You are scrolling Idealista. There is a two bedroom in Benalmadena at 350,000 euro, the terrace looks lovely, there is a bit of a sea view in the background, and you say to yourself, we could actually do this.

Here is what nobody tells you while you are sitting there scrolling. The number on the screen is not the number you pay.

So what does it actually cost to buy a property in Spain in 2026? Not the listing price, the real number.

If you are buying property in Spain, comparing Costa del Sol towns, working out a Spanish mortgage as a non resident, or just scrolling Idealista wondering whether a 350,000 euro apartment in Benalmadena is within reach, this is the honest breakdown from two people who do this every week.

In this episode we take you from the listing price to the keys in your hand: what actually gets added on top, what needs to be sitting in your bank before you book a flight, what the same money buys you in different parts of Benalmadena, and whether prices here are going to keep climbing.

You’ll hear:

✔ Why the number on the listing is not the number you pay, and exactly what gets added on top

✔ The 10 to 12% broken down: transfer tax, notary, lawyer, and why we always tell you to plan for 12

✔ The mortgage trap: why you cannot borrow the tax, and the real cash a 300,000 euro purchase needs sitting in your account

✔ What frontline beach in Benalmadena Costa costs per square metre against ten minutes back inland

✔ How to tell whether the listing you are looking at is even still available

✔ Why a property listed with four agencies is worth less, not more

✔ The full timeline from offer to keys: reservation, contrato de arras, notary, and how fast it can really go

✔ Whether prices are going to keep rising, and Warner’s honest answer

✔ The client who still has nightmares about the apartment he did not buy

If you take one thing from this episode, take the budget calculator. It is free, it is a spreadsheet with every cost already plugged in for cash buyers and mortgage buyers, and Warner has recorded a short video walking you through how to use it.

👉 Get the FREE Budget Calculator: https://wlcostaproperties.mykajabi.com/offers/eGi7pjBC/checkout

📞 Book a call with us: https://calendly.com/warner-wlcostaproperties/property-consultation?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=consult_call

📘 Not sure which town suits you yet? Take the Location Quiz: https://wlcostaproperties-quiz.netlify.app/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=quiz

Enjoying the Podcast? Leave Us a Review!

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Tell us:

✔ What’s been your favourite episode?

✔ What’s the most helpful tip you’ve learned?

✔ What do you want to hear more about?

Every review helps us reach more people just like you who are dreaming of a new life in Spain.

Just head over to Apple Podcasts, hit the rating, and drop us a quick review.

Ten years ago this month we packed up our house in Ireland, put two small children in the car and moved to the Costa del So from Ireland.

Since then we have helped hundreds of international buyers make the same move and find their dream property from our base in Benalmadena.

So if you were here this summer and you had that moment, the one on the last evening where you looked around you and thought, what if we did not have to go home, this episode is for you.

You’ll hear:

✔ The exact moment we decided to move from Ireland to Spain

✔ How to tell the difference between holiday blues and the real thing

✔ Where to start, and how to work out which town actually suits the life you are moving into

✔ The questions a good agent should be asking you, and the red flag that means you are with the wrong one

✔ Our experience and advice on finding work here and the mistake we made ourselves in the first year

✔ Rent first or buy first, and why our answer has changed since we did it

✔ Language, community, and the honest truth about fitting in

If you take one thing from this episode, take the Location Quiz. It is under 60 seconds and it sends a personalised location profile straight to your inbox.

👉 Take our FREE Costa del Sol Location Quiz. It takes 30 seconds, it's free, and we'll send your personal location profile straight over:https://wlcostaproperties-quiz.netlify.app/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=quiz

📞 Want to talk it through with us? Book one of our complimentary consultation calls: https://calendly.com/wlcostaproperties/property-consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=consult_call

Enjoying the Podcast? Leave Us a Review!

We know life is busy, but if you've been loving the podcast, we'd really appreciate it if you could take just a minute to leave us a review.

Tell us:

✔ What's been your favourite episode?

✔ What's the most helpful tip you've learned?

✔ What do you want to hear more about?

