All you need to know about buying a Marbella villa

Of all the types of properties for sale, Marbella villas feature as one of the most popular. After all, owning a villa in this prime resort on the Costa del Sol ranks among many people’s dreams and as a result, the villa market in Marbella is usually busy. Read on for all you need to know about buying a villa in Marbella.

As one of the most attractive resorts on the Costa del Sol, Marbella has a lot to offer in terms of lifestyle and amenities. Owning a villa allows you to make the most of the pleasant year-round climate and enjoy the resort’s beaches, restaurants, shopping and sports facilities.

Read to discover our answers to your questions about buying and owning a villa in Marbella.

Why buy a villa in Marbella?

As well as dream homes, villas Marbella offer excellent investment based on steady and finite demand (Marbella planning regulations limit new construction) and guarantee a solid purchase. They make a good addition to an investment portfolio for both capital appreciation and returns from rentals. Holiday villas in Marbella are highly sought-after and returns from vacation rentals rank among the highest on the Costa del Sol.

Discover more reasons for buying property in Marbella.

What kind of Marbella villas are available?

The short answer is almost any! Since Marbella first entered the international jet set radar in the early 1960s, villas have sprung up all over the resort. They reflect the architectural styles over the last 60 years or those of their owners. You’ll find quaint, almost cottagey type villas as well as true mansions to rival Europe’s biggest palaces. And practically everything in between.

Architectural style

Perhaps the biggest defining feature of villas for sale in Marbella is their style. The earliest villas reflect the traditional Spanish style in vogue at the time – stone and brick with window grills and pan-tiled roofs are the main characteristics. In complete contrast, the latest being built go for sleek façades with glass and steel touches.

Size of house and plot

Dimensions are another major characteristic of villas in Marbella Spain. Smaller homes in some of the oldest residential areas in the resort such as Marbesa in East Marbella and Nueva Alcántara in San Pedro run to 2 or 3 bedrooms and have a relatively small plot. The largest, however, have numerous bedrooms and bathrooms (10 isn’t uncommon), include guest suites and sit on grounds that are so large they are almost estates.

Whether you’re looking for small or large villas in Marbella, there’s something for you in our listings. Take a look.

Modern or older

When deciding whether to buy this type of property in Marbella, you also need to take into account its age. Older villas have more Spanish character but may require refurbishment work to modernize the fittings and fixtures to your taste. The newest constructions generally come to the highest standards with cutting-edge fittings and domotics, which is particularly true of Marbella luxury villas for sale.

Where are villas in Marbella?

With the exception of Marbella Old Town, you can find this type of property throughout the resort. There’s a wide choice from East Marbella – luxury villa developments here include Hacienda Las Chapas and El Rosario – all along the coast to San Pedro in the west via villas on Marbella Golden Mile.

While you’ll find few villas in Marbella Puerto Banus itself – properties in the marina area tend to be apartments and penthouses – nearby Nueva Andalucia offers a wide choice. Buying a home here allows you to make the most of Puerto Banus while enjoying the peace and quiet of your private villa in Marbella.

If you fancy living beachside in a larger home, take a look at villas on the east side of the resort and on the Golden Mile. Guadalmina also has an established residential area on the beach with very large homes available.  Properties like Marbella Club villas attract a premium both for their position and proximity to the most high-end area of the resort. You can also find golf villas in Marbella – the golf courses to the east have new construction taking place.

If, on the other hand, you prefer living slightly outside the hustle and bustle of Marbella, take a look at villas in Nueva Andalucia and in Sierra Blanca and Nagüeles to the north of the city centre.

Find your dream villa in your preferred area of Marbella here.

Can I buy a new villa?

New Marbella villas for sale are highly sought-after, both for their quality finishes and location. Several villas are under construction in different areas such as Nueva Andalucia, Sierra Blanca and the Golden Mile. You can find purpose-built villa developments in some areas including La Finca de Marbella near Rio Real giving you the chance to own a golf villa in Marbella and Cabo Royale near Cabo Pino famed for its beaches.

Is it better to buy a new or refurbished villa?

The answer to this question will depend on your requirements. You’ll find villas for sale in Marbella needing extensive refurbishment – sometimes the best option is to demolish the current property and start again – and others that just require a little work to bring them up to today’s modern standards.

Buying a new villa means zero work on your part and you get a move-in ready house in Marbella that can be occupied by you and/or holiday let guests from day one. New builds are, on the other hand, generally more expensive than older properties and it’s difficult to find new villas in Marbella on the beach.

Purchasing a home that needs refurbishment work may be cheaper and you get the chance to shape the villa to your particular tastes. However, refurbs can be costly and stressful as well as taking time, often longer than originally estimated.

Do Marbella villas come with communal facilities?

The oldest villas – those in Marbesa in East Marbella, for example – form part of a residential complex and share communal facilities such as gardens and a pool. However, this type of property is rare and most homes have individual plots and as such have their own amenities. If you’re looking for villas in Marbella with private pool, you’re spoilt for choice since most offer this option.

The property may also form part of a gated community – the case with many luxury Marbella villas – and share communal features such as access roads, ornamental gardens within the complex and security services.

How much do villas in Marbella cost?

While it’s true that you’ll find a range of price tags, it’s also safe to say that cheap villas in Marbella aren’t very common. If you’re looking for quality and a good location, expect to pay at least €800,000 for your dream home. When it comes to prime location – e.g. beachfront or with extensive sea views – and high-end construction, the price bracket goes to well over €1 million and can soar to double-digit millions.

Looking for particular types of Marbella villas for sale? Get in touch with us to find out what we have for you on our listings.

Which Marbella villas are best for investment?

As we said earlier, Marbella villas make good investment. As one of Europe’s most popular holiday spots and a favourite luxury destination, the resort has solid investment potential and you can’t really go wrong when you buy a villa in Marbella. That said, you do need to take into careful consideration factors such as location and build quality – not all villas for sale in Marbella offer the same potential for capital appreciation or return for rentals.

Are there villas to buy in Marbella as holiday lets?

Vacation rentals on the Costa del Sol are an extremely popular accommodation option, particularly in Marbella, one of the best year-round resorts in the area. Villas have a buoyant market with plenty of potential for holiday lets.

To let your villa you need to apply for permission from the Andalusian government and obtain a holiday rental license. This is a straight-forward process that involves some paperwork and making sure your Marbella villa meets all requirements such as fittings and fire and safety measures.

We have villa properties in Marbella that fit the bill perfectly for holiday lets. See our top picks here.