Buying in Nerja: what overseas buyers should know
Nerja appeals to UK buyers who want a traditional coastal town on the eastern Costa del Sol, away from the larger resorts to the west. It draws holiday owners, retirees and those after a quieter base with a strong local community. Property ranges from apartments near the beach and town centre to townhouses and villas on the surrounding hillsides, across both resale and new-build.
What buyers are looking for in Nerja
Nerja keeps the feel of a Spanish town while serving an established international community. Buyers can choose apartments within walking distance of the beaches and centre, townhouses in the older streets and detached villas with sea and mountain views on the slopes above. Demand is steady, helped by the town's popularity as a holiday and retirement destination and by owners who let their property between visits.
Buying as an overseas buyer
UK buyers can own freely in Spain. Visitors can spend up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area, with non-lucrative and digital nomad visas for longer stays. You will need an NIE number and a lawyer, and completion takes place before a notary. The main costs are a transfer tax on resale homes or VAT on a new-build, plus the annual local property tax (IBI), and Spanish banks lend to non-residents, usually with a larger deposit. Treat this as a general summary and take current local advice. Start your search to see property for sale in Nerja, or contact our team to be connected with a local partner agent.
Where to find property for sale in Nerja
Nerja centres on its old town and the Balcon de Europa viewpoint, with beaches and coves spreading out on either side. Central areas offer apartments and townhouses within walking distance of the shops, restaurants and seafront, while the hillsides above the town hold villas with sea and mountain views. To the east, the neighbouring village of Maro adds a smaller, more rural setting near the coast.
Property types run from beachside and town-centre apartments to townhouses in the older streets and detached villas with pools and outdoor space. Buyers can balance a walkable central base against the privacy and views of the surrounding slopes. Explore our collections to shortlist by the way you want to live.
