Buying property in Spain has received some negative press, and if you have considered buying in Spain you have probably read some of the horror stories. In the past, unscrupulous developers have created legal traps that have cost unknowing buyers their deposits. Owning real estate in Spain is a completely safe venture as long as you have a thorough understanding of property laws. An expert on mortgages for Spanish property can highlight many issues before you get too far into the process. An example of a company who offers this service is Your Spanish Mortgage. This is an example of how to purchase property in Spain the new way.

It is only when you have not been fully informed of the relevant laws, or where the law has not been properly followed, that ‘horror story’ situations might arise. In the past people could get away with selling property and bypassing the laws, but now that things have changed, due to enforcement of laws buying property in Spain has become more favorable. The majority of companies and individuals have adopted ethical policies and procedures to protect the consumer.

Something to keep in mind is that lawyers working in Spain can work for the buyer and the seller, so they may not put your needs first. Completely objective advice can only really be gained if you gain personal support from your own lawyer, as opposed to support shared between yourself and the seller.

If you want to have someone working for you, an estate agent is not advisable. Most agents are working to the advantage of the seller or developer because they are being paid by them.

- Certain developers offer to pay a larger fraction of the selling price than others. What this means is that agents can be driven by their own personal financial needs, and may not be operating with your best interest in mind while assisting you.

- With the right advice, there is no reason why you should fall foul to any of these issues. What is really important is that you know the right questions to ask to make sure that you are working with someone that has your best interest at mind so that you can be protected.

- Correctly constructed private purchase contracts will provide you with all of the legal protection that you require. Although they may be more common, standard seller purchase contracts don’t.

You may be asking why the process for buying abroad is so different than buying locally, and the answer is clear: you cannot view properties you buy abroad, nor do you know the areas in which you are buying the properties or the local laws. You will be much better off if you learn as much as possible about the process.