Housing

Long-stay rentals, buying property, and senior residences across the Spanish coast and cities.

Nota simple in Spain: checking a property before you buy

Before you hand over a deposit, get — and read — the nota simple. This short extract from the Registro de la Propiedad tells you who legally owns the finca, any registered mortgages or embargos, and the formal description. Ask for a fresh one, know the red flags, and insist on a certified copy if anything looks off.



Property prices on the Costa Blanca: what your budget buys

Think the Costa Blanca is cheap everywhere? That mistake costs people money and regret. This guide (with 2026 price ranges) tells you what different budgets actually buy, where to spend and where to save, running costs, healthcare access, and the social reality — plus the small print about taxes and residency.



Best areas of the Costa Blanca for retirees — where to live and why

If you want sun, short flights to the UK/Canada/Australia and a mix of quiet villages and lively seafront towns, the Costa Blanca delivers — but the right town depends on your budget, need for English services, and tolerance for summer crowds. This guide picks the best areas for different retirees and explains the costs and paperwork you'll actually face.



Heating and winter comfort in Spanish homes: what northern Europeans should know

Spanish houses behave differently in winter: some are warm, some are cold, and the difference is usually insulation and the heating system rather than latitude. This guide tells you what systems you'll find, which fixes you can do yourself, which need a pro, and the practical next steps before you sign.



Where to live your first months in Spain before committing to a home

Move to Spain in stages: rent somewhere sensible for 6–12 months, sort your NIE/empadronamiento and test healthcare, community and seasons. This guide gives the practical checklist, costs and where to try first.



Furnished vs unfurnished rentals in Spain for new arrivals — which should you pick?

Furnished flats cost roughly 10–25% more than unfurnished ones, but for retirees the extra can be worth it: faster paperwork, immediate comfort and far less risk if you change your mind in the first year.

Renting in Spain with pets: finding pet‑friendly long‑term rentals

Most retirees assume Spanish landlords are relaxed about dogs and cats. They’re often not. This guide shows exactly where to look, what to put in the contract, the paperwork you’ll need, realistic costs (as of 2026), and the single mistake nearly everyone makes.



Should you sell your home before moving to Spain?

Short answer: there's no one-size-fits-all, but for most retirees who need cash to buy in Spain or to prove funds for a visa, selling before you go is the simplest route. This guide walks through the tax traps, realistic timings and a step‑by‑step checklist so you can decide.



Setting up electricity, water and internet in a Spanish home

You have the keys, the landlord or notary hands over the flat and—no lights, no hot water, no Wi‑Fi. Here’s exactly how to get electricity, water and internet running, what documents you need, typical fees (as of 2026) and when to call an electrician or a gestor.



Coastal vs inland Spain for retirement: costs and lifestyle compared

Choosing coast or inland changes more than your view. This guide compares house and rental costs, healthcare access, community fees, travel, weather and how long paperwork really takes — with clear scenarios to help you choose.



Renting in Alicante as a retiree: prices and neighbourhoods

If you’re thinking of retiring to Alicante and starting with a rental, this guide tells you where to look by budget, what monthly costs really look like, how healthcare and English-speaking doctors work, and the one mistake nearly everyone makes when they arrive.



Renting in Marbella as a retiree: prices and neighbourhoods

Marbella is not one place: it’s a line from Old Town through the Golden Mile to Puerto Banús, then quieter suburbs east and west. This guide gives long-term rent ranges (as of 2026), which neighbourhoods fit retirees on different budgets, the everyday costs you’ll see, and what’s worth doing yourself versus hiring help.



New build vs resale property in Spain for retirees: which should you choose?

You’ve fallen for a glossy new development brochure — or for a sunlit old townhouse a short walk from the mercado. This guide compares new-build and resale homes in Spain from a retiree’s point of view: money, timing, paperwork, maintenance and what most buyers miss.



Community fees in Spain: what comunidad de propietarios costs cover

People assume comunidad fees are just for cleaning and the lift. They’re not. These charges pay for building insurance, pool upkeep, reserve funds and sometimes central water or concierge — and they can double or triple the monthly running cost. Here’s what to expect, what to check at purchase, and how to avoid nasty surprises.



Mortgages in Spain for non-residents and retirees

You can get a Spanish mortgage as a retiree or non-resident, but banks treat you differently. Read the mortgage types, the documents you'll actually need, typical costs (as of 2026), and what’s worth paying a professional to handle.



Spanish rental contracts and tenant rights for long-term renters

A long-term rental in Spain usually gives you stronger legal protection than short lets: minimum contract lengths and eviction rules are set by the Ley de Arrendamientos Urbanos (LAU). Read this for the items to insist on in the contract, typical move-in costs, what goes wrong and the exact questions to bring to a lawyer or gestor.



Renting in Valencia as a retiree: prices and neighbourhoods

Yes — Valencia is a realistic and comfortable city to rent in as a retiree. This guide gives the rent ranges you’ll see, which barrios suit different budgets and lifestyles, how healthcare actually works, the problems retirees hit most often and the next steps to make a trip useful.



Property prices on the Costa del Sol: what your budget buys

Don’t assume the Costa del Sol is either ‘cheap’ or ‘outrageous’. Which town you choose and whether you buy seaside or 10 minutes inland makes a bigger difference than headline averages. This guide tells you what each budget actually buys, how long buying takes in practice, running costs and the neighbourhoods to look at.



Senior residences and assisted living in Spain for international retirees

Practical, step-by-step guide to finding a residencia or assisted-living option in Spain: types of centres, realistic costs and waits, what documents you need, and the immediate actions to take this week.



Property scams in Spain and how foreign buyers avoid them

Scams are rarer than the headlines imply, but they exist — and most successful ones exploit a single gap: gaps in paperwork. Ask for the right documents, use a Spanish lawyer or notary escrow, check the Registro and comunidad debts, and don’t hand over large sums until the deed is registered.



Taxes and costs when buying a home in Spain: ITP, notary and registry

Most buyers think the sale price is the whole story. It isn't. Between ITP or VAT+AJD, notary, registrar and mortgage extras you should budget 8–13% on top of the asking price. Here’s what that 8–13% pays for and how to avoid surprises.



Best areas of the Costa del Sol for retirees — where to live, and what it really costs

You’ve seen glossy photos of palm trees and beach bars. The Costa del Sol is those things — but it’s also microclimates, traffic in August, and towns that empty out in January. Here’s which neighbourhoods suit each budget, what you’ll pay for rent or to buy (as of 2026), how healthcare actually works and the everyday rhythms you won’t see in brochures.



Renting vs buying a home in Spain when you retire

Want to retire in Spain? This is the plain answer: rent for flexibility, buy for long-term financial sense — but only if you know the true extra costs, the paperwork (NIE, TIE, empadronamiento) and the trap you won’t see until you’re liable for a seller’s community debt.



Buying property in Spain as a foreigner: process, costs and pitfalls

Concrete, practical guidance for retirees buying in Spain: what paperwork you need (NIE, bank account), the real extra costs (ITP/IVA, notary, registry), how long each step actually takes and the common traps that eat your money.



How to rent long-term in Spain as a foreign retiree

Renting long-term in Spain as a retiree is doable — but it’s less like estate-agent TV and more like paperwork plus common sense. This guide tells you the documents landlords want, realistic upfront costs, contract clauses you must fix, and the gotchas nobody warns you about.