Decide what the Property is for

Whether you wish to live the glitzy, jet set lifestyle of Spain's swish sporting marinas or you have an overwhelming ambition to re-live the rustic simplicity of the novel "Driving over Lemons", the decision will depend on your intended use of the property.

You need to consider if it is for holidays only, a permanent residence, to rent out, or simply to buy and sell purely as an investment.

Choose Your Ideal Location

For many people the most desirable thing about owning a home in Spain is the ability to reach the warmth of Spain in around 6 hours door to door. Low cost flights now make regular long weekends away a reality. It is therefore wise to consider a property within 40 minutes of the airport. As a general rule, the more remote the property, the lower the price.

What Can You Buy

Right across Spain you will have a selection of developments comprising of apartments, town houses or villas. They generally offer communal swimming pools and tennis courts often with on-site security, restaurants, bars and shops. Completed developments have the advantage of all the facilities being in place and an idea of the views you will enjoy, but when buying off-plan (before construction has commenced) there is often a cost saving with a series of staged payments to soften the purchase over 18 months or more. You should be aware that a view that is currently rolling countryside may become obscured by anothe development in the future. Whilst building controls are much more stringent then in the past and it is forbidden to build in a green zone, the status of land can easily be changed.

Prioritise

Unless you have unlimited funds it is likely that your dream of a villa on the beachfront will remain just a dream. It is vital that you consider your budget and sensibly priorotise the things that are essential to your Spanish lifestyle with a secondary list of "would likes". You may have to compromise when choosing a property , for example, if a sea view is essential then do not settle for anything less, whereas if you would prefer a garage but are offered a parking space you may still be happy to proceed. Stick to your guns and never compromise with the items on your priority list, you will regret it.

The weather in Spain can be glorious, with over 300 days of sunshine per year, but remember in winter the evenings can be rather cool, and it does rain in Spain. Most people travel to Spain for the sun, so consider purchasing a property that faces south with air conditioning to keep your property warm in winter and cool in the hot summer months.

Come and See for Yourself

Once you have decided on an area, you need to board a plane and see it for yourself. You can do this independently by booking a flight, arranging your accommodation and hiring a car to investigate the area. You may wish to use a Spanish real estate company and take up their offer of an inspection visit where these things are arranged for you and some of the costs are subsidised.

Inspection visits are quite intensive and the agent is focused on selling you a property during your visit. Don't let this put you off as tours are extremely valuable and you can cover many areas and styles of property every day. Keep the sales person focused on your criteria in order to come up with the most useful short list of properties. The agent is there to make your search as smooth as possible and with generous commissions at stake the customer is still king. If you don't get a good service from your sales person ask to be re-allocated to someone more experienced, your estate agent will be happy to oblige.

Choose Carefully

When you view properties in the sunshine there is a natural euphoria simply driven by the climate, the views and proximity to the sea, everywhere appears idyllic. However, it is easy to make a decision that is influenced more by the soul than the mind. There is nothing wrong with a little emotion, after all this is a purchase intended to give you an uplifting experience every time you visit it. However re-selling a property in the future may take some time unless you choose carefully.

Building Your Own

It is important that you choose an architect who can understand your requirements and taste. Speak to several and see who you make a connection with and this must include very clear communication in your own language. Make sure everyone understands your instructions and follows them to the letter.