1. Identify the area you want to buy property in.
Before even leaving your native country, you should identify what region of Spain you want to buy a house in, since property prices vary greatly in each province.  Take into account factors such as the kind of budget you're working with, lending possibilities that are open to you and whether or not property values in the area you're interested in are expected to rise.  If you're planning on living in Spain full-time try finding out what conditions are like throughout the year, since living somewhere in the winter can be a completely different experience than vacationing there in spring or summer.  Also keep in mind such factors as accessible shopping, good schools for your children and nearby employment opportunities. 

2. Talk to people from your country that own property in Spain.
Ask someone you know about their experience buying property in Spain.  Your friend, a friend of a friend, your cousin's friend's sister … surely you'll be able to find someone if you ask around enough, especially if you live in the UK or Germany.  Listening to actual experiences will give you a good idea of what the property market in Spain is like for someone with your cultural perspective and prepare you for the unavoidable difficulties you'll come across as you search for your Spanish home. 

3. Find a trustworthy estate agent.
Estate agents (called inmobiliarias in Spain) can provide you with helpful information and offer the convenience of a pre-selected portfolio of properties they'll take you to.  It's very important, however, to be careful when selecting one because strict requirements to becoming an estate agent don't exist in Spain and there are thousands of them to be found.  A single individual can set up an agency and provide a low level of service or even scam buyers by taking their money and never selling a single property.  Having said this, there are plenty of dependable agencies that can make your buying experience infinitely easier – you just have to exercise good judgment when choosing one.

4. Don't rush in.
When first visiting an attractive property it's easy to get carried away with excitement, but try being as objective, analytical and realistic as possible.  Take notes of what you want beforehand and compare them to what you observe on your visit.  Afterwards, sit down and see how the property measures up to your list, jotting down any questions that may arise.  Don't be too quick to discount what may seem like minor inconveniences at the time just because you really love a property – try to project a few years in advance and weigh long-term pros and cons.  To avoid succumbing to pushy sales tactics and making hasty decisions, it's best to make at least two visits and consider as many factors as possible before making an offer.  For example, if you're searching for an adorable villa in some remote location, keep in mind that you'll have problems selling or renting down the road if the need ever arises. 

5. Get professional legal advice.
If you've set your heart on a given property, it can be seriously disheartening to come across major problems at the last minute.  Illegally obtained building permissions, sellers who don't actually own the property, structural flaws or unpaid property debts are just a few things that could go wrong and cause you serious problems.  It's well worth the effort of hiring a lawyer to make sure everything's in order before getting too committed to a particular property – perhaps even before making a visit if you're buying from abroad.  A bit of legal advice in advance will help make sure things go smoothly as you get closer to making the purchase. 

7. Preplan financial matters.
If you plan on getting a mortgage to cover a high percentage of your future home's cost, it's a good idea to talk to a bank before finding a property.  Get pre-approved to have the peace of mind that you won't be left high and dry by your bank later on.  You can get mortgages from banks in your home country or from Spanish banks, but be sure to spend some time and effort shopping around for the best deals.  There's a lot of money to be saved at this stage of the process and it's not worth simply going with the first place your estate agent recommends.  The same goes for exchanging currency.  Rather than using the first bank you run across, go to the extra effort of finding a company that specializes in currency exchange and offers good rates.