Marbella's coastline at roughly 30% less per square metre — and a town in the middle of a quiet renaissance. Redesigned seafront, new orchidarium, expanded marina, the highest new-build share of any town we cover. 709 apartments on our books, six neighbourhoods, from €240,000.
If you last looked at Estepona a few years ago, look again. A redesigned seafront, a new orchidarium, an expanded marina, murals covering entire streets, a pedestrianised centro — few towns on this coast have changed shape as visibly, and the apartment market has followed.
The town splits neatly into two moods. The New Golden Mile, running east toward Marbella, is modern and gated — new-build blocks with pools, spas and sea views, built for easy living. Estepona town itself — the marina, the renovated Old Town, the flower-lined streets — is smaller, more Spanish, and walkable to everything, with a real year-round community around you.
Whichever mood you want, the same coastline is underneath it — some of the calmest winters and warmest welcomes on the Costa del Sol.
Tell us whether you're drawn to the new or the old town, and we'll hand-pick three or four apartments from the 709 on our books. We do it almost every day.
From the renovated centro to the New Golden Mile new-build belt. Each speaks to a different buyer.
The trade we see most: ~30% less per m², newer building stock, sleepier winter. Where each town wins.
Estepona has the highest new-build share of any town we cover — which is the right answer here, off-plan or resale? Side-by-side.
The other Marbella alternative — inland and hillside, more m² for the money. Worth seeing alongside Estepona.
Real reviews from Glaser Real Estate clients — the same team behind every site in this network.
"Recently purchased an apartment with Maarten. Whole process was very smooth and easy. A large part of that was attributed to Maarten's impressive work ethic. He was always available and got back to any queries immediately which was very reassuring. A hard working yet friendly and relaxed professional. Happily recommend."
"Maarten & his team are very friendly & work in a very professional manner. They went above & beyond in giving us help, advice & tips when assisting us to find the apartment we bought."
"I know Maarten for a long time and working with him was an absolute pleasure! He always puts in a lot of effort and goes for the max! Thank you Maarten for selling my apartment in Marbella."
"Maarten was incredibly helpful in finding a house. Even more important was his subsequent assistance in finding the right lawyer, notary, and bank! But it didn't stop there; finding a painter, kitchen supplier, and everything else you need was perfectly handled!"
"It was a pleasure working with this real estate agent. Professional, reliable, and always quick to communicate. They provide excellent guidance in both the property search and the sale process. Highly recommended for anyone looking to buy or sell a house in Spain."
"True 5 star service. Laser focused on customer satisfaction and personalized service. Thinks fast and acts quickly to resolve any challenges. Recommend for anyone buying, selling or renting in the region."
If your question isn't here, message the Estepona desk directly — we'll answer honestly whether we're the right fit for you or not.
Ask our Estepona deskWe list 709 apartments across six Estepona neighbourhoods, from €240,000 to about €2.1M. The big shift in Estepona over the last six years is that the inventory has tilted heavily toward new-build, which changes how we read each shortlist.
Three reasons buyers tell us, in roughly this order. Price — comparable buildings sit roughly 30% lower per m² than Marbella, more like 40% lower than Sierra Blanca and the Golden Mile. The seafront renaissance — the redesigned paseo, the orchidarium, the marina expansion, the murals — Estepona looks and feels noticeably different to how it did pre-2020. Newer building stock — Estepona has the highest new-build share of any town we cover, so for buyers who want modern specifications, the choice is wider here than in Marbella.
Yes, noticeably, particularly outside the old town. The New Golden Mile and several of the urbanizaciones toward the Marbella border are largely second-home stock, so the November-to-February rhythm is genuinely quieter. The renovated centro and Estepona Marina hold their year-round economy much better — that's where most of our buyers who plan to live here full-time end up looking.
Around a third of what we see currently transacting is new-build or off-plan, against closer to half that in built-out Marbella. That share moves with the cycle, but the structural reason is land — Estepona still has developable inland and back-from-coast plots that Marbella largely doesn't. If you want a 2024-onwards property with current insulation and aerothermal systems, this is the easier town to find one.
For a typical mid-range apartment, budget €5,500–€14,000 per year before mortgage. Sample €450,000 / 110m² apartment: comunidad €2,400–€3,800; IBI €700–€1,100; basura €160; building insurance €280; utilities €1,500; Modelo 210 around €420. Estepona comunidad fees run noticeably below Marbella for comparable specs — newer buildings, slightly lower-cost service contracts. Premium gated urbanizaciones near the Marbella border are an exception.
Three things. Bank guarantee — by Spanish law your deposit instalments must be covered by a bank or insurance guarantee, get this in writing before signing. Licence stage — there's a real difference between a project with full licence vs one waiting for it. Completion date credibility — Estepona projects do slip; build the slippage into your financial plan.
Resales in the old town and along the Seghers side complete in the standard six to ten weeks. Off-plan — a big share of what sells here — is a different clock entirely: stage payments over one to three years, completion at the licence of first occupation, and your money protected by bank guarantees in the meantime. Two calendars, two kinds of patience, and we run both files differently.
On resales, Andalusia's 7% transfer tax plus notary, registry and legal work — call it 8–10% over the price. On Estepona's abundant new-build the state takes 10% IVA plus 1.2% stamp duty instead, which on a €600,000 New Golden Mile apartment is a five-figure difference worth understanding before you choose between a 2005 resale and its 2026 neighbour.
VUT registration is required as everywhere in Andalusia, and Estepona's town-centre communities have generally stayed permissive — the old town's rental economy depends on it. The newer New Golden Mile resorts are where statutes increasingly regulate tourist lets, sometimes limiting them to specific blocks. If income matters to your purchase, tell us early; it changes which buildings belong on your shortlist.
Decide what you want to walk to. The old town gives you the flower streets, the market and the paseo on foot from a compact resale — parking is the compromise. The New Golden Mile gives you gated grounds, pools and garage spaces, with the car doing the daily work. Rental profiles differ too: city-break guests in the centre, week-plus families on the Mile. We keep shortlists honest by never mixing the two without saying so.
Tell us what you're looking for — budget, neighbourhood, new-build or resale, whether you'll rent it out — and we'll send three or four apartments hand-picked from the 709, with a note on each. No follow-up unless you want it.
