Sparkling seas. Warm and gentle sunshine. Wine and tapas and sparkling cava. Spain is a wonderful country to settle in, and there are countless things that set this place apart and make it special. More and more, holiday goers and investors alike are flocking to sunny and beautiful Spain. A Spanish real estate rush that started years ago with UK residents retiring in Southern Spain is now catching on in the U.S. and the rest of the world: Spain is a hot place to invest, both literally and figuratively.

However, it’s never a good idea to jump into any investment without doing the research first– and in this case, a lot of it. Because as appealing as the idea of a sun-soaked southern villa may sound, the steps involved in getting there are many and complicated. Here are some bright tips that will help you avoid the many pitfalls in shopping for real estate in Spain.