Santa Clara, Marbella: a buyer’s guide to the golf community in Marbella East

Santa Clara is one of the quietest and most sought-after residential enclaves in Marbella East. Set on gentle slopes just inland from Los Monteros and Río Real, it wraps around the 18-hole Santa Clara Golf course and combines a calm, country-club atmosphere with open views over the fairways, the Mediterranean and the Sierra Blanca mountains.

It offers something increasingly rare in Marbella: a green, low-density setting with very little through traffic, yet only a few minutes from the beaches, Marbella's old town, the Costa del Sol hospital and the A-7 motorway. In recent years established Andalusian-style villas and townhouses have been joined by some of Marbella East's most contemporary new developments.

This guide is for anyone deciding whether Santa Clara is the right part of Marbella for them: where it is, what the homes are like, what they cost to buy and own, and what to check on the specific property.

Santa Clara lies on the land side of the A-7 coastal motorway in Marbella East, roughly between the Río Real valley and Los Monteros. The golf course and its developments climb gently from the motorway towards the hills, which is why many homes enjoy views across the fairways to the sea.

Its neighbours include Río Real, with its own golf course and established villa areas, the beachside estate of Los Monteros and Marbella Golf Country Club. Together they form one of the most established residential parts of Marbella East.

Santa Clara is not one single development but a collection of gated communities built over different periods. Broadly, buyers will find three types of property.

Andalusian-style villas and townhouses

The original Santa Clara Golf communities consist mainly of semi-detached villas and townhouses in traditional Andalusian style, with terracotta roofs, private gardens, terraces and often a private pool, set around landscaped communal gardens and pools. Several have been renovated to a contemporary standard inside while keeping their Mediterranean character outside. They suit buyers who want the space of a house, with garden and pool, inside a secure community.

Contemporary apartments and penthouses

In recent years Santa Clara has become home to some of Marbella East's best-known contemporary developments. The resort-style Soul Marbella project, built in several phases around the golf course, offers apartments, penthouses and semi-detached homes with pools, a gym, a spa, co-working space and concierge services. Santa Clara Homes, a gated development of around 100 homes completed recently, offers mainly three-bedroom garden apartments and penthouses frontline to the golf course.

These homes typically have large terraces, open-plan living, high energy efficiency and underground parking. Buying a home that is still under construction involves specific legal checks, which we explain in our guide to buying off-plan property in Marbella.

Detached villas

Detached villas are relatively rare in Santa Clara and are priced individually, depending on plot size, views, golf frontage and finish. Contemporary villas with open-plan interiors, large pools and landscaped gardens are among the most sought-after homes in the area.

Santa Clara is made up of several communities, each with its own gardens, rules and community fees. Which one a home belongs to decides its age, style and running costs, so it is the first thing to establish.

Santa Clara Golf is the original estate, built around the golf course in the 2000s. Its townhouses and villas are in a traditional Andalusian style, set around landscaped communal gardens and pools, and many have since been renovated inside. Most resale houses in Santa Clara come up here.

Terrazas de Santa Clara Golf is a community of apartments, duplexes and penthouses, for buyers who want the Santa Clara setting without the upkeep of a house.

Soul Marbella is the large resort-style development by AEDAS Homes: around 218 homes on about 12 hectares, built in phases named Sunset, Sunrise, Sunshine and Sunlife. The last phase is due in 2027, so a buyer here may be choosing between a finished home and one still under construction.

Santa Clara Homes is a gated development of about 100 apartments and penthouses by Neinor Homes, recently completed and frontline to the golf course.

Icon Marbella is a smaller gated development of contemporary detached villas with golf views, at the top end of Santa Clara's prices.

Daily life in Santa Clara is calm and green. Most homes are in gated communities with security, gardens and pools, and the golf course acts as a large open space that keeps the area quiet and protects many of the views.

Santa Clara Golf

The Santa Clara Golf club is the focal point of the area. The 18-hole, par-71 course, designed by Enrique Canales and opened in 2001, is gently undulating, with large greens, demanding par 3s and higher holes with views over the Mediterranean. The clubhouse has a restaurant and terrace, a driving range, a pro shop and coaching, and Río Real Golf and Marbella Golf Country Club are close by.

The beaches

The beaches of Los Monteros, Río Real and Bahía de Marbella are a few minutes away by car, with natural dunes, beach clubs and traditional chiringuitos.

Schools

Several international schools are within a short drive, both in Marbella East and in and around Marbella town.

Healthcare

The Hospital Universitario Costa del Sol, the main public hospital of the area, is very close to Santa Clara, and private clinics are available in Marbella.

Shops and everyday life

Santa Clara is residential. Supermarkets, pharmacies and everyday services are nearby along the coast road, La Cañada shopping centre is around ten minutes away and Marbella's old town, with its restaurants and boutiques, about the same. Tennis and padel clubs, gyms and walking routes complete the picture.

Santa Clara sits in the upper-middle to luxury segment of the Marbella East market. Prices vary with the type of home, its age and condition, the views and whether it is frontline to the golf course.

