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!
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.
