Exclusive Ground Floor Apartment · Aqua Gardens, Estepona
Price: €469,000
Apartment Aqua Gardens in Estepona is a 97 m2 ground floor apartment with 2 beds, 2 baths, private garden, covered terrace, storage, and on-site gym.
Price: €469,000
Situated within the brand-new Aqua Gardens development in Estepona, this contemporary two-bedroom, two-bathroom ground floor apartment offers refined Costa del Sol living starting from €469,000. The residence combines sophisticated design with effortless outdoor flow, private garden space, and underground garage parking with dedicated storage.
The home encompasses 74 square meters of air-conditioned interior living space, highlighted by an elegant master bedroom with its own en-suite bathroom. Seamlessly extending outside, a generous 59-square-meter covered terrace provides the perfect setting for alfresco dining and peaceful outdoor relaxation.
Aqua Gardens delivers an elevated lifestyle with an array of premium communal services right at your doorstep. Residents enjoy access to a swimming pool, a fully equipped gym, and a modern co-working area, all supported by peace-of-mind security services and a 24-hour concierge.
Everyday conveniences sit just a 5-minute walk away, including local supermarkets, pharmacies, cafés, and restaurants. The residence also has superb regional access, situated only 5 minutes from San Pedro de Alcántara and just 10 minutes from both Puerto Banús and Estepona town centre.
Sport and wellness enthusiasts will appreciate the proximity to the Bel Air Tennis & Padel Club, located just a 10-minute walk from the property. The surrounding area effortlessly caters to an active Mediterranean routine, combining health, recreation, and social leisure.
Offering excellent rental potential, this property represents a compelling opportunity on the Costa del Sol. Whether selected as a permanent residence or a private holiday home, its premier location and modern amenities ensure lasting appeal.
Apartment Aqua Gardens falls under the direct jurisdiction of the Estepona Ayuntamiento, a local government that has fundamentally transformed its urban landscape over the last decade. Specifically, the property is located in the Bel Air and Cancelada district along the highly sought-after New Golden Mile. This specific stretch of the A-7 coastal highway connects the traditional fishing town of Estepona with the municipal border of Marbella. The village of Cancelada retains the authentic atmosphere of a traditional Andalusian settlement, complete with narrow streets and a central plaza, while simultaneously supporting a rapidly expanding ring of modern residential developments. Buyers investing in this specific postcode are typically Northern European professionals, remote workers, and expatriate families who want immediate proximity to major commercial hubs without the peak season congestion usually found closer to Puerto Banus. The infrastructure here is heavily geared toward permanent, year-round living rather than just summer tourism. Residents can access the A-7 coastal road in under two minutes, allowing for straightforward daily commutes to nearby business centers. Furtherm…
Purchasing this property requires a clear and precise understanding of the local transaction costs in Andalusia. Because this apartment is classed as a resale property, buyers do not pay the standard IVA or AJD that are typically applied to brand new off-plan developments. Instead, the transaction is subject to the Andalucia transfer tax, legally known as ITP, which is currently levied at a flat rate of 7 percent across the board. Based on the exact asking price of €469,000, the ITP amounts to exactly €32,830. In addition to the property taxes, buyers should also budget for standard legal and administrative disbursements to complete the purchase safely. Legal fees for a conveyance lawyer typically run about 1 percent of the purchase price plus VAT, which adds roughly €4,690 to the total acquisition cost. The notary and land registry fees combined will cost between 0.5 percent and 1 percent, totaling about €3,518 depending on the complexity of the title deeds. Notably, there is currently no community fee recorded for this specific unit, which significantly reduces the monthly carrying costs of the home. These predictable closing costs and low ongoing overheads make the financial pl…
The New Golden Mile is globally recognized as a premier destination for golf, placing residents within a 10-minute drive of several highly rated championship courses. Los Flamingos Golf Club, located just 8 minutes away by car, offers three distinct 18-hole courses set around the grand architecture of the Villa Padierna hotel. This specific venue provides sweeping, elevated views of the Mediterranean Sea, the Rock of Gibraltar, and the North African coastline on clear days. Five minutes in the opposite direction brings players to El Paraiso Golf Club. Designed by Gary Player and established in 1973, this remains one of the most heavily played and beloved courses on the coast due to its forgiving fairways, flat walking terrain, and highly active international members club. Furthermore, Atalaya Golf and Country Club is accessible within a 7-minute drive from the apartment gates. Atalaya offers two distinct courses, the Old Course and the New Course, alongside one of the largest and most comprehensive driving ranges in the Malaga province. This exceptionally high concentration of premium fairways ensures that golf properties in the Bel Air area maintain strong seasonal rental demand…
Immediate beach access is a primary driver for property values in this sector of Estepona. From the parking garage at Aqua Gardens, residents can drive down to Playa del Saladillo in exactly 4 minutes. This particular beach spans over three kilometers and features wide stretches of fine dark sand, making it notably less crowded than the urban beaches of central Marbella, even during the peak tourist weeks of July and August. Playa de Guadalmansa is also within a 5-minute drive and is highly favored by local kite surfers and paddleboarders due to its open exposure and reliable afternoon breezes. The coastal pathway, widely known as the Senda Litoral, runs continuously along this section of the Mediterranean coast. This engineered wooden boardwalk allows residents to cycle, run, or walk safely from the edge of Cancelada all the way into the Estepona town centre without ever walking on a main road. Along this scenic route, high-end beach clubs like Tikitano by Besaya provide upscale dining right on the waterfront, while traditional Spanish chiringuitos like Pepe Beach serve locally caught seafood, espetos de sardinas, and paella directly on the sand.
