There are many good reasons to buy in Spain, either to live there permanently, or to have a second home. Interest rates are low; the legal issues surrounding property purchase are becoming much tighter, and there is no need to buy low-quality new developments in over-developed areas. Many property experts believe that recent price corrections were long overdue, and the sector most affected is that of high-density and overcrowded new developments. Off plan investors have confused the real market, but the long-term investment prospects are good, especially if you buy wisely.

Not all Spanish property is the same! If you select your area and your property carefully, making sure it has all the features necessary to ensure it holds its value, you can buy with confidence.

• Avoid areas of mass development
• Don’t be taken in by the aggressive marketing tactics of the large developers.
• Concentrate on which area is going to suit you best. Spain is a huge country, and much of it has a relatively low profile. You may decide that the highly populated expat areas, for example, Costa Del Sol, and Costa Blanca, are the ones you are interested in, but it’s worth looking carefully at some attractive alternatives before you jump to a quick decision.
• There are areas of coastal Spain that have a much lower proportion of expat residents – the Atlantic coast, and the coast north of Valencia are the predominant areas.
• If you’re considering buying in a non-expat area, be sure that you are happy to have less interaction with English neighbours. Your language skills will need to be better honed, not just for social purposes, but to deal with banks, public offices, medical centres, and shops that are less likely to have English speaking staff than in the typical expat areas.
• Property in rural Spain, and some more Spanish coastal areas can be an excellent investment for part time residents as good rental returns can be achieved from both Spanish and English holiday tenants.
• Don’t assume that rural Spain is going to be quiet and peaceful – Spanish residents are less bothered by noise than the English, so pay attention to how close neighbours are, and listen out for local noise levels – particularly barking dogs and mopeds!