Very few of us would buy a home or a piece of property sight unseen in our own countries, but a surprising number of people will go ahead and commit to international property listings over the Internet without ever visiting the site.
Granted, it can be hard for a foreign investor to arrange an on-site visit to a property that may be remote or undeveloped. Many buyers don´t speak Spanish, and may plan to rely on local help to survey, develop or subdivide and, in many cases, resell the land.
Ideally, the investor should visit the property personally, walk the boundaries, talk to local residents about property values, ask about any tendency to flood in the rainy season, inquire as to the reliability of public services, etc.
If a personal visit is not practical, a trusted local representative can be the next best thing. Ask other foriegn property owners to recommend an English-speaking lawyer, surveyor or real estate agent who might be willing to travel to the property, talk to the locals and, if possible, the seller, and take some digital photos of the land, the view, the boundaries, the neighborhood or surrounding area, any existing structures, and any other items of interest.
In addition to reducing the risk of outright fraud, an on-site visit can confirm that the property matches the seller´s description, that the boundaries are marked and maintained, and that the land has not been taken over by squatters. These are all issues that can arise even when a seller is acting in good faith, if he or she has not kept up a presence on the land or arranged for a local caretaker.
