Honesty
We tell you what we actually think — even if it’s not what you want to hear. That’s the only version of this that works over time.
BACKGROUND
Why we started HOFMA
When we bought property in Spain, we quickly realised how opaque the process can be. The intermediaries, the paperwork, the local customs — a lot of it works differently, and not always in obvious ways.
We wanted an advisor who didn’t have a financial stake in what we bought. Someone who could explain things clearly and help us navigate without pushing us in a particular direction. We couldn’t find that.
So that’s the advisor we try to be for our clients.
THE PROBLEM
What we found
01
The market is opaque
Most buyers navigate Spain's property market without a guide who's genuinely on their side.
02
Advisors with interests
Standard agents earn commissions from developers. We don't. That changes what advice looks like.
03
We've been buyers too
We know the anxiety of buying abroad because we've felt it ourselves. That's where HOFMA started.
HOW WE THINK
Our approach
A good property purchase doesn’t require a fast sale. It requires the right information, the right timing, and an advisor who’s honest — including when the answer is ‘wait a bit longer’.
Clarity
Spain has its own rules, its own paperwork, and its own way of doing things. We translate it into something you can act on.
No pressure
We don’t push. We help you understand your options and decide at your own pace — without manufactured urgency.
Long-term thinking
A property abroad is rarely a quick decision. We help you think through what actually makes sense five or ten years from now — not just today.
WHY HOFMA
What makes us different
We’re Danish and we live in Southern Spain. That combination is hard to find: we understand what concerns an international buyer, and we know the Spanish system from the inside.
We have no interest in selling you a particular project. We don’t work on referral fees from developers who reward us for closing deals. Our fees are transparent and agreed upfront.
We deliberately keep the number of clients small. That’s not something we say to sound exclusive — it’s a condition for being able to do this work properly.
FOUNDERS
The people behind HOFMA
HOFMA was founded by Niels and Angela — two founders with complementary backgrounds and a shared starting point: buying property in Spain and learning firsthand what’s missing in the market.
Niels Henrik Hofma
Director & Co-founder
Danish. Trained journalist and founder of the digital marketing agency The Online Gurus.
Niels has lived in Spain for over 8 years, including 3 years in Southern Spain. He has broad experience in online marketing, data-driven communication, and AI-supported workflows.
Angela Maria Barragan Sanchez
Creative Director & Co-founder
Originally from Venezuela, now a Spanish national. Based in Spain for over 10 years, including 4 years on the Costa del Sol.
Angela is trained in digital graphic design and online marketing, with 3 years of experience as a real estate advisor and agent in Spain.
Wim Mertens
Invest Ideal Home
Sales Partner & External Collaborator
Belgian. Master at Law from KU Leuven (1991), with 26 years as a specialist lawyer in building and property law in Belgium.
Founder of Invest Ideal Home on the Costa del Sol. Based in Spain since 2017, Wim brings deep legal and commercial knowledge to the buying process — particularly for Belgian and Northern European clients.
WHAT TO EXPECT
What it’s like to work with us
We’re direct. If something doesn’t make sense for your situation, we’ll say so — plainly.
We keep you in the loop. You always know what’s happening, what’s still needed, and what the next step is.
We think long term. Our goal isn’t to close a deal quickly — it’s to help you make a decision that’s genuinely right for you.
GET IN TOUCH
Want to find out if we can help?
Send us a message and give us a quick overview of your situation. We’ll come back to you with an honest view of what we can do.
Contact
Send us a message and we will get back to you shortly.