7 min read
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October 14, 2025

MAK‑1’s Transparency Playbook on the Costa del Sol

MAK-1 International Realty blends 25 years of Costa del Sol expertise, multilingual service and clear fee practices to give international buyers confidence in Spain’s competitive market.

Elin Björk
Elin Björk
Ecological Design Specialist
Region:Spain
CountryES

MAK-1 International Realty, a leading real estate agency with deep roots in La Cala de Mijas, blends local knowledge and multilingual service to simplify purchases for international buyers. Their 25‑year history, project development expertise and public-facing resources—plus assistance with investment residency routes such as the former Golden Visa—mean clients arrive equipped with informed options and clear next steps.

MAK-1 International Realty's Proven Approach to Transparency & Fees

Content illustration 1 for MAK‑1’s Transparency Playbook on the Costa del Sol

MAK-1 positions transparency as one of its core promises: public news updates about market trends, a multilingual team to explain contract terms, and formal ties to legal partners who help clarify investment-residency pathways. For international buyers, that clarity reduces surprises—especially around agency commissions, service scopes, and post-sale property management.

Local market clarity from a La Cala base

Serving the Costa del Sol from La Cala de Mijas, MAK-1 turns neighbourhood nuance into actionable advice. They publish timely commentary on local occupancy and tourist demand, helping buyers understand how seasonality affects rental income and maintenance costs. In a market where demand outstrips supply, this local intelligence helps buyers set realistic purchase and pricing expectations.

Specialisms that matter to cross-border clients

MAK-1 highlights services that international buyers value most: new-build and luxury sourcing, first‑time buyer guidance, land and development consultancy, and investor-focused packages. This breadth allows a single agency relationship to carry a client from discovery through negotiation, legal coordination and rental setup—reducing duplicated fees and friction.

  • Multilingual client support (English, Spanish, French, Dutch, German, Russian and others)
  • Golden Visa and investment-residency facilitation through partnered legal counsel
  • Sales, new‑build project development and land advisory under one roof
  • Enhanced rental management and landlord protection packages

How MAK-1 Handles Fee Transparency When Working With International Buyers

Content illustration 2 for MAK‑1’s Transparency Playbook on the Costa del Sol

International buyers worry most about hidden commissions, dual representation, and unclear post-sale costs. MAK-1 tackles this by documenting service scopes up front, offering multilingual explanations of fee structures, and coordinating with legal partners to place key financial commitments in signed escrow or reservation agreements.

An explicit, stepwise process for clarity

MAK-1's workflow is designed to make fees visible and manageable. They outline who pays what and when—agency commissions, notary and registry fees, and optional property-management retainers—so that buyers can compare net return scenarios rather than headline prices alone.

Step-by-step transparency in practice

  1. Initial consultation and written service agreement that lists inclusions and commission assumptions.
  2. Property shortlisting with estimated running costs and rental projections (if applicable).
  3. Reservation and purchase contracts prepared with legal partner review and specific fee schedules.
  4. Handover and optional property-management onboarding with transparent monthly fee breakdowns.

Why an Agency Model Like MAK-1’s Matters in Spain’s Current Market

Spain’s housing market continues to see price pressure and tight supply—Q1 2025 data showed rising prices and strong transaction volumes. In such a market, an agency that combines project development insight, local relationships and clear fee models helps international buyers avoid bidding wars, overpriced refurbishments, and costly legal missteps.

MAK-1’s market advantages

MAK-1 leverages its project-development experience and multilingual team to identify off-market opportunities and to explain technical permit or renovation considerations. Their membership in industry groups and published market commentary signals ongoing training and professional standards—assets for buyers in a quickly moving Costa del Sol market.

Client outcomes that build confidence

Real clients report that MAK-1's hands-on problem solving—sourcing builders, resolving tenant issues, or coordinating renovation oversight—turned potentially risky transactions into workable investments. For international buyers, that track record is the practical reassurance that transparent fees are matched by accountable service.

  • Personalised buyer briefings and multilingual contract explanations
  • Integrated legal partner coordination for residency or investment questions
  • Transparent rental-management packages designed to protect landlord cashflow
  • Project development guidance on land, permits and construction timelines

Practical Advice for International Buyers — Learn from MAK-1’s Playbook

Ask for written fee breakdowns before viewings

A clear cost sheet prevents awkward surprises. MAK-1 provides this as part of initial client onboarding—request the same from any agency you consider so you can compare net yields and true purchase costs in a single glance.

Confirm legal partnerships and post‑sale support

MAK-1’s collaboration with established legal firms is a model: international buyers should verify an agency’s legal contacts and ask how post-sale issues—permits, rentals, renovations—are handled and charged.

When comparing agencies, prioritise those that publish market insights and training commitments. MAK-1’s public news, training focus and CEPI/GIPE association references indicate ongoing professional development—an important signal that an agency evolves with legal and market changes.

Spain’s market context: expect rising prices and strong tourist demand on the Costa del Sol, which can lift rental returns but also competition for desirable homes (sources: Registradores/Idealista reporting on Q1 2025 and Costa del Sol tourism figures). Use agency transparency to convert that pressure into a predictable purchase plan.

In short, MAK-1 International Realty offers a practical template for international buyers: multilanguage clarity, written fee schedules, legal partnerships, and integrated post-sale services. These are the qualities that transform a scenic purchase in Spain into a confident, low-friction ownership experience.

If you value transparency and a single trusted partner in Spain, meet teams like MAK-1 in La Cala de Mijas—ask for their written fee schedules, legal partner contacts and examples of post-sale landlord support before making an offer.

Elin Björk
Elin Björk
Ecological Design Specialist

Swedish advisor who left Stockholm for the Costa Brava in 2019. Specializes in sustainable, sea‑view homes for Scandinavian buyers and green finance insights.

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