Case report · Costa del Sol

Manilva: Financing a terraced house with a sea view for a permanent centre of life

A couple from Rhineland-Palatinate, both long active as grammar-school teachers, planned retirement in Spain. After several trips along the Costa del Sol, they deliberately decided against the larger cities and instead looked for a quieter place to live with good infrastructure.

Key figures

At a glance

  • Purchase price: 534.000 €
  • Renovation: 31.900 €
  • Financing required: 346.200 €
  • Equity: 283.800 €

Anonymised case figure · not a binding statement for other projects · §34i GewO

Typical, anonymised case. Names, places and individual financing figures have been adjusted to protect privacy. The process reflects a typical advisory situation for non-resident financing in Spanien.

Relaxed living at the western end of the Costa del Sol

Manilva is one of the places to live on the Costa del Sol that have largely preserved their original character. Located between Estepona and Sotogrande, the municipality offers a pleasant mix of proximity to the coast, quiet residential areas and good transport links. For many German-speaking buyers, Manilva is an attractive alternative to the better-known places in the region.

This practical case shows how buying a terraced house for permanent owner-occupation can be sensibly financed.

Initial situation

A couple from Rhineland-Palatinate, both long active as grammar-school teachers, planned retirement in Spain. After several trips along the Costa del Sol, they deliberately decided against the larger cities and instead looked for a quieter place to live with good infrastructure.

The choice fell on a terraced house in a well-kept residential complex with a view of the Mediterranean. The generous terrace, the quiet neighbourhood and the good accessibility of shops and the coast were particularly convincing.

Financing overview

  • Purchase price: 534.000 €
  • Additional costs: 64.100 €
  • Renovation: 31.900 €
  • Total investment: 630.000 €
  • Equity: 283.800 €
  • Financing required: 346.200 €

The challenge

The buyers had equity from the sale of their previous home. Even so, they wanted to keep financial reserves for retirement and not finance the purchase entirely from own funds.

In addition, the house was to be adapted to their personal living ideas before moving in.

Analysis

The property was well-kept and immediately usable. The planned investments therefore mainly served to improve living comfort.

Planned were a new fitted kitchen, the modernisation of the bathroom on the upper floor, the replacement of the interior doors, more efficient air conditioning and the redesign of the terrace with permanently installed shading for year-round use.

As all measures were calculated before the purchase contract was concluded, they could be fully included in the total investment.

Financing solution

The financing was set at around 65 % of the purchase price. This kept enough equity as a reserve, while at the same time creating durable, balanced financing.

Alongside the purchase price, all acquisition costs and the planned modernisation were taken into account in joint financing. Additional financing steps after the purchase were therefore not required.

Outcome

Once the work was completed, a comfortable home was created that offers the buyers ideal conditions both in everyday life and for their upcoming retirement.

The financing remained easy to calculate and at the same time left enough financial flexibility for travel and personal wishes.

What other buyers can learn

Manilva shows that attractive residential locations on the Costa del Sol do not necessarily have to be in the top price segment. Anyone who takes all investments into account early creates a transparent overall calculation and avoids later financial surprises.

For a permanent move to Spain in particular, this planning provides additional security.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Why is Manilva interesting for owner-occupiers?
The municipality offers quiet residential locations, the proximity to the sea, good infrastructure and short distances to Estepona and Sotogrande.
Can terrace modernisation be part of the financing?
If it is defined and traceably calculated before the purchase, it can often be taken into account together with the other modernisation.
Why is the full purchase price not paid from own funds?
Many buyers want to keep financial reserves for retirement or unforeseen expenses and therefore choose balanced financing.
Which properties are especially in demand in Manilva?
Terraced houses, detached houses, modern apartments and villas in quiet residential locations are among the preferred properties for permanent owner-occupation.

Conclusion

Manilva offers ideal conditions for people who want to combine peace, the sea and Mediterranean quality of life. Financing that takes the purchase price, additional costs and all planned modernisation into account already at the acquisition creates a solid basis for a long-term centre of life on the Costa del Sol.

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Anonymised individual case, not a binding statement for other projects · Siegfried Perini, BAFA-notified for the cross-border activity of the owner Olga Nikushkina · §34i GewO · no tax or legal advice · no financing commitment; conditions depend on creditworthiness, loan-to-value and bank