Villa in Marbella – Plenty of equity, barely any running income
An entrepreneur from North Rhine-Westphalia and his wife planned a new centre of life in Spain after selling their company shares. The aim was not a holiday property but a permanent home with enough room for family, guests and occasional professional appointments.
Villa in Marbella: what does the location offer, and why keep part of the assets as a reserve?
Marbella offers year-round quality of life, international infrastructure, excellent medical care and good access via Málaga airport, and many buyers deliberately keep part of their assets as a liquidity reserve instead of using all their equity. Some keep that part for other investments. We arrange the financing and approach 30+ banks per case.
Key figures: A €1,780,000 villa with €923,400 of equity put in
- Purchase price: 1,780,000 €
- Renovation: 86,400 €
- Financing required: 1,156,600 €
- Equity: 923,400 €
Anonymised case figure · not a binding statement for other projects · §34i GewO
Exclusive living with a long-term perspective
Marbella has been one of the most sought-after places to live in Spain for decades. Alongside the international flair, many owner-occupiers appreciate the excellent infrastructure, renowned international schools, high-quality medical care and the year-round quality of life on the Costa del Sol.
This practical case shows how buying a high-quality villa as a permanent residence can be financed in a structured way.
After selling the company shares: a permanent home in Marbella: After an intensive search they chose a modern villa in an established residential area of Marbella. The property was convincing for its quiet location, the proximity to golf courses and beaches and its high-quality building fabric.
Total investment €2,080,000, own funds €923,400: Purchase price: 1,780,000 €; Additional costs: 213,600 €; Renovation: 86,400 €; Total investment: 2,080,000 €; Equity: 923,400 €; Financing required: 1,156,600 €.
Proceeds stay broadly invested, works done before moving in
Although sufficient liquid funds from the company sale were available, a considerable part of the assets was to remain broadly invested. At the same time, there was the wish to adapt the property to their own living ideas immediately after the acquisition.
Technical modernisation and individual equipment wishes in particular were to be implemented before moving in.
Kitchen, master bath, automation and office costed up front: The villa was in excellent structural condition. The intended investments therefore mainly served personal design and a further improvement of living comfort.
Planned were the modernisation of the main kitchen, the redesign of the master bathroom, more energy-efficient air conditioning, the integration of a high-quality home automation system, the fit-out of a representative home-office area and the renewal of the garden irrigation.
As all measures were calculated in detail before the purchase, they could flow fully into the total investment.
Set at 65%, a large part of the wealth stays available
The financing was set at around 65 % of the purchase price. This kept a considerable part of the assets flexibly available, while at the same time achieving a balanced financing structure.
Alongside the purchase price, all acquisition costs and the planned modernisation were taken into account from the start. This meant the property could be occupied without further financing steps once the work was completed.
A home to their own standard, wealth left for further plans
Once the modernisation was complete, a permanent home was created that fully matched the buyers' personal requirements and at the same time offers enough flexibility for future stages of life.
Thanks to the balanced financing, sufficient assets remained for further investments and private plans.
In Marbella it is not just the price, but the upgrades too: For high-quality properties in Marbella too, it is sensible not to consider the purchase price alone. Individual adaptations and technical modernisation often cause additional investment that should be planned in already at the acquisition.
An early, coordinated overall plan — the bank loan for the purchase price, costs and modernisation from equity — creates clarity and prevents later financing gaps.
Marbella villa: forward planning secures comfortable living
Marbella offers excellent conditions for buyers who want to move their centre of life permanently to the Costa del Sol. An overall plan that budgets the purchase price, additional costs and all planned modernisation together from the start — the bank loan for the purchase price, additional costs and modernisation from equity — creates planning certainty and forms the basis for long-term comfortable living.
Similar cases by region and price band: Cases with a comparable region and price band — for context, not a promise of the same outcome.
Villa in Sotogrande — case report: Anonymised case report: Villa in Sotogrande – After the company sale: the source-of-funds question. Mortgage financing for non-residents.
Frequently asked questions
Can high-quality equipment measures be co-financed?
As a rule the Spanish bank does not co-finance modernisation — it belongs in the overall plan: equity or raising capital against German property.
Which properties are especially in demand among owner-occupiers in Marbella?
Detached villas, modern detached houses and high-quality apartments and penthouses in quiet residential locations are among the most popular properties for permanent owner-occupation.
What share of the purchase price was financed for the villa in Marbella?
The financing was set at around 65 % of the purchase price. This kept a considerable part of the assets flexibly available, while at the same time achieving a balanced financing structure.
A similar situation in Spain? Let's talk.
Every financing in Spain is an individual case. In a free initial consultation we will tell you honestly what is feasible and which bank fits.
Anonymised individual case, not a binding statement for other projects · Brokerage under the §34i GewO licence held by Olga Nikushkina (D-W-132-ZUCB-95); Siegfried Perini registered as directly involved person (§11a GewO) · no tax or legal advice · no financing commitment; conditions depend on creditworthiness, loan-to-value and bank
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Content by Siegfried Perini — local brand representative since 2019, active in real estate since 1992, entered in the German intermediary register (§ 11a GewO) as a person directly involved in brokerage and advice. Point of contact for German-speaking buyers in Spain and Portugal. Brokerage by Olga Nikushkina, mortgage credit intermediary under § 34i German Trade Regulation (GewO); in Portugal through a locally licensed intermediary.