Why you need a lawyer for a property transaction
A home, commercial premises or a plot of land is usually the biggest investment a family or a business makes. That is why mistakes are expensive. A deposit paid without checking the Land Registry extract (nota simple), a tenancy agreement downloaded from the internet or an extension that was never declared can turn into years of trouble. My job is to spot those risks before you sign and to explain clearly what you can do.
Estate agents help you with prices, areas and finishes. Notaries and land registrars certify and record what is signed. My role is different: I defend your interests, review the legal position of the property and coordinate the whole process so there are no surprises.
The property market in the Axarquía
In Nerja, Torrox, Vélez-Málaga, Frigiliana or Algarrobo you find flats on the coast, holiday apartments and country houses scattered across the hills. This creates some very specific situations:
- Homes on non-urban land built or extended without a licence, which makes them harder to sell, let or mortgage.
- Properties passed from parents to children without a public deed (escritura), or whose surface area in the Cadastre (Catastro) does not match reality.
- Holiday lets subject to Andalusian and local rules that change often.
- Many foreign buyers and owners who need to understand formalities such as the NIE (foreigner identification number) or the taxes for non-residents.
I know these problems because I work here every day, with private clients, self-employed people and small businesses across the area.
How to start
The first step is to review your case. You can do this with a written online consultation for €75, VAT included, with a reply within 12 to 72 working hours; with a 30-minute video call, also €75; or with a face-to-face consultation in Torrox Costa or Nerja. After that first review you will know what the risks are, which steps make sense and what they will cost.
