The costliest error remains taking legal advice from the other side. The agent gets a commission when the deal closes, which is not the same as protecting the buyer. An independent lawyer costs a modest share of the price and remains the best protection.
Putting your name to untranslated contracts ranks close behind. A certified translation is inexpensive compared with the purchase price. Verbal assurances carry no weight once a dispute starts — the document governs.
Purchasing off-plan on trust has wrecked many budgets. Ahead of a deposit, look at the developer’s completed projects, the construction licences, and spain house prices whether payments are held in escrow. Delays are normal even with reputable builders; stalled projects are rarer but much more damaging.
Thinking only about the purchase is a subtler error. A home bought abroad has to be sold or passed on at some point, and the next buyer decides what you get back. A home that only appeals to foreign buyers takes longer to sell when conditions change.
Lastly, many buyers fail to plan for the running costs. Annual declarations can be required even in years with no rental income, buy property in turkey and late filings lead to fines nobody warns you about. Arranging a local accountant from the start avoids most of these problems.