Every review helps us reach more people just like you who are dreaming of a new life in Spain.

Just head over to Apple Podcasts, hit the rating, and drop us a quick review.

With 10 years living in Benalmadena and hundreds of international buyers guided through this exact decision, Sandra and Warner know the Fuengirola vs Benalmadena question better than almost anyone on this patch.

In this episode of The Costa Property Podcast, Sandra walks you through the exact 5 questions we ask every buyer who's torn between Fuengirola and Benalmadena, the two Costa del Sol towns getting the most interest right now. They're 10 minutes apart on the same train line, but they'll give you two very different lives. Answer them honestly and, by the end, you'll know which one is yours.

Here's what you'll hear:

✔ Question 1: are you buying a holiday home, or a home for good?

✔ Question 2: do you want to walk everywhere, or drive?

✔ Question 3: who is your property really for?

✔ Question 4: what your budget actually gets you in each town

✔ Question 5: what do you want within a 5 minute walk of your front door?

✔ The expensive mistake we watched one couple almost make and how to dodge it

✔ Why the life outside your four walls matters more than the property itself

✔ Our golden rule we share with all buyers

Still not sure which town is right for you? 👉 Take our FREE Costa del Sol Location Quiz. It takes 30 seconds, it's free, and we'll send your personal location profile straight over:https://wlcostaproperties-quiz.netlify.app/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=quiz

Want to talk it through with us? 📞 Book one of our complimentary consultation calls: https://calendly.com/wlcostaproperties/property-consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=consult_call

Enjoying the Podcast? Leave Us a Review!

We know life is busy, but if you've been loving the podcast, we'd really appreciate it if you could take just a minute to leave us a review.

Tell us:

✔ What's been your favourite episode?

✔ What's the most helpful tip you've learned?

✔ What do you want to hear more about?

Every review helps us reach more people just like you who are dreaming of a new life in Spain.

Just head over to Apple Podcasts, hit the rating, and drop us a quick review.

Everyone thinks of Benalmádena as a holiday town. We call it home.

In this listener-favourite episode - back by popular demand because you keep asking us - Sandra and Warner go behind the scenes of daily life in Benalmádena and explain why they chose it over Marbella and Málaga to be their forever home on the Costa del Sol.

From the marina to Arroyo de la Miel to the whitewashed Pueblo, we break down the three sides of the town, a real day in the life, the food scene, and exactly who Benalmádena suits best, from families to part-year investors who want walkability and a 30-minute train from the airport.

You’ll hear:

• Busting the myth that Benalmádena is “just for tourists”
• The three sides of town: the Marina, Arroyo de la Miel & Benalmádena Pueblo
• A real day in the life: coffee, school drop, beach walk, client calls
• Raising a family here: international schools, sport & cultural immersion
• Where to eat & drink: Sandra's and Warner's favourite spots
• Why it's underrated: Málaga on your doorstep without Marbella prices
• The train line, the airport run, and the walkability factor

Take the location quiz!

Not sure if Benalmádena is right for you? Take our quick FREE location quiz.

https://wlcostaproperties-quiz.netlify.app/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=quiz

Enjoyed this one? Share it with someone who's been dreaming about their big move to Spain.

Work with WL Costa Properties

📞 Book a complimentary property consultation: https://calendly.com/wlcostaproperties/property-consultation?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=consult_call

📧 Email our team: info@wlcostaproperties.net

📱 Call / WhatsApp: +34 602 42 89 28

📍 Visit our office: Avenida Bonanza Local 21, Arroyo de la Miel, Benalmádena, Málaga — by appointment only. Book here

Ten years ago we sold our house in Ireland, packed up the car with two babies in tow and moved to the Costa del Sol in Spain.

Everyone thought we were mad…

In this very personal episode of The Costa Property Podcast, Sandra and Warner sit down for an honest, behind the scenes look back on ten years of relocating to the Costa del Sol. The fears nobody tells you about, how they actually survived, and what life really looks like a decade on.

