Santina’s Journal

Real stories about buying, living and investing on the Costa del Sol. Our team is comprised of four families who grew up here, went to school here and raised their own kids here. We write about the things people actually ask us: what areas feel right, what the process really looks like, and what we wish someone had told us when we started.

Where Your Money Actually Goes When You Buy a New Build on the Costa del Sol

New Developments

Where Your Money Actually Goes When You Buy a New Build on the Costa del Sol

A new build on the Costa del Sol costs more than the developer’s list price in two ways: on top of it,…

Mickey Sturhoofd 5 min read

One Trip, One Signature: Buying a Spanish Property From Home

One Trip, One Signature: Buying a Spanish Property From Home

Across an entire Spanish property purchase, you only need to be physically in Spain for two things: viewing the properties, and one…

Mickey Sturhoofd 5 min read

What It Really Costs to Buy in Andalucía, and the Tax Trap Hiding in a Bargain

What It Really Costs to Buy in Andalucía, and the Tax Trap Hiding in a Bargain

Buying a resale in Andalucía costs roughly 8.5 percent on top of the purchase price once transfer tax, legal fees, and notary…

Mickey Sturhoofd 6 min read

In Spain, the Notary Is a Witness, Not Your Protector

In Spain, the Notary Is a Witness, Not Your Protector

In Spain, the notary’s job is to witness and certify that the deed of sale was signed by the parties present, not…

Mickey Sturhoofd 5 min read

The NIE Number: What It Is and How to Get One Without a Second Trip to Spain

The NIE Number: What It Is and How to Get One Without a Second Trip to Spain

An NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) is the tax identification number every foreigner needs to buy property, open a Spanish bank…

Mickey Sturhoofd 5 min read

Buying Property in Spain: How the Process Actually Works, From Offer to Keys

Buying Property in Spain: How the Process Actually Works, From Offer to Keys

Buying a property in Spain, from signing the reservation to registered ownership in your name, takes roughly three months on a resale.…

Mickey Sturhoofd 7 min read

Spain’s Property Boom Isn’t a Bubble. It’s the Opposite.

Spain’s Property Boom Isn’t a Bubble. It’s the Opposite.

Spain’s property boom isn’t a bubble, it’s the opposite of one: prices are rising because of a housing shortage, not oversupply. Spanish…

Mickey Sturhoofd 7 min read

The Benahavís Road Gets Its Sidewalk: What It Means for La Alquería and Atalaya

The Benahavís Road Gets Its Sidewalk: What It Means for La Alquería and Atalaya

The new pavement along the urban stretch of the Benahavís road is more than 90 percent complete, Estepona town hall has confirmed.…

Mar Sipos 5 min read

Air Taxis Between Malaga and Marbella: Trials Set for 2028

Air Taxis Between Malaga and Marbella: Trials Set for 2028

Spain’s air navigation authority has chosen the Costa del Sol for something that sounded like science fiction not long ago. In 2028,…

Mickey Sturhoofd 5 min read

Puerto Sotogrande Ranked the Fifth Largest Marina in Spain

Puerto Sotogrande Ranked the Fifth Largest Marina in Spain

Sotogrande has never needed to announce itself, but the numbers just did it anyway. The latest report from the Observatorio de Marinas…

Diego Enrile 4 min read