New ruling: foreigners under the so-called “Beckham Law” must pay tax on their primary home in Spain. As I understand it, some courts previously suggested this tax could be avoided, but the Central Tax Tribunal now rules there is no exemption. For estate agents, this affects the total cost for international buyers. High-value clients may see higher annual taxes than expected. Understanding this change helps […]
The municipality of Málaga City has recently introduced a three-year pause on the issuing of new short-term rental licenses. This decision, aimed at addressing housing supply pressures and resident concerns, has direct implications for investors in the wider Costa del Sol market. One immediate consequence is that investors seeking to operate legally in the short-term rental (STR) sector will need to look beyond Málaga City […]
Málaga Airport is now Spain’s 4th busiest, a direct runway to more international demand on the Costa del Sol. Over 50 airlines operate direct connections to between 124 and 157 destinations from Malaga Airport, spanning more than 30 countries (mostly across Europe, as well as Africa, the Middle East, and North America). Malaga Airport now handles ~85% of all international arrivals into Andalucia and is […]
Spain’s Ministry of Labour is enforcing the “right to disconnect” more strictly. Companies can be fined up to €7,500 for contacting employees during holidays or outside working hours. Spain’s right is tied to its 2021 remote-work law. Does This Law Apply to Self-Employed Agents? Usually, no. If your agents are self-employed (autónomos): They set their own hours. They invoice you as independent professionals. In these […]
Starting in August 2025, Airbnb will provide monthly data to Spain’s Ministry of Housing as part of a comprehensive crackdown on illegal short-term rentals. The collaboration, formalized in a meeting yesterday, establishes new enforcement mechanisms to identify and eliminate unregistered listings from the platform, according to an official press release. Under the agreement, Airbnb will systematically remove listings that lack valid registration numbers or show […]
Spain’s housing market is experiencing a historic supply crunch. According to new data from Spain’s largest property portal Idealista, the number of homes for sale in the country fell by 20% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025. This is the largest year-on-year drop ever recorded since Idealista began keeping records. This nationwide trend is putting pressure on buyers and shifting the dynamics in many […]
The U.S. is taking serious steps to bring crypto into the mainstream mortgage system, starting with how borrowers prove they have financial reserves. It is still early, but if the pilot succeeds, this could become a permanent part of the home loan process by 2026. In Europe, the building blocks are in place. Regulation, market interest, and borrower demand are growing. However, the shift will […]
Thinking of buying a property in Spain to rent out short-term? Here’s what you need to know (June 2025): Rules around holiday rentals are changing in Spain. You can still rent short-term (like Airbnb), but there are conditions. If you already have a tourist licence, you’re mostly safe. If you’re buying now, you need expert help – a good agent and lawyer are essential. Some […]
OPINION: This spring has been much hotter and drier than usual across most of Northern Europe. Because of this unusual weather, some people have put their plans on hold for buying vacation homes in sunny Spain, for now. But there’s good news! During Covid, we learned that people’s desire to buy homes in Spain doesn’t disappear – it just builds up over time. The Swedes […]
Spain may be forced to change how it taxes second homes for non-residents. The European Commission has opened an infringement case against Spain over its tax rules on second homes owned by non-residents, including many foreign property owners. The EU claims Spain’s system may discriminate against non-residents, violating core European Union principles, according to El Pais Why Is the EU Investigating Spain’s Property Tax Rules? […]