You'll hear ⬇️

✔️ Why we left Ireland in 2016 and the moment on the beach we decided to go

✔️ The breaking point: childcare costs, long hours and a little boy whose health was suffering

✔️ How we actually survived financially and why you must know your number before you go

✔️ Why Spain is not cheap if you try to live like you are on holiday every day

✔️ The job hunt nobody believed in and building WL Costa Properties from scratch

✔️ The language struggle nobody warns you about

✔️ How our kids went from not a word of Spanish to dreaming in it

✔️ Why you get to choose your hard

Enjoying the podcast? 🎧

Hit follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode. It is free, it tells the algorithm to show this to more people just like you, and it is the only thing we ask.

Still dreaming about a move one day? 👉

Take our FREE Costa del Sol Location Quiz and find out which part of the coast might suit you in 30 seconds. No obligation: https://wlcostaproperties-quiz.netlify.app/)

Enjoying the Podcast? Leave Us a Review!

We know life is busy, but if you've been loving the podcast, we'd really appreciate it if you could take just a minute to leave us a review.

Tell us:

✔️ What's been your favourite episode?

✔️ What's the most helpful tip you've learned?

✔️ What do you want to hear more about?

Every review helps us reach more people just like you who are dreaming of a new life in Spain.

Just head over to Apple Podcasts, hit the rating, and drop us a quick review.

📘 Take the FREE Costa del Sol Location Quiz, find your perfect location: https://wlcostaproperties-quiz.netlify.app/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=quiz

📞 Book a complimentary property consultation: https://calendly.com/wlcostaproperties/property-consultation?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=consult_call

📧 Email our team: info@wlcostaproperties.net

📱 Call / WhatsApp: +34 602 42 89 28

📍 Visit our office: Avenida Bonanza Local 21, Arroyo de la Miel, Benalmadena, Malaga by appointment. Click here: https://wlcosta-bookings.netlify.app/

Note: Our story reflects our own experience of relocating in 2016. Everyone's move and personal situation is different, so always do your own research before making a decision.

The Costa del Sol property market has changed in 2026 and almost no other agency on this coast is willing to say it out loud.

In this Q2 2026 Market Update episode of The Costa Property Podcast, Sandra and Warner sit down for an honest, no-spin breakdown of what has actually happened on the Costa del Sol in the first half of 2026, and the buyer-profile shift every international buyer needs to understand before they take their next step.

You'll hear ⬇️

✔️ The Costa del Sol Q2 2026 market shift agencies are leaving out of their content

✔️ The fundamental buyer-profile change: investors down, relocators up

✔️ Why if you were competing with 10 buyers in 2025, you're now competing with 3 to 5

✔️ The €1.2 million cash-villa we closed last week and what it tells you about leverage in 2026 ✔️ Why prices are NOT crashing despite the world feeling uncertain

✔️ What the lower transaction volume actually means (and why the average price is up)

✔️ Warner's specific advice for international buyers planning to act on the Costa del Sol in 2026 ✔️ The €100 million Tivoli World investment and Málaga Airport expansion driving Benalmádena demand

Ready to speak to a human about your move?

📞 Book one of our complimentary discovery calls with our team. We offer a limited number of slots each month and they fill quickly: https://calendly.com/wlcostaproperties/property-consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=consult_call

Still figuring out which part of the Costa del Sol is right for you? 👉 Take our FREE Costa del Sol Location Quiz and find out in 30 seconds: https://wlcostaproperties-quiz.netlify.app/

Contact Us

📧 Email our team: info@wlcostaproperties.net

📱 Call / WhatsApp: +34 602 42 89 28

📍 Visit our office: Avenida Bonanza Local 21, Arroyo de la Miel, Benalmádena, Málaga Walk-ins: 10am–2pm | After 2pm by appointment

Enjoying the Podcast? Leave Us a Review!

We know life is busy, but if you've been loving the podcast, we'd really appreciate it if you could take just a minute to leave us a review.

Tell us:

✔️ What's been your favourite episode?

✔️ What's the most helpful tip you've learned?

✔️ What do you want to hear more about?

Every review helps us reach more people just like you who are dreaming of a new life in Spain.

