The costliest error is using the agent's recommended lawyer. The developer gets a commission when the deal closes, which is a different interest than acting for you. Your own legal adviser represents a small fraction of the purchase and is money well spent.

Signing in a language you do not speak ranks close behind. A certified translation costs little set against the sum being committed. Verbal assurances will not help if the written contract says otherwise — the document governs.

Purchasing off-plan on trust has ruined many budgets. Before any payment, look at previous developments, the building permits, and how deposits are protected. Projects running behind schedule are normal with even the best developers; stalled projects are rarer but much more damaging.

Forgetting about resale is a subtler error. Every purchase will eventually be sold, and the resale market matters. A portugal property for sale with no local demand is harder to move in a weak market.

Lastly, plenty of purchasers fail to plan for the annual paperwork. Local tax returns may be required even when the home sits empty, and overlooked notices lead to charges that accumulate quietly. Putting buying property in puerto banus place a local accountant from the first year avoids most of it.