While we will happily argue that there really isn’t any season that shows the Costa del Sol in a bad light, we would, however, perhaps subtly nudge clients towards autumn as the optimum time of year to choose their new home.
September still has that unmistakable summer feeling, only without quite so much heat or quite so many people. By October, the coast has settled back into its normal rhythm, while November can still delight with wonderfully warm, sunny days and lunches outside.
But our preference for autumn isn’t simply about the weather. If you are seriously considering buying here, these few months give you something that the height of summer really can’t: the opportunity to see how the coast works as a community once the holidaymakers have returned home.
You get to know the neighbourhood properly
One of the things we always tell buyers is that you are never really buying just a property. You are buying a neighbourhood too.
In July and August, many parts of the Costa del Sol are in full holiday mode. Restaurants are packed, beaches are busy, roads are busier and the whole coast has a very particular energy. It is great fun, but it isn’t necessarily representative of the other ten months of the year.
Come back in autumn and you get a much better sense of normal life.
This is when we would suggest lingering a little. Have coffee in San Pedro in the morning and see how it feels. Walk from an apartment you are considering down to the beach rather than simply accepting that it is “within walking distance”. Stay in Estepona after a viewing and have dinner in the Old Town. Drive from Benahavís or La Quinta into Marbella at the time you would actually be making the journey.
These are rarely the things that make it onto a property specification, but they are very often the things that determine whether you will love owning a home there.
You see the property in a different light
The Costa del Sol is built around outdoor living, so it is hardly surprising that terraces, gardens, pools and views tend to steal the show.
But if this is going to be your home for more than a few weeks in summer, autumn is a particularly useful time to look a little deeper.
How much afternoon sun does that west-facing terrace enjoy? Does the living room still feel bright in November? Is the outdoor space sheltered enough to enjoy when temperatures drop slightly?
Orientation suddenly becomes much more interesting once you start thinking about year-round use. A terrace that provides welcome shade in August may feel very different later in the year, while one that seemed almost too sunny in summer could be exactly where you want to spend a November afternoon.
It sounds obvious, but it is remarkably easy to be seduced by a spectacular sea view and forget to think about how you will actually live in the property.
Viewing is simply more pleasant
There is also something to be said for not viewing property when it is 35 degrees outside.
Summer viewing trips can be surprisingly tiring. Getting in and out of the car, walking around developments and inspecting terraces in the heat is not necessarily conducive to making one of the larger purchasing decisions of your life.
Autumn gives you more breathing space. We are also firm believers that a good viewing trip should not involve seeing as many properties as physically possible. After a certain point, the kitchens, bedrooms and terraces begin to merge into one.
A carefully selected shortlist is far more useful. It leaves time to explore the surrounding area, discuss what you have seen and, importantly, go back.
Never dismiss the importance of a second viewing. The initial visit is often emotional, while the second helps you assess if the property truly fits your needs and desired lifestyle.
Sellers may be ready to sell after the summer season
Another advantage of an autumn property search is the arrival of homes that weren’t on the sales market earlier in the year.
Many homeowners opt for a profitable summer rental before listing their property. July and August are prime rental months, so they often honour current bookings, benefit from the high-season income, and consider selling after the summer guests depart. Come September and October, some of those homes begin to reach the sales market.
This can give autumn buyers access to fresh resale stock, including properties in established coastal locations where new homes rarely become available. And because these are often homes that have been actively used rather than sitting empty waiting for a buyer, you may also get a useful insight into how the property works in practice.
It doesn’t necessarily mean there will be a bargain to be had, particularly in the most sought-after areas. But it does mean that if you viewed in spring or early summer and didn’t quite find what you were looking for, autumn can be a very good time to look again.
Autumn is useful for new developments too
If you are considering a new development, an autumn visit can be equally worthwhile.
Plans, brochures and CGI images are invaluable when buying off-plan, but standing on or close to the site gives you information that is difficult to absorb from a screen.
You begin to understand how the development sits within the landscape, its relationship with neighbouring properties, the roads around it and the reality of distances to beaches, shops, restaurants and schools.
If construction is sufficiently advanced, you may also get a much clearer sense of views and orientation.
Again, look at the sun. Two apartments with almost identical floor plans can feel completely different depending on their position, floor and orientation. If you intend to use your property outside the summer months, winter light can be worth prioritising.
The “best” unit on paper is not necessarily the best one for you.
You have time to get everything right
There is one final practical advantage to beginning your search between September and November: you are not racing towards summer when many professionals close their offices or move into shorter hours as the heat climbs.
Buying in Spain involves a number of stages, including legal due diligence, contracts, financing where required and completion before a notary. With the right professional support, the process should be straightforward, but there is still something to be said for giving yourself time.
An autumn search allows you to make decisions properly and potentially have everything completed well before the following summer.
And there is a considerable difference between arriving next June with a week of property appointments ahead of you and arriving with the keys to your own front door.
Come and see for yourself
Perhaps that is ultimately why we like autumn so much. Summer shows you the Costa del Sol at its most exuberant. Autumn shows you what it might actually be like to have a life here.
If you are thinking about buying, you do not need to arrive with every detail decided. Some clients know exactly where they want to be. Others know their budget, that they would like a sea view and that they definitely want a good restaurant within easy reach.
Both are perfectly good places to start.
At Kore Estates, we can help you narrow down the locations and properties that fit, organise a focused viewing itinerary and give you the local insight you need along the way. A successful viewing trip isn’t about seeing the most properties, it’s about finding the one that makes you want to stay.
Thinking about buying on the Costa del Sol this autumn? Contact Kore Estates and let’s start planning your property search.