Something feels different about the Marbella & Costa del Sol property market this year. The frenetic pace we’ve seen recently has cooled, and buyers are taking their time. From what my data is showing, two things stand out: the makeup of agents operating here has changed dramatically, and the buyers still active in the market are sharper than ever. Let’s start with the agents. Spain’s […]
The tipping point we predicted has arrived. 2026 started with 7,900 fewer agents than it did last year. Spain’s real estate workforce dropped by 20,800 agents in the last quarter of 2025: an 11% decline from 187,700 mid-year to 166,900 by year-end. That’s one in nine agents gone, even counting the self-employed. This was revealed by the Encuesta de Población Activa (EPA) survey published by […]
The regional government of Andalucia has approved a new registry for residential real estate agents. Its arrival has immediately ignited a debate over a fundamental question: is this a mandatory license or a voluntary badge of quality? The legislation, published in the Official Bulletin of the Junta de Andalucía (BOJA) on December 24, 2025, aims to regulate a previously unrestricted sector. The law enters into […]
The United States has emerged as the second-largest international source market for hotel stays in the Costa del Sol. Data from the National Institute of Statistics and the Malaga tourism board confirm that American visitors have overtaken traditional European markets, including Germany, France, and the Netherlands. In November 2025, the American market recorded 7,718 visitors in the province of Malaga. This volume of tourism trailed […]
Important regulatory update for real estate professionals operating in Andalucía: the regional government has approved legislation regarding the registration for residential estate agents. Timeline Overview: 2 December 2025 – Law approved Publication in BOJA (Official Bulletin) – 24th December 2025 here Entry into force – One month after BOJA publication – 24th January 2026 Full implementation – Maximum 2 years Key Questions for 2026: As […]
On December 11, 2025, Sotogrande SA held an event for more than 100 agents to present the results of their first agent sentiment survey hosted by Director of Marketing Rita Jordao and Sales Director Agustin La Rocca from Sotogrande as well as LPA President Alvaro Botella and I. Participants of the survey included a mix of Sotogrande and Costa del Sol agents, which may slightly […]
Manilva Council has approved a municipal ordinance that halts the granting of licences for tourist apartments (short-term rental licences) in designated “stressed” areas for three years. The measure aims to improve housing availability for local residents. The suspension covers coastal-edge areas including El Hacho, Puerto de la Duquesa, Los Hidalgos and Princesa Cristina. The council is reviewing whether to extend the suspension to San Luis […]
Marbella East is to get another boost: Waldorf Astoria will open its first hotel in Spain in Marbella in 2029. The project is led by Higuerón Developments with an investment of 220 million euros. It will form the centrepiece of the Higuerón Marbella Golf Resort, which covers more than one million square metres. The introduction of Waldorf Astoria is expected to strengthen Marbella’s position as […]
Spain received 9.2 million international tourists in October 2025, a 3.2% increase over the previous year. The accumulated total for the first ten months reached 85.7 million visitors, a 3.5% rise, marking the highest figure in the INE’s FRONTUR series. The United Kingdom was the largest source country, accounting for 1.84 million tourists (19.9% of the total) and showing a 2.8% year-on-year increase. Germany was […]
OPINION: The housing market along Spain’s coast, particularly in areas like Marbella, operates on principles that defy local economics. Recent Eurostat data shows Spanish household incomes grew 11% between 2004 and 2024. Property prices in the same period increased much faster. This gap highlights a serious affordability issue. Local income data is irrelevant to price movement here. The average Spanish salary cannot purchase a home […]