In recent years Spain has become one of the most popular property investment countries for many investors looking for good capital growth as well as a favorite destination for many emigrating Brits and other european’s.

Its important though that before you do purchase property in Spain that you do your homework prior to committing yourself.

For the last few years Spanish real estate(especially on the Costa del Sol) has been associated with unscrupulous real estate agents and also in the the case of Marbella, corrupt local mayors and politicians. Many properties have been constructed illegally due to bribes and payments made to local authorities for planning permission and the fate of these properties now faces an uncertain future.

But this doesn’t mean that Spain is no longer a great place to live or buy a property in. On the contrary, if done correctly, you can still find some wonderful villas, apartments and finca’s just waiting to be snapped up at a great price.

One of the first things that you should do is to find a good real estate agent to work with. They should have experience of the local real estate market and preferrably come with a recommendation or two from somebody that you know. It can be difficult as some of the larger agencies can make you feel like you are just another number, whereas some of the smaller agents may not have the same exposure as their larger counterparts but can provide you with a greater sense of care, guidance and also add that personal touch to the whole property finding experience.

Another really important thing to do is to find yourself a good lawyer or abogado as they are known in Spain to guide you through the purchase process and make sure that everything is in order. If you do not speak good Spanish you should find one that speaks good English so that you fully understand contracts and other important aspects of the whole process. Finding the right lawyer can be crucial so its well worth taking your time when choosing which one to use.

So there you have it. Spain is still a great choice for property investment and for emigration and if you find the right team of both real estate agents and lawyers to work with, your purchase should go through without any hiccups.