Estate Agent in Estepona

By Mikael Hansen, Plexo Properties · Last updated 4 September 2026.

Estepona sits at the western end of the Costa del Sol, about thirty minutes past Marbella and forty-five from Málaga airport, with Gibraltar and its airport roughly the same distance the other way. It has kept a real Andalusian old town — whitewashed, full of flowers and painted murals — while the coast just east of it, the New Golden Mile, has become one of the busiest new-build corridors on the whole coast. That combination of an authentic town and a modern beachside market is why a lot of our buyers end up here once they have compared it with Marbella. This page explains what we do in Estepona, how buying and selling actually work, and how to reach us.

Who we work with in Estepona

Most of the people we help do not live in Spain full time, and many are buying or selling across a language barrier. That shapes how we work.

• Buyers looking for a holiday home, a permanent move or a rental investment, who want someone who knows which urbanisations and which stretch of the coast are worth the money.
• Sellers who want an honest valuation and marketing that reaches foreign buyers, without signing an exclusive contract before they have seen results.
• Investors weighing new-build on the New Golden Mile against resale in town, or comparing Estepona with Marbella and La Cala de Mijas.
• German, Scandinavian and Dutch buyers in particular, who would rather handle a six-figure purchase in their own language than through translation.

Estepona at a glance

Estepona is really several markets under one name, and which one suits you changes the price and the search completely.

For a fuller picture of the area, its beaches, the old town and daily life, read our Estepona area guide.

What we do here

Buying

We shortlist against what you actually want rather than what is easiest to sell, arrange viewings in efficient blocks so a trip is worth the flight, and tell you plainly where a property has a problem — a north-facing terrace, a busy road behind it, a pending community levy, or an asking price the recent sales do not support. You can browse current new-build projects and resale homes on the site, but the useful part is the shortlist we build with you.

Selling

We start with a free written valuation based on comparable sales, not on what you hope the property is worth, then market it to the international buyers who are actually active on this coast. We do not ask for exclusivity. Get a free property valuation to see where your home sits in today's market.

New-build and off-plan

The New Golden Mile and the hills behind Estepona have been one of the most active new-build corridors on the coast for years, and a large share of the German enquiries we get for Estepona are for exactly these off-plan and key-ready homes. New-build carries its own risks — completion dates that move, bank guarantees on deposits, and IVA instead of transfer tax — and we walk you through them before you reserve rather than after. If you are looking at a specific scheme, we will tell you honestly how it compares with what is already built nearby.

Investment and rental

If you are buying to let, the numbers matter more than the view. We are straight about realistic yields and running costs, and you can model the purchase costs yourself with our Costa del Sol cost calculator before you commit.

Buying in Estepona as a foreign buyer

The process is safe and well-trodden, but it is not the same as at home. In short:

1. Get an NIE. The foreigner's identification number you need to buy, open a bank account and pay tax. Your lawyer can arrange it.
2. Appoint an independent lawyer. Not the seller's, not the agent's. They run the legal checks, the nota simple and the licences.
3. Reserve and sign the private contract. A reservation takes the property off the market; the private purchase contract usually comes with a ten percent deposit.
4. Complete at the notary. You sign the escritura, pay the balance, and receive the keys.

On costs, budget roughly ten to twelve percent on top of the price for a resale: transfer tax (ITP) in Andalucía is currently seven percent, plus notary, land registry and legal fees. New-build is taxed differently, with ten percent IVA plus stamp duty. The Andalusian transfer-tax rules are set out by the Agencia Tributaria de Andalucía, and non-resident income tax by the Agencia Tributaria. For the full step-by-step, read our guide to buying property on the Costa del Sol.

Why buyers choose Estepona over Marbella

Estepona tends to win people who have looked at Marbella and found it too busy or too expensive, but who still want the same coast. It has a genuine old town rather than a strip of resort blocks, a promenade you can walk for miles, golf in every direction, and prices that still sit below Marbella for a comparable property. Marbella, Puerto Banús and San Pedro are inside half an hour, Gibraltar and its airport about the same the other way, and the New Golden Mile puts new beachside homes within reach of buyers priced out further east.

Why work with us

• Your language. We handle the whole purchase or sale in English, German, Danish, Norwegian or Dutch.
• No exclusivity to sell. List with us without taking your property off other agents. We would rather earn the instruction than lock you into it.
• Honest pricing. We will tell you when a property is overpriced or when your own asking price will cost you a year on the market.
• Local knowledge. Estepona, the New Golden Mile, La Cala de Mijas, Marbella East and Higuerón are the areas where we can name the comparable sales from memory.

Frequently asked questions

Which languages do you work in?

We handle the whole process, from the first viewing through to the notary, in English, German, Danish, Norwegian and Dutch.

Do I need to be in Spain to buy or sell?

No. Buyers can give a lawyer power of attorney to sign on their behalf, and sellers can be valued and represented remotely. Many of our clients complete a purchase having visited only once or twice.

What does it cost a buyer to use an estate agent?

Nothing directly. On the Costa del Sol the agency fee is paid by the seller, so our advice and viewings cost the buyer nothing.

How much tax and cost should a buyer budget in Estepona?

Roughly ten to twelve percent on top of the price for a resale, mainly the seven percent Andalusian transfer tax plus legal, notary and registry fees. New-build is taxed at ten percent IVA plus stamp duty instead.

Is new-build or resale better in Estepona?

It depends on what you want. Estepona and the New Golden Mile have an unusually deep new-build market, which gives you a modern home and a payment plan but a moving completion date and IVA; resale in and around the old town gives you a known property, a settled community and immediate keys. We are happy to argue both sides for your situation.

Do you require an exclusive contract to sell my property?

No. You can list with us and with other agents at the same time.

This page is general information about buying and selling property in Estepona, not legal or tax advice on any particular transaction. Tax rates and rules change and individual circumstances differ, so confirm your own position with a lawyer or gestor. Sources: Agencia Tributaria de Andalucía on transfer tax (ITP); Agencia Tributaria on non-resident income tax. Information checked 4 September 2026.