Gilmar Doubles Down on Costa del Sol and Canary Islands — What Buyers Need to Know

Why Gilmar’s expansion matters for anyone tracking property Spain

If you follow property Spain, Gilmar’s recent moves on the Costa del Sol and the Canary Islands are worth a close look. The Madrid-based agency is not making cosmetic changes; it is strengthening a network it has built over more than 40 years of experience and positioning itself in two of Spain’s busiest international corridors.

That matters because markets like Marbella and Costa Adeje are driven by international demand and by buyers who expect more than a sales brochure: they expect service, legal backing and local knowledge. Our analysis breaks down what Gilmar’s footprint means for buyers and investors, and where risks may lie.

Gilmar’s footprint along the Costa del Sol: full-spectrum coverage

Gilmar has created a near-continuous presence along one of Europe’s busiest property corridors. The company lists offices in Malaga city, Marbella, Puerto Banús, Estepona, Benalmádena (opened 2025) and Sotogrande. That spread is not accidental. It gives Gilmar a role at multiple price tiers and client segments.

• Malaga city acts as the entry point to the wider province, where a mix of domestic and international demand is pushing residential activity.
• Marbella and Puerto Banús remain the core luxury markets, where privacy and premium services shape buyer expectations.
• Estepona attracts buyers looking for recent urban development and slightly more accessible pricing than Marbella.
• Benalmádena was added in 2025, extending the network eastwards along the coast.
• Sotogrande serves a highly selective, discreet client base with an appetite for exclusive country-club style living.

Héctor Tramullas, Gilmar’s managing director, says the Costa del Sol client base is “one of the most sophisticated customer profiles in Spain” and includes British, German, Scandinavian, French, Middle Eastern and Spanish buyers. That diversity has real implications for how properties are marketed and sold: international buyers expect multi-lingual teams, escrow clarity and a full-service package that covers legal and financial steps.

What this means for buyers and investors on the Costa del Sol

• If you want access to high-end stock, an agent with offices across Marbella and Puerto Banús can introduce off-market opportunities and negotiate on discretion.
• For mid-range buyers, Malaga and Estepona offer more liquidity and scale, which can reduce transaction times.
• Expect stronger competition for well-located, turn-key properties that appeal to seasonal rentals; holiday demand remains a driver.

I find the company’s coast-to-coast presence useful for buyers who value continuity: one local point of contact can coordinate viewings, lawyers and financing across neighbouring towns. That reduces friction and can speed up closing. But it does not remove the need for independent due diligence.

The Canary Islands strategy: Atlantic demand and tax appeal

Gilmar’s Atlantic push is more recent but deliberate. The firm already works in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and has opened a new office in Costa Adeje, southern Tenerife. The Canary Islands are not a mirror of the Costa del Sol; they are a different product with a different buyer profile.

The archipelago offers a stable climate, favourable tax conditions and steady demand from northern Europe, according to Gilmar. Costa Adeje is singled out as an exclusive, high-demand area of Tenerife where the agency believes it can replicate its model.

Why the islands matter now:

• Buyers from the UK, Germany, Scandinavia and other northern countries are attracted to year-round weather and a market that can support both holiday rental and longer-term relocation.
• The Canary Islands have structural differences in taxation and incentives that can affect the net returns on a holiday-let strategy; Gilmar highlights these favourable conditions as a selling point.
• The islands’ market cycles are not perfectly correlated with mainland Spain, giving some investors a way to diversify within the same national jurisdiction.

From an investor perspective, the Canary office in Costa Adeje improves local sourcing for premium stock and on-the-ground service for international clients who do not travel frequently. But remember: climate comfort and favourable tax regimes are only parts of the equation — local planning permissions, tourist licensing and seasonality in visitor flows also shape rental performance.

People first, technology second: how Gilmar balances digital and human service

Gilmar uses digital platforms, online marketing and virtual viewings to reach international clients. That is not unusual in today’s market. What I find notable is the public emphasis the company places on human relationships. Tramullas says technology “helps us work more efficiently, but our value still lies in people and direct relationships with clients.”

Practical implications of this stance:

• Virtual viewings speed initial screening, but buyers should expect in-person inspections before final commitment to spot issues that imagery misses.
• A full-service agency that includes legal and financial advice can reduce deal risk, but buyers should verify those advisers are independent and correctly licensed.
• Multi-office networks allow continuity when a buyer’s needs cross municipal borders — for example, a buyer touring properties in Marbella and Sotogrande can use the same agent for both towns.

I like the balance. Technology makes marketing and preliminary checks efficient; local offices provide the local knowledge and negotiation leverage that matter at closing.

What Gilmar’s expansion means for different buyer profiles

Below I separate practical takeaways for the common buyer types you will meet in these markets.

• First-time foreign buyers

  • Use an agent who provides step-by-step legal and fiscal guidance.
  • Expect to need a NIE (foreign ID number), bank account and, depending on purchase plans, local mortgage pre-approval.
  • Prioritise areas with higher transaction liquidity like Malaga city or Estepona to reduce time to sell later.

• Luxury buyers

  • Look for discretion and access to off-market stock in Marbella, Puerto Banús and Sotogrande.
  • Expect personalised service, from property management to bespoke legal structures for ownership.

• Investors focused on short-term rentals

  • Check municipal rules on tourist licences; islands and coastal towns differ.
  • Consider seasonality and effective occupancy rates, not just headline yields.

• Buyers seeking lifestyle relocation

  • The Canary Islands work well for year-round living; Costa del Sol is seasonal but offers a larger expatriate community.
  • Understand local healthcare and schooling options if moving with family.

My view is that Gilmar’s integrated presence across these regions helps buyers who need more than transactional support; those buyers get continuity in advice and a single point of contact for legal and financial matters. That reduces some transaction risk, but it does not remove the need for independent checks.

Risks, red flags and due diligence — an investor checklist

A well-established agent reduces friction, but markets still carry risk.