or make the Costa del Sol your permanent home, buying property makes a good option for the following reasons:
Stable and convenient
Owning the property you live in adds stability to your situation. And if it’s a holiday home, you can leave your stuff in it from one visit to the next.
Financial profit
Buying a home should reap you rewards in the medium to long term because the underlying trend in property prices is always up. But to make a profit, you need to sell at the right time.
Thinking of buying property on the Costa del Sol? Read this article first
Personalisation
You can do what you like in your own home to adapt and furnish it to exactly what you want. If you’re buying off plan on the Costa del Sol, you can even customise the property at construction stage to suit you.
Leverage
When mortgage interest rates are low (as they are now) Check this article you can get much more for your money when you buy.
Haven in the sun
And last but definitely not least, you own a home in a place with 320 days of sunshine a year!
The disadvantages of buying real estate on the Costa del Sol
But it isn’t all about benefits – buying property does have its drawbacks too. They include:
High initial costs
Buying a home in Andalucia involves taxes and fees on top of the purchase price. And they’re expensive – budget for between 10% and 12% extra.
The counterbalance? Think of your purchase as a long-term investment so you have time to recoup buying costs.
Location inflexibility
You may discover you don’t like the location you’ve bought in.
The counterbalance? Research the area carefully before you buy and use an agent with specialised local knowledge.
Not sure where to buy on the Costa del Sol? Check out our area guides with all the information.
Costs are all yours
Owning a home inevitably involves maintenance and upkeep that can be costly. And those costs are all yours.
The counterbalance? Buy a new-build property on the Costa del Sol.
The advantages of renting real estate on the Costa del Sol
If you’re not sure where to buy or confident that you’re going to stay on the Costa del Sol, renting a property offers a good temporary solution because:
Low initial costs
You only need one to two month’s rent plus the deposit and your initial costs are covered.
Flexibility
You have no tie to the rental property because you can leave with a month’s notice.
Did you know? The cheapest townhouse and villa rentals on the western Costa del Sol start at €900 a month.
The disadvantages of renting a property on the Costa del Sol
On the other hand, rentals have the following cons:
Uncertainty
Living in the property depends on a contract and the landlord might not renew it.
The counterbalance? Look at rent-to-buy options.
Zero wealth creation
Your monthly rent goes into the landlord’s bank account and adds nothing to your personal wealth.
The counterbalance? Make renting a temporary solution and plan to buy within 3 to 6 months.
Did you know? The most expensive villa rentals on the western Costa del Sol reach up to €16,000 a month.
How much does it cost to buy real estate on the Costa del Sol?
While renting offers a good temporary option, the balance ultimately tips in favour of buying. To give you an idea of what you can buy, we’ve sourced the cheapest and most expensive properties on the market right now.
The cheapest property
This comes as a very pleasant surprise – 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms over a spacious 74 square metre apartment plus sweeping sea views and designated parking space. All within a 10-minute drive of Estepona and Sotogrande. Yours for just €97,500. Find out more
The most expensive property
At the other end of the spectrum, this golf-front villa takes premium living on the Costa del Sol to new heights. Six bedrooms and seven bathrooms spread spaciously over 1,351 square metres. And you’ll also enjoy breathtaking sea views, marble floors, Mediterranean gardens and a pool. Plus all the extras available to residents at Finca Cortesín. Yours for €11,000,0000. Find out more
And in between
Whatever sort of home you have in mind, The Property Agent has something for you. Check out our website for a choice of over 700 new-build homes on the western Costa del Sol. Choose yours now
