Carat, Reserva del Higuerón: sea-view new build in Fuengirola
Apartments with 2 and 3 bedrooms and a penthouse with a private pool, all with sea views, in Reserva del Higuerón. From €822,000, completion planned for 1 December 2026.
Last updated: 20 October 2026
About Carat
Reserva del Higuerón is the hill between Fuengirola and Benalmádena where the coast suddenly goes quiet. Carat is one of the larger projects there: 157 homes spread across 4 buildings. Two buildings face east and are arranged so that the homes do not block each other's views; the other two face south. All the homes currently in our data look out to sea.
The offer consists of apartments with 2 and 3 bedrooms and one large penthouse. A ground-floor apartment with 2 bedrooms, 86 m² built and a 44 m² terrace costs €822,000. On the first floor you pay €876,000 for 84 m². With 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, a 108 m² ground-floor home with a 63 m² terrace costs €979,000, and €1,049,000 on the first floor. The fourth-floor penthouse has 4 bedrooms, 260 m², a 101 m² terrace and its own pool, for €2,425,000.
The 3-bedroom homes have a large main bedroom with its own bathroom and dressing room. Where Carat really stands out is the communal area: a coworking space, pilates studio, gym, sauna, Turkish bath, massage room, heated pool, a multipurpose room and a bar with terrace. Next to the main pool is a covered relaxation area with a solarium.
Amenities
- Sea views
- Heated pool
- Gym and pilates studio
- Sauna and Turkish bath
- Massage room
- Coworking space
- Bar with outdoor terrace
- Solarium by the pool
- Secure complex with lift
- Private pool with the penthouse
Carat in figures
Carat is expensive, even by the standards of this coast. Its median of €9,558 per m² is 65% above that of new builds in Fuengirola (€5,779, 27 projects) and 115% above resale homes in Fuengirola (€4,452 per m², idealista, September 2026). The price ladder shows where the jumps are: €822,000 for 2 bedrooms, €979,000 for 3 and €2,425,000 for the 4-bedroom penthouse. For the entry-level apartment you pay around €928,864 all in: €82,200 VAT, €9,864 stamp duty, €4,900 notary and €9,900 lawyer. Completion is planned within 2 months, compared with a median of 14 months elsewhere in the municipality.
| Price | € 822.000 |
| VAT (IVA) 10% | € 82.200 |
| Stamp duty (AJD) 1.2% | € 9.864 |
| Notary and land registry (estimate) | € 4.900 |
| Lawyer 1% + VAT (estimate) | € 9.900 |
Around 13.0% on top of the price in total. All purchase costs explained.
| 2 bedrooms | from €822,000 |
| 3 bedrooms | from €979,000 |
| 4 bedrooms | from €2,425,000 |
Terrace, solarium and garden combined, as a percentage of the living area (median). That is more than 63% of new developments in Fuengirola. Largest outdoor space: 101 m².
Planned completion December 2026. For half of the new developments in Fuengirola, completion is within 14 months.
Calculated by Imagine Marbella on 20 October 2026 from the current listings of 27 new developments in Fuengirola and the average asking price of resale homes in Fuengirola according to Idealista, September 2026. Costs are an estimate; we will prepare an exact calculation for you.
Location
Reserva del Higuerón sits on the border of Fuengirola and Benalmádena, on a slope above the Torreblanca neighbourhood. It is a quiet, green urbanisation between Málaga and Marbella, and within Carat landscaped footpaths through the greenery link the different phases. The project lies at around 44 metres above sea level, low enough to be at the sea quickly and high enough for views. As a member of the owners' club, you get benefits at the El Chaparral golf club.
Torreblanca beach is a 10-minute walk away, or 1 minute by car. For shopping, the nearest supermarket is 23 minutes on foot, so you will need the car. Fuengirola town centre is 12 minutes away, Benalmádena marina 14. Vithas Xanit hospital is 9 minutes away and Málaga airport a 23-minute drive.
We will send you the exact location and the address of the sales office when you request Privé access or book a viewing.
Distances, measured by us
Measured from Carat along real roads and footpaths, not as the crow flies.
| Destination | On foot | By car |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest beach (Playa de Torreblanca) | 760 m, 10 min | 500 m, 1 min |
| Supermarket (Covirán) | 1.8 km, 23 min | 1.8 km, 4 min |
| Golf course (Bil Bil Pitch & Putt) | 6.7 km, 10 min | |
| Hospital (Hospital Vithas Xanit International) | 6.5 km, 9 min | |
| Fuengirola town centre | 10.7 km, 12 min | |
| Benalmádena marina | 8.6 km, 14 min | |
| Málaga city centre | 28.4 km, 26 min | |
| Marbella old town | 36.3 km, 29 min | |
| Málaga airport | 21.7 km, 23 min | |
| Gibraltar airport | 108.7 km, 85 min |
Calculated with OpenStreetMap routes without traffic, on 20 October 2026. Walking times over an hour are omitted.
Sun, light and views
Here the sun rises at 7:00 on 21 June and sets at 21:40, giving 14.7 hours of daylight. On 21 December you still have 9.7 hours, with the midday sun at 30° above the horizon. Carat sits at around 44 metres above sea level.
