COSTA del Sol is the stretch of Mediterranean coastline in southern Spain particularly in the community of Andalusia. Many British and other Western and Northern European expatriates flock here and eventually settle down here for good to retire for the rest of their lives because they find the climate here very temperate and very accommodating all of the year. During summer, the temperature is at 18 to 23 degrees Celsius, relatively warm for tanning. Besides, there are numerous nudist beaches in Costa del Sol populated mostly by foreigners for Spanish natives still tend to be more conservative owing to their Catholic and Moorish roots. During winter, many foreigners remain at Costa del Sol because the snowy Mediterranean coastline is a romantic sight to behold. Geriatric lovers would want to reminisce their passion during these times after all. A community of many tourists begets a very vibrant real estate industry in that area. Thus, there are many kinds of properties which have sprouted in Costa del Sol for the past few decades or so. Their market has never been saturated and today as this article is being written, property prices continue to rise despite the mortgage crunch across the Atlantic in the United States. Properties continue to be renovated and it is a booming industry for real estate agents and home inspectors.

Before a tourist gets to settle down in any part of Costa del Sol, there are things and procedures to be followed because buying properties is no laughing matter at all. Buying a house in Costa del Sol is not just intended for a couple to live in for the rest of his or her life, it can also well be their investment. Because of the relaxed real estate scene in Spain as far as individual foreign ownership is concerned, many British expatriates want to buy properties and lease these to their compatriots who are staying in a lesser period for say only two weeks. This makes for a lucrative economy in Costa del Sol who rely on two robust incomes – tourism and earnings from real estate investments like annual income tax returns filed by owners of these holiday retreats. Another reason why British tourists are enticed to invest here is because of the minimal property taxes. For just a very small euro amount, garbage collection taxes are remitted to the local government monthly.

So for those foreign tourists who want to buy a piece of Costa del Sol, it is suggested that they stay there for at least two nights in the area once during summer and another time during winter so they can get a feel of the place. They must also hire the services of a Spanish lawyer who is adept in real estate laws and who is fluent in English of course. This is not a rarity since Spain, and Costa del Sol in particular, is abundant with English-speaking citizens thanks to an EU declaration that all high school students must acquire a second language. Students often select English because there are lots of British tourists in the area.