Can non-residents buy property in Spain?

Yes. There are no nationality restrictions on property ownership in Spain, and non-residents can purchase and register property in their own name in exactly the same way as Spanish nationals. The only mandatory steps are obtaining a Spanish tax identification number (NIE) before completion, opening a local bank account, and having your passport and proof of funds ready for the notary. We coordinate all of these alongside an independent Spanish lawyer of your choosing.

What is an NIE and do I need one to buy?

The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is a Spanish tax identification number issued to non-Spanish nationals. It is required for any significant financial transaction in Spain, including signing a purchase deed, opening a utilities account, or paying property taxes. You can apply in person at a Spanish consulate in your home country or at a police station in Spain. LCBSE can arrange the paperwork and accompany you to the appointment, and in most cases the number is issued on the same day.

Does buying property qualify me for a Spanish Golden Visa?

The Spanish Golden Visa residency-by-investment scheme closed to new property applications on 3 April 2025. Existing holders can still renew, and other investment routes (capital transfer, business investment) remain available. If residency is part of your decision, speak to us early — our legal partners can walk you through the alternatives, including the Non-Lucrative Visa and the Digital Nomad Visa, which cover the majority of buyers who previously relied on the property route.

How much should I budget for legal and purchase costs?

Plan for 10–12% on top of the purchase price for a resale home, or around 12–14% for a new-build. That covers ITP or VAT (depending on whether it is a resale or a new-build), notary fees, Land Registry fees, and your independent lawyer’s retainer — which is typically around 1% of the purchase price plus VAT. We provide a line-by-line cost estimate for every property we quote on so you can make an informed decision before reserving.

Why do I still see sold listings on your site?

We keep recently sold homes visible on the site, clearly marked as sold, for two reasons. First, it gives buyers an honest read on what has actually transacted in each area and at what price. Second, it means we never bait-and-switch — every active listing you see is genuinely available today. If a home sells while you are considering it, we will tell you immediately and suggest comparable options from our off-market book.

Can non-residents buy property in Spain?

Yes. There are no nationality restrictions on property ownership in Spain, and non-residents can purchase and register property in their own name in exactly the same way as Spanish nationals. The only mandatory steps are obtaining a Spanish tax identification number (NIE) before completion, opening a local bank account, and having your passport and proof of funds ready for the notary. We coordinate all of these alongside an independent Spanish lawyer of your choosing.

What is an NIE and do I need one to buy?

The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is a Spanish tax identification number issued to non-Spanish nationals. It is required for any significant financial transaction in Spain, including signing a purchase deed, opening a utilities account, or paying property taxes. You can apply in person at a Spanish consulate in your home country or at a police station in Spain. LCBSE can arrange the paperwork and accompany you to the appointment, and in most cases the number is issued on the same day.

Does buying property qualify me for a Spanish Golden Visa?

The Spanish Golden Visa residency-by-investment scheme closed to new property applications on 3 April 2025. Existing holders can still renew, and other investment routes (capital transfer, business investment) remain available. If residency is part of your decision, speak to us early — our legal partners can walk you through the alternatives, including the Non-Lucrative Visa and the Digital Nomad Visa, which cover the majority of buyers who previously relied on the property route.

How much should I budget for legal and purchase costs?

Plan for 10–12% on top of the purchase price for a resale home, or around 12–14% for a new-build. That covers ITP or VAT (depending on whether it is a resale or a new-build), notary fees, Land Registry fees, and your independent lawyer’s retainer — which is typically around 1% of the purchase price plus VAT. We provide a line-by-line cost estimate for every property we quote on so you can make an informed decision before reserving.

Why do I still see sold listings on your site?

We keep recently sold homes visible on the site, clearly marked as sold, for two reasons. First, it gives buyers an honest read on what has actually transacted in each area and at what price. Second, it means we never bait-and-switch — every active listing you see is genuinely available today. If a home sells while you are considering it, we will tell you immediately and suggest comparable options from our off-market book.

Est. 2012Marbella · Estepona

Costa del Sol

Homes that meet
the horizon.

Specialists in Marbella, the Golden Mile, La Zagaleta and Estepona — a discreet, bilingual team guiding international buyers through Spain’s most considered coastal market.