Sea views are confirmed for all five homes in our data. Two buildings face east, two face south; which building your home is in determines how much morning or afternoon sun you get.
Homes and finishes
The project description gives little detail on materials. What is confirmed: large open spaces connecting the rooms, generous terraces with sea views, a main bedroom with bathroom and large dressing room in the 3-bedroom homes, and energy rating B. As there is no show home, we request the full building specification, including the brands of kitchen and bathroom fittings, and check whether a parking space and storage room are included in the price.
Payment schedule
As with most new builds on the Costa del Sol, you pay in instalments: a reservation deposit, a portion on signing the purchase contract and during construction, and the balance at the deed signing. Every payment before completion must be covered by a bank guarantee. We will send you the exact payment schedule for Carat through Privé.
Available homes in Carat
A selection, as of 20 October 2026. More homes are available than shown below; request the full price list.
| Type | Beds | Baths | Living area | Terrace | Garden | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground floor apartment | 2 | 2 | 86 m² | 44 m² | – | € 822.000 |
| Apartment | 2 | 2 | 84 m² | 38 m² | – | € 876.000 |
| Ground floor apartment | 3 | 3 | 108 m² | 63 m² | – | € 979.000 |
| Apartment | 3 | 3 | 108 m² | 46 m² | – | € 1.049.000 |
| Penthouse | 4 | 3 | 260 m² | 101 m² | – | € 2.425.000 |
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Our honest verdict on Carat
Strengths
- Sea views confirmed for all homes currently for sale.
- Torreblanca beach a 10-minute walk away, despite the hillside location.
- Wellness and coworking within the complex: sauna, Turkish bath, heated pool and pilates.
- Completion planned for 1 December 2026, within 2 months.
- Málaga airport a 23-minute drive and a hospital 9 minutes away.
Points to consider
- Price per m² 65% above the median for new builds in Fuengirola.
- A large project with 157 homes, so no small-scale feel.
- Our data does not list a parking space for any of the homes; ask about this explicitly.
- Supermarket a 23-minute walk away: you will do your daily shopping by car.
- No show home, so you judge the finishes from plans and the description.
Who is Carat right for?
Carat suits buyers who value sea views, wellness and well-kept surroundings and who want the airport close by. It works well if you work remotely, thanks to the coworking space, and for couples looking for a second home that is comfortable all year round. If you want a lot of home per euro or to live without a car, you are better off looking at central Fuengirola.
Why buy through Imagine Marbella?
With us you pay exactly the same price as buying direct from the developer. Our fee is paid by the seller, not by you. What you get on top is what makes the difference.
- Independent. We are not tied to any development. We compare the entire market and tell you honestly when a project is not right for you.
- Stronger at the negotiating table. Whenever there is room to negotiate, on price, payment schedule, finishes or a parking space, we know the market, the sales figures and the developers. We defend your interests; the seller defends theirs.
- Free extra services. We check licences, bank guarantees and specifications, provide legal support in your own language and plan viewings around your travel dates.
- Beyond the handover. We follow the construction, the handover and the after-sales with you, so you are never on your own.
Imagine Privé
As a Privé member, you receive the current price list and availability, floor plans, the building specifications, the payment schedule and our comparison with other new developments, in English, French, Dutch or Spanish.
Free and without obligation.
Off market: what you will not find online
Not every property on the Costa del Sol ends up on a website.
Owners who want to sell discreetly, a last penthouse that has not yet been released, a villa that only comes onto the market when the right buyer appears: part of the market changes hands without a single advert. Already know the market and looking for something you cannot find online? Tell us as precisely as possible what you are looking for. If it exists, we will find it for you.
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Frequently asked questions about Carat
Is Fuengirola a good place to spend the winter?
Fuengirola is one of the most popular winter destinations for international buyers. Carat is quieter than the centre, with a heated pool and wellness within the complex and the town centre a 12-minute drive away.
Is Carat in Fuengirola or in Benalmádena?
Reserva del Higuerón lies on the border of both municipalities. In our data, Carat falls under Fuengirola. We check the municipality in the land registry, as it determines the local taxes.
How far is Carat from the beach?
By our measurement, Torreblanca beach is a 10-minute walk or a 1-minute drive away. Bear in mind that the walk home is uphill.
What does the cheapest apartment in Carat cost all in?
With VAT, stamp duty, notary and lawyer, the €822,000 apartment costs around €928,864, or 13% on top of the price.
Do I pay more if I buy Carat through Imagine Marbella?
No. You pay the same price as buying directly from the seller. Through us you also get independent advice, legal guidance and aftercare.
What costs come on top of the price of a new-build home?
In Andalusia, a new build carries 10% VAT (IVA) and 1.2% stamp duty (AJD), plus notary, land registry and lawyer's fees. For the most affordable home in Carat, that adds up to around 13.0%.
About the author
Geert Eeckeleers, Managing Director of Imagine Marbella. Since 2018 he has guided buyers on the Costa del Sol, in English, French, Dutch and Spanish.
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