The Spanish Property Doctor

The Spanish Property Doctor Column in The Sunday Times, by Mark Stucklin

+ Take the pain out of buying in Spain
How to avoid some of the major problems you encounter when buying Spanish property off-plan

+ Is your brief on the case?
When Spanish property deals go sour, British buyers often say they received poor legal advice. Our expert gives you the lowdown on how to find a good lawyer.

+ Taken for a rural ride
Outlines the pitfalls to avoid en route to securing a Spanish country property - from inept British agents to squabbles over deeds.

+ Clever tactics keep you in full control
They have their own way of conducting property transactions in Spain -and it all hinges on the notary. Understand how the system works to keep out of trouble.

+ Your best bet: surf or turf?
Is a sea view a must? Or do you want peace, quiet and acres of space? MARK STUCKLIN weighs the pros and cons of coastal living against those of an inland idyll.

+ Beware of Señor 7.5 per cent
The cost of selling a home in Spain could be unexpectedly high - and buyers can unwittingly contribute to estate agents' commissions, too. So check you're not signing up for hefty fees.

+ Distressed sales on the Costas
It's a buyers' market on the Costas - with a glut of off-plan investors desperate to sell before having to complete. Prices are falling in some areas, so is it time to go bargain-hunting?

+ Sleeping soundly on the Costas
As reports of burglars using knock-out gas on sleeping homeowners abound, security steps are essential to combat burglaries on the coast.

+ How to nail down your developer
Buy off-plan and you risk losing your money, unless the right safeguards are in place : Bank Guarantees.

+ The safe way to avoid the property sharks in Spain
Should you buy Spanish property in your own name or through a company?

+ More sums than sun for Costa rentals
You can still buy a holiday home that pays for itself on Spain’s most popular coast ... but not without a slog

+ Take the sting out of the bills
Taxes and fees are inevitable when you buy in Spain, but do your homework and you can avoid the hidden costs that lurk at every turn.

+ A chance to snap up a bargain
With properties selling for 30% less than their asking price, it’s a boom time for buyers on the Costa del Sol

+ Licence to rip you off
Give a lawyer unlimited power over your affairs and you could be heading for serious trouble

+ Still plenty to gain from a home in Spain
With tax rates now reduced, a home in Spain makes a shrewd investment, as long as you do your homework.

+ Conmen on the Costas
Beware the unscrupulous estate agencies that are letting property on the sly and stealing the proceeds.

+ Who will be feeling the pain in Spain?
Reports of the market's demise are exaggerated - but some British investors could still lose out.

+ Beware of buyers who flash the cash
A new breed of Costa con man is preying on gullible sellers, stealing money and even houses

+ The pain in Spain is a law that isn't plain
Confusion reigns over whether you need a licence to let your property - make sure you get good advice

+ Keep your eye on the ball
A high-profile Spanish developer has run out of cash - but what does that mean for Britons who have invested?

+ Too close for comfort - demolishing houses in Spain built too close to the beach
Is the wrecking ball about to smash into swathes of properties built too near the beach?

+ Where to look for Spanish property bargains
With the Spanish property market in turmoil, there are good deals on the costas and inland, but do your research

+ Spanish property: why it's crunch time on the Costa del Sol
Falling prices, rising mortgage costs, lower rental yields - is it time to say hasta la vista to the holiday home in Spain?

+ There's never been a better time to rent in Spain
The market on the costas has well and truly crashed, but a glut of property and desperate owners make renting a bargain

+ Call that a bargain Spanish property? (Cut-price Costa homes)
Big reductions on Spanish holiday homes might look tempting. Just make sure you know what you're getting into

+ Too close to the Edge (Ley de Costas, or Spanish Coastal Law)
A law nationalising the Spanish coast is still claiming British victims - 20 years on