Musical Homes: Our Never-Ending Game of Moving in Spain
Guess what we’re doing this weekend? Moving—again. That makes this our fifth move since arriving in Spain in 2021. Sixth, if you count the temporary summer rental upon our arrival in August 2021. At this point, I should add “professional mover” to my resume.
The Grand Plan… or So We Thought
Our journey started with a dream and a villa in progress. We had worked with a local realtor and attorney to purchase an off-plan home in Benahavís, a picturesque mountain village known for its gourmet dining and stunning valley views. The villa was set to be completed by summer 2022. But since it was still in the early stages of construction when we arrived in August 2021, we needed a rental.
Our realtor arranged a short-term summer rental in Estepona, a charming coastal town with a more relaxed vibe compared to Marbella’s glitz. It was meant to give us time to settle in and find something more permanent. After an exhausting high-season search—where rental prices soared and landlords favored short-term vacationers over long-term tenants—we finally secured a three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath apartment in Sierra Blanca, an exclusive area often referred to as the “Beverly Hills of Marbella.” It was a stunning location, nestled between the mountains and the sea, just a quick 10-minute drive to Alyssa’s school and surrounded by charming cafés and restaurants.
The apartment itself? Older, with its quirks. And then there was the landlord. Let’s just say, that experience was our first hard lesson in Spanish rentals.
Still, we remained optimistic, believing that by summer 2022, we’d be moving into our villa.
Lesson #1: Spanish Timelines Are… Flexible
Summer 2022 arrived—and so did the delays. The villa completion date was pushed back another six months. No problem, we thought. We’d extend our lease and wait it out.
But we wanted out of Sierra Blanca. The apartment no longer suited our needs, and we were ready for a fresh start.
Cue another housing search.
Lesson #2: Always Rent Through an Agency
Our next move took us to Nueva Andalucía, a lively area near Puerto Banús, known for its golf courses, buzzing nightlife, and international crowd. We found a spacious three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath townhouse that felt like an upgrade.
However, our previous rental experience came back to haunt us. Our independent landlord in Sierra Blanca refused to return our deposit of two months rent, falsely claiming damages. Despite taking legal action as advised by our attorney, the case was thrown out after a year, leaving us with a financial loss and a tough lesson learned: always rent through an agency, never directly from a landlord.
Lesson #3: Never Plan a Rental Around a Villa Completion Date
By July 2023, we received yet another delay notice for the villa. At this point, we stopped believing in timelines altogether. Instead of continuing the rental shuffle, we decided to buy a property—something stable that we could later sell for a profit.
We settled on a three-bedroom, two-bath apartment in La Quinta, a serene residential area tucked into the hills with breathtaking golf course and sea views. It was quieter, more secluded, yet still conveniently located near Marbella, San Pedro, and Benahavís. It wasn’t our forever home, but it was a strategic move.
We closed in August 2023 but decided to renovate—extensively. That meant moving again while the work was being done.
For four months, we relocated to Aloha, an area that thrives with expats and has a more social, buzzing energy. The apartment we rented? A bit of a worn-down holiday rental that lacked charm, but we reminded ourselves: this was temporary.
Instead of sulking, we used it as a sign to escape for the holidays. We spent Christmas in London, spent a couple weeks in California to visit family and check in on the business, and even squeezed in a quick Las Vegas getaway to attend a surprise celebration for my brother’s milestone birthday.
By February 2024, we finally moved back into our fully renovated La Quinta apartment.
And Now, Another Move
By the end of 2024, we put our renovated La Quinta apartment on the market in preparation for a spring 2025 move into the villa. It sold quickly, and we negotiated a rent-back through March 2025, thinking we’d finally be moving into our villa in April.
Well… you can guess what happened. Another delay.
Now, we’re preparing for yet another temporary rental while waiting for the villa’s “new” completion date—summer 2025. We’ll see what happens!
What This Journey Has Taught Me
Moving so many times in such a short period has been frustrating, exhausting, and at times, hilarious. Well, not if you ask Alyssa. In the U.S., delays like this would be unacceptable. But here, they’re just a part of life—and unless there’s outright fraud, there’s little recourse with the builder anyway.
Spain has taught me to surrender to the process, to let go of rigid timelines, and to embrace the now. Everything moves at a different pace—businesses close for siesta, Sundays are sacred, and rushing is seen as unnecessary stress.
I’ve learned to appreciate the unexpected detours. To understand that life isn’t about getting to the finish line—it’s about being fully present in the journey.
One of my favorite books, A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle, speaks to this beautifully. I’ve read it four times over the years, but in my most recent reread, it resonated differently. Maybe because I’m finally in a place where I can truly accept what is—finding acceptance, joy, or either enthusiasm in the moment, no matter the circumstances. Instead of resisting delays, I’ve started to see them as part of the unfolding story. And in that acceptance, there is peace.
So, as we pack up yet again, I remind myself—this is all part of the adventure. And what a ride it has been.
Stay tuned. Our next chapter begins soon.