Every year, tens of thousands of people, mainly from northern Europe, decide to pack up and relocate to Spain. They are attracted primarily by the climate and lower cost of living. For those who do not carry out elementary research, the dream can quickly become a nightmare. By following a few simple guidelines, outlined below, you can take steps to ensure that your move will be a happy and successful one.

Before doing anything else decide on an area in Spain in which you would like to buy property. Your choice of area will depend on many factors such as climate, facilities and infrastructure. Remote rural regions will not have the same facilities and infrastructure as the costas and major cities.

The climate in Spain can be very different in various parts of the country. The south coast area tends to be mild in winter and very warm in summer. Central areas such as Madrid have huge fluctuations with very cold winters and stifling summers.

The north of Spain will be cold in winter and pleasant in summer.

If you choose a popular tourist area you will find that staff in most shops, bars, restaurants and offices will speak English and often many other European languages. You will also find English-speaking doctors, dentists, pharmacists etc.This makes the transition easier for non-Spanish speakers. It is also to your advantage to move to an area where you can find a lawyer with whom you can communicate. If you move to an area away from the tourist resorts, you will definitely have to become competent in Spanish.

If you are bringing children this can have a significant role in deciding where you move to. The younger a child is the easier it is for them to integrate into Spanish schools. Older children will need to find a school which teaches in their native language. It is not realistic to expect a 14 year old to become competent enough in Spanish to do well in the important Spanish examinations.

Calculate your budget - allow at least 10% for costs over and above the purchase price. If you are going to require a mortgage for your Spanish property, there wil be additional costs involved such as property valuation and mortgage application fees. You will also need to make an allowance for furnishing your new property or transporting existing furniture, either of which will be expensive. Remember also to allow for inspection visit costs and subsequent visits to complete documents.

When calculating your budget bear in mind that if you live outside the euro zone, your money will be subject to currency exchange rates. Exchange rates always fluctuate, sometimes by a lot over a short time. If you will be using non-euro currency to finance all or part of your purchase, you can arrange to buy euros in advance. If you fail to do this and your home currency declines against the euro, your available budget will be lower. A significant fall in the value of your home currency during the period between contract signing and completion could cause you serious fincancial problems.

Get the finance in place before proceeding. When you place an offer which is accepted, you must pay a deposit. If you are unable to complete you will lose that deposit. If you intend to pay in full for your new property using the proceeds from the sale of your existing property, it is probably best to sell up and have the money in the bank before committing yourself to purchasing in Spain. Doing this has the added advantage that you will know exactly how much you have to spend. Remember to factor in money transfer costs. You will need to discuss these with your home bank and your Spanish bank as one or both may charge transfer fees. In essence, it is absolutely vital to know exactly how much you have to spend in the local currency. Exchange bureaux often offer better exchange rates than the major banks.

If you will be using a mortgage to finance or part-finance your purchase, make sure you have agreement in principle before proceeding. You will need to show a sustainable income source to get mortgages from most lenders. Taking a mortgage will give rise to additional costs such as property valuation fees and arrangement fees.

Changing Spanish mortgages, for example early redemption or equity release, is normally not as straightforward as in many other countries. This means you should be very careful about the product you pick as you may not find it easy to switch to another mortgage if you are unhappy with the one you have. Some lenders offer very tempting introductory offers where you pay a very low interest rate initially. Examine the small print very carefully before committing yourself to one of these as interest rates after the initial period can be substantially higher than those on products which start off at the 'normal' rate.

You will need to see selected properties in Spain before agreeing to buy. Packing dozens of property viewings into a few days will only serve to confuse you. Try to come up with a shortlist of properties that interest you and arrange to see them. For each property you select choose an alternative as well in case your original choice is sold before you visit.

If possible, bring a digital camera (with loads of batteries) and laptop computer or alternatively a video camera. Take extensive pictures of viewed properties, remembering to identify each one, and then review them each evening in the comfort of your accommodation.

Bring your brain as well as your bankroll. The biggest problem with short inspection visits is that the buyer feels an irresistible urge to make an offer. Act in haste, repent in leisure. Unless you are 100% certain that a property is just right for you, do not proceed. Better to suffer the cost of another inspection visit than to end up with something you do not really want.

You cna get more helpful information on moving to Spain by visiting www.estateagentsespana.com.