These figures are based on homes currently on the market, including our own listings. Asking prices are not sale prices, so ask for recent comparable sales before making an offer. See our current properties for sale in Santa Clara.

Santa Clara has both a resale market and new-builds sold by developers, and the taxes differ.

As a rule of thumb, budget roughly 8% to 9% on top of the price for a resale and around 12% to 13% for a new-build. Our guides to property purchase tax in Andalucía and buying property in Marbella explain the process in detail.

Community fees. Generally moderate in the traditional golf communities and higher in the resort-style developments, where pools, gyms, spas and concierge services are shared. Ask for the current figure and the latest community budget.

IBI. The municipal property tax is set by Marbella and based on the cadastral value; ask for the latest receipt.

Rubbish collection. A separate municipal charge, also set by Marbella.

Upkeep. Private pools and gardens in villas and townhouses need regular maintenance. Non-resident owners may also pay tax on imputed income. Our guide to property ownership in Marbella explains all of these costs.

None of these is a reason to avoid Santa Clara. They are the points that most often matter on a specific purchase.

1. Licences and planning

Check the building and first-occupation licences, and that any extensions, enclosed terraces or pool changes are legal. Marbella's planning situation has changed several times since the 2010 town plan was annulled, so a lawyer should confirm the status of the specific home.

2. Community fees and finances

Resort-style facilities are attractive but cost money to run. Check the budget, any pending derramas and whether all owners are up to date with their payments.

3. Construction nearby

Some developments around the golf course are being built in phases. Ask what is still to be built near the home and how it could affect views, noise and access.

4. Motorway noise and the view ahead

Homes closer to the A-7 can hear the motorway. Visit at different times of day and check what neighbouring plots could still be built on.

Santa Clara's golf setting, proximity to the beaches and modern developments make it attractive for holiday rentals, particularly to golfers and families. Holiday rentals in Andalusia require registration and must comply with regional, municipal and community rules, and some communities restrict tourist lets.

Long-term letting suits families relocating to Marbella, thanks to the nearby schools and hospital. Whatever you plan, check the community statutes and the property's licence status before buying.

Roads. The Los Monteros and Río Real junctions of the A-7 are a few minutes away, putting Marbella centre about ten minutes away and Málaga airport about forty.

On foot. The golf course and clubhouse are within walking distance of many homes; for the beach, shops and schools most residents drive.

Public transport. Buses run along the coast road below; within Santa Clara itself a car is needed.

Buyers looking at Santa Clara usually also consider three neighbouring areas in Marbella East.

Who Santa Clara suits

It suits golfers, families and second-home owners who want a secure, low-maintenance home in green surroundings, ten minutes from Marbella.

It does not suit buyers who want to walk to the beach, shops and restaurants, or who want a large estate with a big private plot.

Things to establish before you make an offer:

• Does the home have its building and first-occupation licences, and are any extensions legal?
• What are the community fees, what do they cover, and is a derrama pending?
• Is the home frontline to the golf, and what do the terraces look at?
• What could still be built on neighbouring plots or in later phases?
• How noticeable is the A-7 from the home?
• Does the community permit tourist letting, if that matters to you?
• What is the IBI and the energy certificate?
• What did comparable homes actually sell for?

Treating it as a beach location. Santa Clara is close to the beach, but not on it; most residents drive there.

Ignoring the community. Fees, rules and rental policies differ a lot between the older golf communities and the new resort-style developments.

Comparing only on price per m². Golf frontage, views and facilities explain much of the price difference between homes.

Forgetting the phases. In developments built in phases, ask what is still to come before you buy.

Where is Santa Clara?

In Marbella East, on the land side of the A-7 between Río Real and Los Monteros, about 5 km from Marbella centre.

Is Santa Clara a gated community?

It consists of several gated developments around the golf course. Most homes are within secure communities, but access and security vary between developments.

How far is Santa Clara from the beach?

The nearest beaches, at Los Monteros and Río Real, are about five minutes away by car.

Is Santa Clara good for families?

Yes. Quiet streets, gated communities, gardens and pools, and nearby international schools and the Costa del Sol hospital make it popular with families.

Do I need to be a golfer to enjoy Santa Clara?

No. Many residents do not play golf but value the green surroundings, the views and the clubhouse restaurant and terrace.

Can I rent out my property in Santa Clara?

Long-term rentals are generally possible. Holiday rentals require registration and compliance with regional, municipal and community rules, so check case by case.

Santa Clara is one of Marbella East's most balanced residential areas: the peace and greenery of a golf community, attractive views and modern homes with excellent amenities, with the beaches, the old town and the main services close by.

As always, the right purchase depends on the specific property. Its position, views, community and legal status matter as much as the area itself.

At Marbella Hills Homes we know Santa Clara and Marbella East well and can help you compare the different developments, from renovated Andalusian villas to brand-new penthouses. Browse our properties for sale in Santa Clara and frontline golf properties in Marbella, or contact our team to arrange viewings.