Selling Property on the Costa del Sol: Price, Papers, Taxes, Timeline

The price that gets a viewing is the price that sits close to comparable homes already on the market. Look at three things: the asking price per m² of similar homes in your own urbanisation or street, their size and condition, and how long they have been listed. A home priced well above its comparables tends to collect visits for the cheaper neighbours.

To compare, use asking prices per m² by town as a reference, for example in our guide to price per m² town by town. Treat them as asking figures, not sale prices; the final price is agreed in negotiation and recorded at the notary. A written valuation from an agent who knows your specific urbanisation is more useful than a town average, and a good valuation explains its comparables rather than just giving a number.

Having the papers ready shortens the time between offer and signing. A typical seller's pack includes:

• The title deed (escritura) of your purchase.
• A nota simple from the Land Registry, less than 30 days old at signing, showing owner, description and any charges.
• The latest paid IBI (local property tax) receipt and the cadastral reference.
• A community certificate confirming fees are paid up. Request it early, since it can take several days; the notary will not normally authorise the deed without it unless the buyer waives it.
• The energy performance certificate, valid for ten years.
• Current, paid utility receipts.
• A valid NIE for each owner on the title.
• A mortgage cancellation certificate, if there is a loan on the property.
• Sworn translations if the buyer's bank requires them.

If the registry description does not match the cadastral record or the property as it stands (an extension, a closed terrace), tell your lawyer at the start. Regularising it later, in the middle of a sale, is what delays a signing by weeks.

Capital gains tax. A non-resident seller pays 19% on the gain, calculated as the sale price less allowable items and the acquisition cost. The cost is not adjusted for inflation, so tax can arise even when the real gain is small.

3% withholding. If you are a non-resident, the buyer withholds 3% of the agreed price and pays it to the tax authority using Form 211 within one month. You receive 97% at closing. You then file Form 210 for the actual tax: the window opens one month after the transfer and runs for three months. If the real tax is lower than the 3% withheld, you reclaim the difference; if higher, you pay the balance.

Plusvalía municipal. The town hall taxes the increase in the value of the urban land. For a sale, the filing and payment period is thirty working days from the transfer, and your adviser can tell you whether any tax is due in your case.

Mortgage cancellation. If there is a loan, the bank issues a settlement figure, and early-cancellation fees apply under the loan terms. The cancellation is signed at the notary and registered.

Exemptions exist but are narrow and depend on your residence and circumstances. Ask your adviser what applies to you before you set a price, because net proceeds, not the headline price, are what you will actually receive.

1. Offer and reservation. The buyer makes an offer; once the price is agreed you sign a reservation or private contract with a deposit.
2. Due diligence. The buyer's lawyer checks the nota simple, the registry, the planning status, the community accounts and debts.
3. Signing the deed. At the notary, identity, capacity and charges are verified; the balance is paid; the 3% is withheld if you are non-resident; the mortgage, if any, is cancelled; keys are handed over.
4. Afterwards. The deed is registered (typically within two to four weeks), plusvalía is due within thirty working days, and utilities and IBI are transferred. If you are a non-resident, remember your Form 210.

Legal guides commonly quote several months between listing and signing, and a missing document can add several weeks. The time depends on the price, the property and the season, so treat any estimate as a range, not a promise.

A home that photographs and shows well sells on better terms. The basics are inexpensive: clear surfaces, neutral colours, light, and a garden and terrace that are tidy. If the home needs more, our team can advise on design and presentation. What matters is that the listing shows the home accurately; photos and descriptions that match the reality avoid renegotiation at the due-diligence stage.