Explore luxury villas Our areas

Introduction

A considered approach to the Costa del Sol.

LCBSE is a boutique real-estate practice focused on the stretch of coastline running from Estepona through the Golden Mile to Marbella East. We represent a small, carefully curated selection of villas, apartments and new developments — the kind of homes that rarely make it to a listings portal, and the kind of buyers who would rather speak to a person than a chatbot. Every property we publish has been visited, photographed and priced by a member of the team.

Our clients are international — British families relocating for the schools, Nordic investors balancing a portfolio, American buyers discovering Andalucía for the first time. We work in English, Spanish, Dutch, German and Swedish, coordinate NIE applications and Golden Visa files alongside trusted local lawyers, and stay with you long after completion. No pressure, no inflated asking prices, no shared listings masquerading as exclusives — just the Costa del Sol, honestly presented.

Collections

Four ways to live on the Costa del Sol.

Featured homes

A current selection.

See all villas

151 properties currently available. Browse all listings

How we work

A three-step process, without the theatrics.

Discovery

A thirty-minute call — or coffee in Marbella — to understand the brief. Budget, family situation, residency needs, the home you are actually imagining.

Shortlist

We send a handful of considered options, including a few from the off-market book. Every property has been visited, photographed and priced by a member of our team.

Reservation

When you find the one, we coordinate the reservation contract, your independent lawyer, NIE paperwork and the timeline to notary. No pressure, no chasing.

Where we work

Nine places, one coastline.

All areas

The Costa del Sol has been sold hard for forty years. We think the coastline speaks for itself — our job is just to make sure the right people are in the room when the right home comes to market.

— LCBSE, Marbella

The team

Four people, one coastline.

A small, multilingual team working exclusively on the Costa del Sol. Every member visits properties, speaks to clients and stays with you long after the notary appointment.

Maya Kallio

Founder & International Business Consultant

Maya built LCBSE from the ground up after working across hospitality, design and consulting in Finland and Spain. She runs the business side — pricing analysis against comparable sales, deal structuring, and coordinating the cross-border legal and tax questions that come with buying property abroad. She is usually the first person clients speak to and stays involved through closing. Works in Finnish, English and Spanish.

FinnishSwedishEnglishSpanish

Marco Elsinger

Co-Founder & Property Advisor

Marco was raised in Spain with German roots and has spent years working the Costa del Sol property market from Estepona to Marbella East. He knows Spanish property law and regulations inside out — NIE applications, community-fee structures, building licences, the lot. He handles every property visit and negotiation directly, and his attention to detail means nothing gets missed between the first viewing and the notary appointment. Works in English, German and Spanish.

EnglishGermanSpanish

Nea Randelin

Exclusives & Listings Responsible

Nea runs the property book — the curated list of homes LCBSE represents at any given time. She works directly with vendors, coordinates professional photography, and makes sure every listing is accurately described, competitively priced and legally ready before it reaches a client. Background in communications; she keeps the data honest and the book tight. Works in Finnish, English and Spanish.

FinnishEnglishSpanish

Aino-Kaisa Lonka

Art Director & Office Manager

Aino-Kaisa is Finnish with a background shaped by living and studying across several Asian countries before settling on the Costa del Sol. She directs all visual output at LCBSE — property photography, brochure design, the website and social channels — and runs day-to-day office operations. Her background spans photography, interior design and sales, and she brings a genuinely international eye to how properties are presented. Works in Finnish, English and Spanish.

FinnishEnglishSpanish

Meet the full team

Journal

Notes from the coast.

Read the Marbella journal

Tools

Run the numbers first.

Frequently asked questions

The questions international buyers ask first.

Yes. There are no nationality restrictions on property ownership in Spain, and non-residents can purchase and register property in their own name in exactly the same way as Spanish nationals. The only mandatory steps are obtaining a Spanish tax identification number (NIE) before completion, opening a local bank account, and having your passport and proof of funds ready for the notary. We coordinate all of these alongside an independent Spanish lawyer of your choosing.

Homes that meetthe horizon.

Luxury Villas

New Developments

Luxury Apartments

Golf Properties

7-Bed Villa in Golden Mile

Modern 7-Bed Villa in Sierra Blanca