Just head over to Apple Podcasts, hit the rating, and drop us a quick review.

In this episode of The Costa Property Podcast, Sandra Laurie sits down solo to unpack the single biggest mistake she sees international buyers make on their Costa del Sol buying trip and how to make sure you don't make it yourself.

The team at WL Costa Properties have spent 30+ years combined experience walking international buyers through the Costa del Sol coastline. We know exactly where the trip falls apart, what causes the burnout by day three, and what the buyers who get it right do differently.

You'll hear ⬇️

• Why most buying trips fail before they even begin (and it has nothing to do with the properties)
• The lifestyle-first framework that flips the entire buying process on its head
• Why you should NEVER try to see the full 160km Costa del Sol coastline in one trip
• Sandra's exact 3-location shortlist method and how to choose yours
• Why hiring a car is non-negotiable
• How to pace a buying trip like a local, not a tourist
• The 3 things you MUST do before you book your flights

Thinking about your own Costa del Sol buying trip in 2026?

👉Take the FREE Costa del Sol Location Quiz: 👉 Find out which part of the Costa del Sol is actually right for you in just 30 seconds: https://wlcostaproperties-quiz.netlify.app/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=quiz

This quiz was built for exactly the buyers Sandra describes in this episode. It does the heavy lifting BEFORE your buying trip so you arrive with clarity, not chaos.

Ready to take the next step?

📞 Book your free property consultation call: https://calendly.com/wlcostaproperties/property-consultation

📧 Email our team: info@wlcostaproperties.net

📱 Call / WhatsApp: +34 602 42 89 28

📍 Visit our office: Avenida Bonanza Local 21, Arroyo de la Miel, Benalmádena, Málaga. From 1st July, by appointment only.

Enjoying the Podcast? Leave Us a Review!

We know life is busy, but if you've been loving the podcast, we'd really appreciate it if you could take just a minute to leave us a review.

Tell us:

• What's been your favourite episode?
• What's the most helpful tip you've learned?
• What do you want to hear more about?

Every review helps us reach more people just like you who are dreaming of a new life in Spain.

Just head over to Apple Podcasts, hit the rating, and drop us a quick review.

In this episode of The Costa Property Podcast, Sandra and Warner sit down for an honest conversation about what's actually happening in the Costa del Sol property market so far in 2026 and the question every international buyer is asking right now: should I buy now, or should I wait?

If you've been sitting on the fence telling yourself "surely the prices are going to drop because of what's happening in the world," this is the episode you need to hear before you make a single decision about buying property in Spain in 2026.

You'll hear ⬇️

✔️ The real data behind 2025 vs 2026 - inquiries, transactions, and price per square metre

✔️ Are prices really crashing or is it all headlines?

✔️ Is there price corrections happening and what are their predictions for 2026 and beyond

✔️ The exact advice we'd give a family member with money to invest in Spain right now

✔️ The shocking data on the one town on the Costa Del Sol that outperformed the rest in data

✔️ The buyer profile shift

✔️ The €100M Tivoli World investment and the Málaga Airport expansion driving Benalmádena prices in 2026 and beyond

Thinking about making your own move to Spain?

👉 Take our FREE Costa del Sol Location Quiz and find out which part of the Costa del Sol is actually right for you in just 30 seconds: https://wlcostaproperties-quiz.netlify.app/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=quiz

We see too many buyers fall down the location rabbit hole. Marbella or Benalmádena? Fuengirola or Estepona? Coast or inland? The quiz cuts through the noise and sends a custom location report straight to your inbox.

Ready to take the next step?

📞 Book your free property consultation call with the WL Costa Properties team: https://calendly.com/wlcostaproperties/property-consultation?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=consult_call

📧 Email our team: info@wlcostaproperties.net

📱 Call / WhatsApp: +34 602 42 89 28

📍 Visit our office: Avenida Bonanza Local 21, Arroyo de la Miel, Benalmádena, Málaga Walk-ins: 10am–2pm | After 2pm by appointment

Recommended Next Episode: Why Benalmádena? The Costa del Sol Town You're Wrong About in 2026 (Episode #108)