Must I use a lawyer to handle my Spanish property purchase? ...

The majority of savvy real estate buyers know the value of a good lawyer when it's time to purchase property anywhere. But Spain isn't just "anywhere" and there are those who still step off into agreements without an attorney. Even if you have a real estate agent, it simply isn't a good idea to tackle a property purchase without a lawyer.

If you want to know how important a lawyer is in your property transaction, just look around. It's pretty easy to find horror stories of people who handed out money for property only to find out that they had limited ownership, that the people who sold the property had no right to do so, or that they'd simply been scammed.

Some people think that a real estate agent is enough. If you've got that agent on your side, there's no need to have anyone else working for you. That's simply not true. Remember that the agent is making a commission from the sale and their job was to find a buyer.

Most don't have the legal knowledge to make sure the interests of either buyer or seller are protected.

One point that a lawyer can help you is when there's communal property. Condos are one example, but there are others. If you all share in the responsibility of pools, park areas, fences or whatever, you as a new owner need to have your responsibility clearly outlined. Leaving these areas vague are one potential pitfall that can come back to bring serious financial repercussions later. It might even be something so simple as the color of a fence. Who knew that someone wanting to paint a fence purple would create such a disturbance?

A lawyer who specializes in these kinds of transactions can look ahead and help you solve these issues before they have the opportunity to arise, simply by putting it all in black and white on a contract.

Spanish law, community regulations and other rules can all be potential problems that a lawyer can wade through, giving you the best advice and helping you ensure that your interests are protected.

Probably the most important service your lawyer will perform is to be sure you get what you're paying for. From the deposit to the final sale, you'll know that your money is secure and that you're going to get clear title to the property.

Remember that the services are only as good as the attorney. Look for someone with a good reputation that others trust.