Yes! Now is the time to buy, but being fully-informed and with all rights at hand and paper:
1. - The rule of the rules: do not rush!
As it is a buyer’s market and will be for many years ahead, do not rush into anything!: take your time and choose the house that really meets your needs and your pocket... there are many wonderful places and they do not need to be expensive at all.
Look beyond what used to be the golden circles, such as the Costa del Sol because prices are more reasonable and urbanisation has been less aggressive and better regulated during the last decades.
You may be able to find places where people are welcoming of foreigners and you will find it easy to integrate and share our culture and values. There are plenty of them.
2.- Pay important attention to:
-Location: noises, public transportation, facilities, schools, hospitals, market, leisure, parking…
-Orientation (south, north)… there are important differences on temperature, light... depending on which way the house faces
-Legal utilities (gas, light, phone…) and isolation conditions.
-Price: make your haggling as these days buyers are almost putting the prices to the houses. And do not forget to always take into account that together with unit price, there are other unavoidable and attached expenses such as: notary, registrar, taxes, legal advice…
( part 2 of the guide on progress)