Hannah De Oliveira runs VivaStay Costa del Sol, the French-speaking holiday rental management and real estate agency she founded in Málaga in 2023. A registered estate agent (API 525), she works with owners and buyers from France, Belgium, Switzerland and Luxembourg, from Málaga to Marbella. She looks back on her journey, her doubts and the team that works alongside her today.

Why did you leave south-west France for the Costa del Sol?

“I worked in property management from 2017, between Biarritz, Hossegor and Saint-Jean-de-Luz. In 2021 I wanted a new challenge and to give my children the best: their education and a life in the sun, in a region where everyone dreams of spending their holidays.

In France, the pace of life scared me. You run, you work, and the years go by without you really living them. In Málaga we take the time to stop, to appreciate what we have and to smile.”

What was the hardest moment?

“The hardest time was when there were no resources left. I was alone with my three children, with no time for myself, torn between everyday obligations and my roles as a mother, a coach and a woman.

I worked day and night to grow VivaStay. I believed in myself and never gave up. Little by little I saw that my sincerity and my drive set me apart, and that the agency was taking shape.”

What kept you going?

“There were doubts, and sometimes I was taken advantage of. But I saw clients become almost like family. Some people relied on me far beyond management or advice: they felt supported and confident.

I hate it when someone betrays my trust, so I never do it to others. Some people did abuse my kindness and my availability. Bit by bit I learned to delegate and to say stop. I had to hold on, and I did.”

How does the VivaStay team work today?

“I started alone. Then Kathe and Alex arrived and became the pillars of VivaStay. With Francis I have a relationship of trust that feels almost like family. We share the same values, and that is what taught me to trust and to delegate.

Yise, Bryan, Maxime, Audrey, Julia and Mathilde joined us, and Alexandre, also French, is the latest arrival. Around us work partners and specialists in every field; the list would be too long to name.”

What does an owner or a buyer find at VivaStay?

“Support and professionals in every field, with a complete service: rental management, sales, purchases, paperwork, works, renovation and interior design.

Above all, they find honesty and sincerity. At VivaStay we don’t chase business at any cost. We look for teamwork, everyone’s well-being and work done properly that lasts over time.”

A client who left a mark on you?

“Gladys lives in America and I manage several of her properties on the Costa del Sol. I know her whole family and I pick her up at the airport when she arrives. She has become something of a mentor to me: she advises me on my personal life and always gives me strength.”

Your favourite spot on the Costa del Sol?

“Calahonda, by the sea, at sunset.”

What would you tell a woman hesitating to start out on her own?

Nothing ventured, nothing gained, and what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I still tell myself: go on, Hannah.

Contact Hannah De Oliveira

If you own a property between Málaga and Marbella or are planning to buy on the Costa del Sol, contact Hannah on +34 621 24 17 24 or at info@vivastaycostadelsol.com. Details of the management service are on the Owners page and figures by town on the Investment page.