For most people the search starts online. You scroll through villas, apartments and penthouses, and before long you have pictured yourself on the terrace.
Which is exactly where it tends to go wrong. Without preparation the search drags on far longer than it needs to, or ends in disappointment.
1. Judging on photographs alone #
Almost everyone starts with the pictures. Understandable, but photographs leave a lot out. They do not show you the surroundings, whether the property sits on a busy road, or the real state of repair.
CostaConnectUK tip: check every location on Google Maps and Street View before you get attached to it. It takes two minutes and gives you a far more honest picture of the street and the setting.
2. Not writing down what you actually want #
The supply in Spain is vast. Without clear criteria you will be overwhelmed within a week. Answer a few questions first. Do you want to be on the coast or somewhere quieter inland? How many bedrooms is the genuine minimum? Do you intend to let it out? A written list stops you viewing places that were never going to work.
3. Budgeting on the asking price #
A frequent and expensive mistake. Buying in Spain carries additional costs: transfer tax or VAT, notary fees, legal fees and land registry costs. Together these usually run between 10 and 14 per cent of the purchase price.
CostaConnectUK tip: work with a total budget that includes all purchase costs from the start. Otherwise a property you can afford quietly becomes one you cannot.
4. Underestimating how much the climate varies #
Spain does not have one climate. Somewhere that feels glorious in August can be a different proposition in January, particularly further north or at altitude. Visit outside high season before you commit.
5. Only looking at the famous places #
Marbella, Alicante and Ibiza are popular, and consequently busy and expensive. Just outside those hotspots are smaller towns where prices are lower, the pace is calmer and the amenities are still perfectly good. For a lot of buyers those turn out to be the better fit.
6. Going without independent local help #
Here is the biggest structural difference from buying at home. In Spain, buyers do not usually have their own agent. Most people rely entirely on the selling side, which means the advice they get is not independent.
Someone local can help you select suitable properties, check documents and steer the process. It removes most of the uncertainty, and it costs you nothing extra when the referral fee comes from the partner agent rather than from you.
In short #
A well-run first few weeks is the difference between a stressful search and a straightforward purchase. Decide what you want, budget realistically, and do not buy from photographs.
Take the time to see a few regions, and get independent local help. That is what gets you to the right property rather than merely a property.
Last reviewed 2026-08-24
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