29 articles
Marco Elsinger
Co-Founder & Property Advisor
Marco was raised in Spain with German roots and works the Costa del Sol property market from Estepona to Marbella East. He handles every property visit and negotiation directly and knows Spanish property law and regulations inside out.
Co-founder of LCBSE Real Estate, specialist in Spanish property law and Costa del Sol transactions
29 articles
Articles by Marco Elsinger.
Buying guides · 7 min read
Spanish Energy Certificates: Ratings, Costs & What Buyers Should Know
Every property sale and rental in Spain requires an energy certificate. Most older Costa del Sol properties rate E to G. New builds typically achieve B or C. Here is what the rating means for your running costs and your purchase decision.
17 July 2026
Buying guides · 9 min read
Villa vs Apartment in Marbella: Space, Cost, Lifestyle & Resale Compared
A villa gives you a pool and a garden. An apartment gives you a lock-and-leave lifestyle with lower running costs. The right choice depends on whether you are living full-time, visiting seasonally, or investing for rental income. Here is the comparison.
15 July 2026
Relocation · 7 min read
Moving to Spain with Pets: Documents, Rules & Vet Registration
Bringing a dog or cat to Spain is straightforward if you start the paperwork early. EU moves need a pet passport. Post-Brexit UK moves need an Animal Health Certificate and TRACES entry document. Here is the complete checklist for 2026.
11 July 2026
Relocation · 10 min read
Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa 2026: Requirements, Tax & How to Apply
Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa lets remote workers live legally in Spain with a flat 24% tax rate under the Beckham Law. Here is the full application process, eligibility rules, and why Marbella has become one of Europe’s preferred bases for remote professionals.
9 July 2026
Investment · 9 min read
Holiday Let vs Long-Term Rental in Marbella: Income, Tax & Hassle Compared
A two-bedroom apartment in Puerto Banús can gross €35,000 per year as a holiday let or €18,000 on a long-term contract. But gross income is not profit. When you factor in management, tax, and risk, the gap narrows. Here is the full comparison.
7 July 2026
Market reports · 10 min read
Marbella Property Prices 2016–2026: Ten Years of Real Transaction Data
Ten years of transaction data from the Colegio de Registradores tells a clear story: Marbella prices rose roughly 50% between 2016 and 2026, but the gains were uneven across areas and property types. Here is what the numbers actually show.
3 July 2026
Area guides · 9 min read
Mijas Costa Property Guide: Value and Views on the Western Costa del Sol
Mijas Costa is the Costa del Sol’s best-value coastal strip: apartments from €200,000, three golf courses, long sandy beaches, and a 20-minute drive to Marbella centre. Here is what each neighbourhood offers and where prices are headed.
1 July 2026
Area guides · 8 min read
Guadalmina Property Guide: Beachside Golf Living in San Pedro
Guadalmina straddles the New Golden Mile between San Pedro and Estepona. Baja offers beachfront villas on large plots from €1.5M (many ripe for rebuild), while Alta delivers modern townhouses from €400,000 above one of the coast’s oldest golf courses.
27 June 2026
Area guides · 10 min read
Sotogrande Property Guide: Polo, Golf & Family Living in Cádiz
Sotogrande is the Costa del Sol’s quieter sporting alternative to Marbella: Valderrama golf, Santa María polo, and marina living 30 minutes west. Villas from €800,000 in Sotogrande Alto, marina apartments from €350,000.
25 June 2026
Finance · 10 min read
Buying Spanish Property Through an SL Company: Pros, Cons & Tax
An SL (Sociedad Limitada) can offer inheritance advantages and portfolio efficiency for certain property owners. But for most single-property buyers, the compliance costs and tax complexity outweigh the benefits. This guide compares corporate vs personal ownership across tax, inheritance, wealth tax, and running costs.
23 June 2026
Finance · 9 min read
Tax on Rental Income in Spain: What Non-Resident Landlords Owe
Non-resident landlords in Spain face two separate tax obligations: tax on actual rental income when the property is let, and imputed income tax when it sits empty. EU residents pay 19% on net income with expense deductions. Non-EU residents pay 24% on gross income with no deductions. This guide covers both, with worked examples.
19 June 2026
Finance · 9 min read
Wealth Tax in Spain: What Property Owners Actually Pay in 2026
Spain’s wealth tax applies to net assets above €700,000, with rates from 0.2% to 3.5% in Andalucía. For property owners, the key question is how your real estate is valued and what deductions you can claim. This guide covers the 2026 rules, the Solidarity Tax for large fortunes, and practical ways to reduce your bill legally.
