Are you looking for a new turnkey home in Estepona?
Are you looking for a new turnkey home in Estepona, without waiting two years for construction to finish? This page directly lists the new developments in Estepona that I follow for my clients, including completed apartments, penthouses, and villas: you visit the property as it will be on the day of your arrival, you sign with the notary, and you leave with the keys.
On the Costa del Sol, we say llave en mano or key ready: the building is completed, the first occupation license has been issued, and utilities can be opened in your name. Nothing to imagine from plans: you see the real view from the terrace, the orientation, the light at different times of the day, and the finished common areas. This is the option I recommend for those who want to enjoy their home, or rent it out, from the next season.
Turnkey or Off-Plan: What Changes
Buying off-plan means paying in stages for a property that you only discover upon delivery, in exchange for an often lower entry price and choice of finishes. Buying turnkey is the opposite: the price includes the completion of works, but the construction risk disappears. No delivery delays, no capital calls, no bank guarantee to check on each payment: you pay the bulk of the price at the notary and the property is yours the same day.
In a completed development, it is often the last units that remain for sale, and the developer seeks to close out their project. This is the time to discuss a furniture package, a parking space, or a storage room. If you prefer to choose your finishes and spread out your payments, then look at my new off-plan developments on the Costa del Sol instead.
Buying a Turnkey Property: The Steps
The process is short. Once the property is chosen, you reserve it with a reservation contract, usually from €6,000 to €10,000, which removes it from sale. Your lawyer then checks the nota simple from the land registry for any debts or mortgages on the lot, the first occupation license (the former licencia de primera ocupación, replaced in Andalusia by a responsible declaration), the energy certificate, and the developer's ten-year insurance. The sale is signed at the notary, where you pay the balance and receive the keys.
Allow generally four to eight weeks between reservation and deed, a little longer if you finance the purchase with a Spanish loan. You need a NIE and a bank account in Spain; if you cannot come to sign, a power of attorney allows everything to be done remotely.
Before the deed, we visit the property together for the handover: any defects found are noted on a snagging list that the developer must rectify. Spanish law then covers a new home for one year for finishes, three years for defects affecting habitability, and ten years for the structure. These deadlines run from the completion of construction, not from your purchase: for a development delivered several months ago, I will verify the date with you.
Costs and Taxation of a New Turnkey Property
Purchased directly from the developer, a turnkey property remains fiscally a new home: VAT (IVA) at 10%, plus stamp duty (AJD) of 1.2% in Andalusia. If it has already changed hands once, it is a resale, subject to ITP at 7%, even if it has never been lived in. Add notary fees, land registry inscription, and lawyer's fees: expect about 13% to 14% of the price in total. These rates change, I will confirm the exact calculation at the time of your project.
Where to Find New Turnkey Properties in Estepona
Recently delivered developments are located in three main areas. In Estepona city center, new developments put shops, restaurants, and the beach within walking distance. To the east, the New Golden Mile features gated communities with swimming pools between Estepona and San Pedro de Alcántara, from Atalaya to Cancelada. To the west, developments around Estepona Golf and Valle Romano offer sea and golf views, often at a softer price per square meter.
From the current online selection, prices range from approximately €370,000 for a two-bedroom to over €750,000 for penthouses with sea views.
Turnkey Investment: Furnished, Rented, Managed
Many of my clients buy turnkey properties for rental. Several developers offer a furniture package, and some developments are sold fully furnished: the property can welcome its first holidaymakers a few weeks after the deed. Before purchase, I verify that the community statutes allow tourist rentals; the property must then be declared as a holiday rental (VFT number in Andalusia) and obtain its national registration number before the first booking. For ongoing management, our concierge service in Estepona takes over: rental listing, guest reception, cleaning, and maintenance.
Still hesitating? Also check out my apartments for sale in Estepona, my penthouses, my villas, or all my properties for sale. As a French-speaking agent based on the Costa del Sol since 2013, I will assist you from the first visit until the handover of keys.
Frequently asked questions
What does “turnkey” mean for a new home in Estepona?
That the property is completed and habitable: the building is finished, the first occupation license has been obtained, and you can move in as soon as you sign with the notary. In Spanish, we speak of llave en mano. Depending on the development, the property is delivered equipped (kitchen, air conditioning, bathrooms) or fully furnished.
How long between reservation and key handover?
Generally four to eight weeks: time to obtain your NIE if you don't have it yet, open a bank account, have your lawyer review the file, and, if applicable, finalize your loan. The keys are handed over to you on the day of the deed.
Does a turnkey property cost more than an off-plan one?
Often a little more, as developers raise their prices as construction progresses. In return, you buy a property you have seen, without risk of delay or money tied up for two years, and you can occupy or rent it immediately. For the last units of a completed development, there is sometimes room for negotiation.
What additional costs should be expected?
For a direct purchase from the developer in Andalusia: 10% VAT and 1.2% stamp duty (AJD), plus notary fees, land registry inscription, and lawyer's fees. Expect about 13% to 14% of the price, all costs included.
What guarantees are there for a new, already completed property?
Spanish law covers it for one year for finishing defects, three years for those affecting habitability, and ten years for the structure, with mandatory ten-year insurance paid by the developer. These deadlines run from the completion of construction: for a development delivered some time ago, I will verify the date with you.
Can one buy furnished and rent from the first season?
Yes, this is one of the great advantages of turnkey. It is necessary to verify that the development allows tourist rentals and to register the property before the first booking. I take care of these verifications before the purchase, and our concierge service can then manage the rental for you.
