For decades now Spain has been one of the most popular travel destinations in Europe. However, interestingly enough, in contrast to many other holiday destinations, Spain has a large number of tourists who come back year after year. In addition to Spain's rich cultural heritage, the pleasant climate, relative geographical proximity to tourists' countries of origin as well as the numerous cheap connecting flights have contributed to this.

Frequently these factors and the general enthusiasm for Spain are what cause people to buy property.

Apart from the general high regard in which Spain is held, the individual motivating factors leading to the decision to buy property can be totally different:

Some people would prefer to stay in their own property when they are on holidays than in some hotel or leased apartment. Others want to move their place of residence to Spain completely - after going into retirement - and acquire a property abroad for this purpose. However, there are more and more buyers who want to move their place of residence and the focus of their work to Spain well before reaching retirement age. Another category that should not be underestimated are those who see a house in Spain as an investment and set their sights on buying a property for this reason.

Although there are many points in favour of buying a property in Spain, some people shy away from the bureaucratic hurdles that could arise as well as the risks that any property purchase might theoretically entail. This scepticism is not totally unwarranted.

Although efforts to create harmonisation in Europe and the modernisation of Spain (both economic and social), which is apparent everywhere, have generally resulted in numerous simplifications and, above all, improvements, many things in Spain are still different.

The advertising slogan "Spain is Different", which was coined by the Spanish Ministry for Tourism years ago, is still justified, especially in the legal field.

However, those who obtain appropriate legal advice do not need to be put off. Despite the wealth of anecdotal stories about organisation and efficiency, Spain is a stable and functioning democratic constitutional state. With in-depth legal knowledge and an understanding of the local peculiarities, buying property in Spain is just as secure as anywhere else.

Therefore, should you wish to purchase or sell a property in Spain, we are happy to provide you with legal advice and contribute the necessary expertise required for a legal transaction with such financial implications. Our prime objective will be to protect you from bad experiences and nasty surprises, so as to safeguard your investment.

However, our range of consultancy services not only covers the purchase and sale of property, but rather all other legal transactions connected with property:

• Rental and leasing of property
• General preparation of contracts
• Visits to authorities
• Accompanying clients to appointments with the notary
• Translation services
• Cadastral office
• Land registry
• Tax authorities
• Purchase of land/property (also "off plan")
• Sale of land/property (also "off plan", if this is possible on the basis of the contractual layout of the agreements reached with the construction company)