17 June 2026
Buying guides · 8 min read
Choosing a Property Lawyer in Spain: The 8 Questions You Must Ask
Your lawyer is the most important appointment in a Spanish property purchase. An independent abogado checks title, verifies debts, handles taxes, and protects your interests at the notary. These eight questions help you distinguish competent professionals from those who could cost you thousands.
13 June 2026
Finance · 8 min read
Currency Exchange for Buying Property in Spain: Timing, Tools & Traps
Your bank’s exchange rate markup can cost you €5,000 to €30,000 on a Spanish property purchase. Specialist FX brokers, forward contracts, and proper timing cut that loss dramatically. Here is how the currency side of buying in Spain actually works.
11 June 2026
Finance · 8 min read
Power of Attorney in Spain: How to Buy Property Without Flying Over
A poder notarial lets your lawyer sign at the notary on your behalf, so you can complete a Spanish property purchase without being in the country. Here is how the process works, what it costs, and where buyers go wrong.
9 June 2026
Buying guides · 9 min read
Köpa Bostad i Spanien: Swedish Buyer’s Guide to Costa del Sol
Swedish buyers are the fastest-growing Nordic group on the Costa del Sol. This guide covers what you need to know about buying property in Spain as a Swedish national, from tax to areas to the quirks that surprise Scandinavian buyers.
3 June 2026
Area guides · 9 min read
Luxury Penthouses in Marbella: Top Addresses and What They Cost
Marbella’s penthouse market spans €500K to €10M+. This guide covers the top addresses, the difference between a real penthouse and a top-floor apartment, and what to expect in each area.
22 May 2026
Relocation · 9 min read
Cost of Living in Marbella 2026: Real Numbers from Expat Residents
What it actually costs to live in Marbella in 2026: housing, utilities, groceries, healthcare, and schools at three budget tiers, from residents who pay the bills.
14 May 2026
Buying guides · 10 min read
Immobilien Marbella: German Buyer’s Guide to Costa del Sol Luxury
The Germany-specific guide to Marbella property: Doppelbesteuerungsabkommen, Finanzamt obligations, where German buyers concentrate, and why “Porta Benus” gets 2,900 searches a month.
9 May 2026
Area guides · 9 min read
Benahavís Property Guide: Mountain Luxury 10 Minutes from Marbella
Benahavís packs La Zagaleta, El Madroñal, La Quinta, and Los Arqueros into one mountain municipality with historically lower taxes and prices from €400K to €30M.
6 May 2026
Area guides · 10 min read
Nueva Andalucía Property Guide: Golf Valley Living at Every Budget
The Golf Valley from €350K apartments to €5M villas: five golf courses, top international schools, and the deepest resale market on the Costa del Sol.
1 May 2026
Finance · 10 min read
Spanish Property Tax for Non-Residents: Complete 2026 Breakdown
The complete non-resident tax picture for Spanish property owners: IBI, deemed rental income, wealth tax, capital gains, and the annual filings you cannot afford to miss.
29 April 2026
Investment · 9 min read
New Build vs Resale in Marbella: Which Is the Better Investment?
New build or resale? The Marbella-specific comparison that covers tax, build quality, appreciation, rental yield, and total cost including the costs nobody mentions.
25 April 2026
Area guides · 10 min read
La Zagaleta: Inside Spain’s Most Exclusive Gated Estate
A buyer’s breakdown of La Zagaleta: prices from €3M to €30M+, community approval process, two private golf courses, and the trade-offs of ultra-exclusive living.
23 April 2026
Area guides · 10 min read
Estepona Property Guide 2026: Prices, Areas & Why Buyers Are Moving West
Estepona is the Costa del Sol’s fastest-moving luxury market. Prices are 30% below Marbella, new-build quality has caught up, and the drive is now 15 minutes. Here’s the complete picture.
18 April 2026
Buying guides · 12 min read
Golden Visa Spain 2026: What Replaced It & How Property Buyers Get Residency
Spain’s Golden Visa ended in April 2025, but three residency routes remain open to property buyers. Here’s what replaced it, what each route requires, and how property still fits into the picture.
15 April 2026
Area guides · 11 min read
Puerto Banús Apartment Buyer’s Guide 2026: Blocks, Prices & Rentals
A block-by-block guide to buying an apartment in Puerto Banús in 2026, from marina-front trophy units to the quieter blocks behind the port.
1 April 2026
Investment · 10 min read
Costa del Sol Golf Property Investment Guide 2026
The Costa del Sol has more championship golf courses than anywhere in continental Europe. Here is where to buy and how to think about yield.
26 February 2026
Buying guides · 9 min read
NIE Number Guide 2026: How to Get a Spanish NIE as a Foreign Buyer
Everything international buyers need to know about the Spanish NIE number in 2026, how to apply, how long it takes, and when you actually need it.
12 February 2026
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