Buying land and house in Spain

I am wondering about if it 's easy/complicated to buy something in Spain, what to think about, check etc, to make sure everything is in order... If there are typical "scams" to watch our for. Have no experience in buying property, and especially not in Spain.
If it's a good idea in general?  Spain is quite dry in many places, but I am interested in conserving water, rainwater harvesting, dry toilets, earthworks, swales, berms, infiltration basins etc
Any suggestions are very welcome. Thanks.

A visit to the site and also a lawyer to check off everything in total probably an extra US$1,000

I would consult with a lawyer specialized in real estates deals involving foreigners.

My parents bought a house in Spain (20 years ago), they are fluent in Spanish and have lived there before. They went to a lawyer and a real estate agent from the region, but I am not 100% sure that the contract and the property rights are really in order - I guess we will find out once we have to deal with the inheritance.

Apart from that, I would vote for Spain. Unemployment is high, but the infrastructure is usually good and the food and the people are wonderful.
Spain is very different from region to region, not only regarding climate but also pricing, mentality, availability of land etc.
Good luck,  I would try with forums for foreigners living in Spain or planning to move there.

Hi, As Anita suggests groups for expats living or thinking about moving to spain could be a great resource. facebook.com/groups/livingoffgridspain has a lot off knowledgeable people and I often see your questions asked in the group, so there's a good chance someone can give you some sound answers too what you are seeking. There seems to be similar groups on facebook too livingoffgridspain but more specialized in the regions and communities. I personally know next to nothing about buying property in spain, but what I  have gathered from others are that spain has quite a bit of bureaucracy involved with property and it seems to vary a lot from region to region

If you have the money to buy cash, still buy it with a mortgaage from the bank. They might try to make sure they can legally take the property from you and that it isn't a scam. Also if 6month in something illegal/scammy pops up, you can leave the bank with the bill and walk away a bit easier, with your US$200,000 still in your hand.

Thanks everyone !
Actually this sounds trickier than I first imagined. Also, I speak only very basic Spanish, another issue, but could easily learn it, if I decide for Spain (ending up in a country with cyrilic written language might be even more confusing. Many people are suggesting the Balkan to me, but Spain/Iberia feels easier in that case).
So buying a property "in a rush", even after having seen it and hired a lawyer could be a problem.
In Sweden I know people buying properties very quickly, without a problem, easy, and quite safe (in Sweden they would focus more on hidden problems/damages etc on the house)
In Italy I know a person who lost the ownership of a flat, he had bought for his elderly mother and when she passed away, the flat was lost because of some sort of problem with the contract or other.
So what is it actually that could go wrong? That there is another owner? Is it really so hard to check these details?

Sometimes it's laws that says that foreign born humans can't own the property but a randomly made business could.
Sometimes its the fact that the property has a 100yr lease, but then someone sells it but you are actually just buying the last 20yrs of a lease.
Sometimes it might be that you can't buy the property but you can lease it.
Sometimes it might be that it zoned for grape and if you don't produce 10kg of grape in the last 10yrs then it get reverted to conservation land.

All the above are easy to deal with as long as you know up front. Alot of times the person who inherited it and is trying to cash out, don't even know the rules vs you as a foreigner.


Then their are things like if you try to get a permit to fix the roof, they might say that the building is unsafe and need to be demolished. But if you just fix it without reporting it. You would be fine and even if they come, it wouldn't be classed as unsafe and to be demolished, but you might have to pay a small fine.

I know that in Spain specifically if you buy/mortgage a house that is worth $500,000. You get a investor/work visa, and in few years you can apply to be a EU/Spain citizen. Not a bad way to have a 2nd passport. All while using the banks money.