good for you, Thomas - to paraphrase a certain D. Rumsfeld, you don't know what it is that you don't know - and never did a truer word apply than to buying property in a strange land.

Thomas - the excerpt below is from an interview you may find of interest with an agent specializing in expats buying Spanish properties, posted at http://www.thelocal.es/20130610/dont...plane-to-spain

<i>What are your main tips for foreigners looking to buy a home in Spain?

Again, I offer a whole range of advice on YouTube but if I had to round it up I'd say top priority is to do your homework before coming. Don’t leave your brain on the plane.

There are some brilliant deals on the market now that house prices have dropped by 40 percent but you still have to plan ahead if you don’t want to get caught out.

I always advise people to get an independent lawyer who speaks both Spanish and your mother tongue to ensure he will represent your interests and explain everything clearly.<i/I>

We are Americans who own an apt in Spain and live there 6 consecutive months of each year since 2007. Technically we should leave after 90 days, stay away another 90 days, then re-enter. When we looked into the procedure to get a Schengen visa every 6 months, it was a bureaucratic nightmare. So we just informally extend our stay. On leaving, no one has ever asked us about it. They can see when we entered from the stamps on our passports. If you stay out of trouble, it isn't a problem.

If you want to live year round in Spain, then you need to get residency. This is not difficult if you can prove you have sufficient cash flow to meet the requirements, but, you will need to declare your world-wide assets. And if you don't, then expect very serious fines and big problems. Spain has reciprocal tax agreements with many countries and therefore access to financial information about tax-declarations of citizens of those countries.

There are some great property bargains to be had in Spain, especially if you have cash. But as others have said, hire an independent lawyer, don't accept one suggested to you by a seller or realtor. Too many people have been burned by unwittingly buying illegally built homes.

You can also buy private, full coverage health insurance for foreigners from Sanitas.es at a decent rate (compared to private policies offered in all other European countries).

Check out http://www.andalucia.com/forums/ for info which is relevant to all Spain, not just Andalucia. Buy David Searl's book, 'You and the Law in Spain'. Very useful. Also more good info: http://www.spainexpat.com/ and http://www.eyeonspain.com/.

<i>So we just informally extend our stay</i>

By informally, you mean illegally. One day you are going to get caught.

<i>If you want to live year round in Spain, then you need to get residency. </i>
That is not correct, and much of your post is too. You are in Spain illegally and it is not right that you encourage others to also break the law.
The best on-line information is this one: http://spain.angloinfo.com/

http://spain.angloinfo.com/moving/re...-eu-nationals/

"Residence visas
Anyone arriving in Spain with the intention of staying longer than three months requires a Residence Visa (Visado de Residencia)."

The Spanish system use a word called residencia. This has to be applied "before" a Non EU tries to live in Spain.
But you also missed off your list things like Empadronamiento; NIE; Insurance; Sitting a new Driving test if you want to drive. Although Spain may have reciprocal tax agreements with your country. You are still obliged to complete the Tax forms here in Spain. Plus as from this year you have to declare your world wide assets over 50,000€

Hey TS,

IIRC, if you pay a certain number of Euro for a house, you get a long term Visa.

If you are of Sephardic descent you can become a Spanish citizen.

Consult your local consulate.

((I))