For families considering full-time relocation to the Costa del Sol, the availability of high-quality international education is often the most critical deciding factor. The Estepona municipality is exceptionally well served by several highly regarded academic institutions. The International School of Estepona, which strictly follows the British National Curriculum for early years and primary education, is located in the nearby Benavista commercial center, merely a 6-minute drive from the apartment. Mayfair International Academy in the Atalaya neighborhood is accessible in 8 minutes and caters to students from primary school all the way through to A-Levels, offering a seamless educational journey. For those parents seeking a fully bilingual Spanish curriculum to integrate their children into the local culture, Colegio San Jose operates two separate campuses in the region. The primary school campus in Guadalmina is a 10-minute drive to the east, while the secondary campus located in Estepona town is a 15-minute drive to the west. This density of premium educational options within a very short morning commute makes the Cancelada and Bel Air neighborhoods particularly attractive to ex…
International connectivity is another fundamental strong point for this specific location. Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport serves as the primary aviation hub for the entire region and can be reached in exactly 50 minutes via the AP-7 toll road. This major international airport offers direct, year-round flights to over 100 European destinations, alongside regular transatlantic routes to New York and seasonal direct flights to the Middle East. Alternatively, Gibraltar International Airport provides an excellent secondary option, particularly for UK-bound travelers, and is located a 45-minute drive south along the A-7 highway. For domestic high-speed rail travel across Spain, the Maria Zambrano AVE station in the Malaga city centre is a 55-minute drive away, connecting the coast directly to Madrid in under three hours. Local public transport is also highly accessible. The Avanza bus network operates regular, scheduled services along the coastal highway, with the nearest major bus stop situated just a 10-minute walk from the apartment gates, providing easy access to Marbella and Estepona for those who prefer not to drive.
Because this is a resale property, the transaction is subject to the Andalucia transfer tax of 7% ITP, which equals €32,830 on the €469,000 asking price. There is no IVA and no AJD applied to resales. Legal fees typically run about 1% plus VAT, which is roughly €4,690. Notary and registry fees combined are roughly 0.5% to 1%, adding about €3,518 to your closing costs.
The process begins with a reservation agreement and a deposit of €6,000 to remove the apartment from the market. Your lawyer then conducts due diligence at the Estepona Ayuntamiento and the property registry over a period of 14 to 21 days. Following this, you sign the private purchase contract and pay 10% of the €469,000 purchase price, minus the initial deposit. Completion at the notary typically occurs 30 to 60 days after the initial reservation.
There is currently no community fee recorded on the listing for Apartment Aqua Gardens. When a fee is formally established by the community of owners, it will cover the maintenance of shared amenities. These facilities include the communal pool, the gym, and the upkeep of the shared garden areas. Your lawyer will verify the exact future or pending community quotas during the due diligence phase.
The primary annual municipal tax is the IBI, which is paid directly to the Patronato de Recaudacion Provincial de Malaga. You will also pay a municipal rubbish collection fee, known as Basura, which in Estepona generally costs between €100 and €150 per year. Utility costs for electricity and water will depend on your usage of the air conditioning and other appliances. Non-resident owners are also required to pay the non-resident imputed income tax annually.
Short term rentals require a tourist licence issued by the Junta de Andalucia and registered with the Estepona Ayuntamiento. Estepona currently permits holiday rentals, provided the property meets specific cooling and heating requirements, which this apartment satisfies with its installed air conditioning. The local market yields strong returns during the peak season from June to September. You must also check the community statutes to ensure the owners association has not voted to restrict short term lets.
The sale includes the physical apartment along with its private terrace and covered terrace. Ownership also transfers the rights to use the communal gym, pool, and garden spaces. Furthermore, the price includes a dedicated storage room and a private space in the secure garage. Any inclusion of movable furniture would need to be negotiated separately and inventoried in the private purchase contract.
Estepona provides access to several highly regarded educational institutions for expatriate families. The International School of Estepona is situated in El Paraiso, typically a 15 minute drive from the main town. Colegio San Jose, a prestigious bilingual Spanish school, has a primary campus right in Estepona and a secondary campus in nearby Guadalmina. Queens British Grammar School is also accessible within a 20 minute drive along the A7 highway.
Malaga Airport is the primary aviation hub for this region. Driving from Estepona to the airport via the AP7 toll motorway takes approximately 55 minutes, covering a distance of 80 kilometres. Alternatively, Gibraltar International Airport is located 45 kilometres to the west. Reaching the Gibraltar border typically takes 40 minutes by car via the A7 coastal road.
Estepona is surrounded by several championship golf facilities. Valle Romano Golf Resort is an 18 hole course located just 10 minutes away by car. Estepona Golf, known for its sea views and challenging layout, is accessible within a 15 minute drive. For a premium club experience, Finca Cortesin in neighboring Casares is only 20 minutes away and recently hosted the Solheim Cup.
The Estepona municipality features 21 kilometres of coastline with several Blue Flag beaches. Playa de la Rada is the main central beach, offering 2.6 kilometres of sand and a wide promenade. Playa del Cristo is a sheltered cove located just west of the Estepona Marina, making it highly popular for families. Both beaches are reachable within a 10 to 15 minute drive from most residential developments in the area.
Aqua Gardens is designed as a contemporary residential community focused on outdoor living. The architecture incorporates clean lines, large glass windows, and spacious covered terraces to maximize natural light. The inclusion of a gym, a communal pool, and landscaped gardens provides a resort style environment for residents. The development is scaled to maintain a quiet, private atmosphere while remaining connected to the urban center of Estepona.
Estepona offers comprehensive daily infrastructure for year round residents. The High Resolution Hospital of Estepona provides modern medical care just outside the town center. Supermarkets such as Mercadona and Carrefour are distributed throughout the municipality for convenient grocery shopping. The newly expanded Estepona Marina offers an array of restaurants, pharmacies, and nautical services within a short 10 minute drive.