The boom in luxury housing in Málaga continues, with Marbella as the epicenter: 40 nationalities and an increasing number of purchases for year-round living

The luxury and super-luxury housing segment on the Costa del Sol continues to thrive, with Marbella as the main hub. The most sought-after properties in the Golden Triangle remain villas and sea-view homes, followed by penthouses and plots for custom project development, as explained this Friday by the association of real estate agencies DOM3. The high-end market continues to receive demand from over 40 nationalities, with the British leading, followed by Swedes, Belgians, Dutch, Poles, and Ukrainians, along with emerging markets such as the American one. "Unlike the general residential market, with interest rates that remain high despite recent cuts, inflation, and global political instability, the luxury segment maintains its pace and dynamism," states DOM3, which groups firms like Diana Morales, Pure Living, Panorama, and Solvilla. Clients fit profiles that seek top-level residences or second homes in an "already well-established" environment like the Golden Triangle (Marbella, Benahavís, and Estepona). According to figures from the College of Registrars, the province of Málaga is the second most demanded by foreigners for buying property on the coast, only behind Alicante and above Barcelona or the Balearic Islands. Last year, around 34% of transactions were led by foreigners, while in Marbella's luxury market, this percentage exceeds 90%. "Traditionally, summer is also high season for the sector, as many potential international buyers take advantage of their vacations on the Costa del Sol to visit properties. These visits often result in transactions closed in autumn, leaving significant growth figures at the end of the year," comments DOM3. DOM3, citing data from Knight Frank's International Super Prime Market Report, states that super-luxury home sales transactions (above 8.5 million euros) grew by 6% in the first quarter of 2025 globally. In Spain, prices increased by 15% year-on-year. "This trend is also reflected on the Costa del Sol, where luxury real estate investment exceeded 3,200 million euros in 2024 and maintains its dynamism so far in 2025," adds DOM3. According to figures from the Panorama agency, home sales have risen by 25% in Marbella during the first quarter of the year compared to the same period last year. The price per square meter in a luxury property in Marbella is at 5,213 euros, an 8% increase from June 2024; in Benahavís, it rises to 5,071 euros, with a 13% increase; and in Estepona, the average cost is 3,906 euros, after a 15% increase compared to June last year, according to data provided by DOM3 a few weeks ago. Another highlighted aspect of the sector's behavior is the growth of permanent residences compared to vacation or temporary homes. Pure Living Properties highlights in its latest study that last year, 25% of luxury property buyers on the Costa del Sol purchased them with the intention of living there all year round. The strength of the premium market is also reflected in the sales figures. Solvilla has announced several transactions in recent months with prices close to 10 million euros. DOM3 states that the sector's commitment is to a "sustainable urban model, with quality design and respect for the environment." The association also calls for public administrations to recognize the "specificity of this market, which operates with dynamics different from those of primary necessity housing." "The high-end sector does not compete with local demand but generates employment, attracts investment, and strengthens the economy of the municipalities," the association points out. The association, which has already begun to prepare its calendar of activities and fall meetings for its members, affirms that the luxury real estate segment generates more than 2,500 direct jobs and about 5,500 indirect jobs on the Costa del Sol.