AML News Costa Del Sol

Having an AML policy is no longer enough. Authorities increasingly expect staff to actually understand and apply it, says Andréas Hobbelin , Founder of CostaAML. According to Hobbelin, AML training real estate Spain has become a central focus area for regulators — particularly in high-risk, international markets such as the Costa del Sol. During inspections, authorities are not only asking if training exists, but what kind of training it is, how often it is delivered, and whether staff can...

One of the biggest AML weaknesses we see in practice is that KYC in real estate Spain is often performed far too late, says Andréas Hobbelin , Founder of CostaAML. “Many agents assume that KYC starts when the lawyer or notary steps in. From a regulatory perspective, that assumption is wrong. Hobbelin explains that reservation agreements and early deposits are critical AML trigger points under Spanish law. The moment a real-estate agent introduces a client, negotiates a deal, or facilitates...

The Costa del Sol remains one of the highest-risk real estate markets in Spain from an AML perspective,” says Andréas Hobbelin , Founder of CostaAML. When you combine international buyers, complex ownership structures, high transaction values, and early-stage deposits, AML real estate Costa del Sol becomes a priority focus area for regulators. According to Hobbelin, many real-estate agencies still underestimate their direct AML responsibility. A common misconception is that AML starts with...