---
title: "From Spanish dream to nightmare: how to protect yourself"
description: Avoid the nightmare of squatters and vandalism when buying property in Spain. How an expert advisor and a place like Las Colinas protect your investment.
image: https://lascolinas.no/hubfs/LCC%20SoMe%20bildearkiv/486647174_1217298577068132_8130400124962824195_n.jpg
---

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[Buying process](https://lascolinas.no/en/lcn-blogg?hsLang=en)3 min read

# From Spanish dream to nightmare: how to protect yourself *from it*

Avoid the nightmare of squatters and vandalism when buying property in Spain. How an expert advisor and a place like Las Colinas protect your investment.

![](https://lascolinas.no/hubfs/lcn/john-uppard-portrait-jacket.jpg)

**John R. Uppard**Buyer's advisor, owner at Las Colinas · 14 April 2026

![Illustration of a villa at Las Colinas with full-height glass, set on stone terraces among pine trees](https://lascolinas.no/hs-fs/hubfs/LCC%20SoMe%20bildearkiv/486647174_1217298577068132_8130400124962824195_n.jpg?width=2000&height=857&name=486647174_1217298577068132_8130400124962824195_n.jpg)

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*A thought on security, choices, and the value of good advice*

Many dream of a life under the Spanish sun, but what’s the one thing that can turn that dream into a nightmare? Often, it’s not dramatic events, but a series of poor decisions made from a lack of local knowledge.

Last week, a comment struck a chord with me. A reader shared their experience of buying a property in an area outside Las Colinas. It began with every buyer’s worst fear: the home was occupied by strangers, a situation known as *okupas*. That alone can trigger a long and costly legal battle. But the trouble didn’t end there. After regaining the property, they rented it out, only to see it vandalised by the tenants. I can only imagine the sense of helplessness. What was meant to be a peaceful retreat became a spiral of stress, bills, and a fight against a system they didn’t understand.

![A quiet path through umbrella pines in the Spanish countryside](https://lascolinas.no/hubfs/lcn/blog/umbrella-pines-path.jpg)

A quiet path through the pines

I share this not to scare, but to inform. These things do happen, and often for the same reason: people don’t know what to look out for. The Spanish property market has its nuances and legal traps. It takes more than a polished listing online to make a safe decision.

This is where the role of a knowledgeable advisor becomes invaluable. A good advisor is not someone who just opens doors, they’re your strategic partner, conducting proper due diligence. That means checking the property registry (*nota simple*) for encumbrances, verifying building permits, and ensuring all documentation is watertight well before you even consider signing. After years in real estate and resort development, I’ve seen how costly it can be to miss these details. A trusted advisor asks the critical questions you didn’t know you needed to ask, to protect you from stories like the one I just shared.

## “Location, location, location”

Which brings us to the core: location. That’s precisely why we’ve dedicated ourselves to Las Colinas. This isn’t just a place with beautiful homes, it’s a gated and guarded estate, built on a foundation of security. There is one controlled entry and exit point, manned by professionals 24/7. The result? A community where the risk of things like occupation or vandalism is as close to zero as you’ll realistically get. It’s structured, safe, and calm.

![The gatehouse at the entrance to Las Colinas](https://lascolinas.no/hubfs/lcn/blog/estate-gatehouse-entrance.jpg)

The entrance to the estate

That peace of mind is priceless. You’re not just investing in bricks and views, you’re investing in the confidence that your property is secure when you’re not there. You’re buying into a community built on order and care. And as a remarkable bonus, you get an estate recognised by the World Travel Awards and the World Golf Awards as your private playground, right on your doorstep.

![A security car beside the gatehouse at the estate entrance](https://lascolinas.no/hubfs/lcn/blog/estate-gate-security-car.jpg)

> That peace of mind is priceless.
> 
> Security at the entrance

Buying a home abroad should be one of life’s great pleasures, and it can be, as long as you start with the right precautions and the right people on your side.

So let me ask you this: When you think about your own dream of living in Spain, what does that kind of foundational security mean for your ability to truly relax and enjoy your investment?

If you’d like to have a private, no-obligation conversation about what’s possible for you and your family at Las Colinas, I’m here, and happy to help.

Warm summer regards,  
**John Uppard**

The Insider

## My newsletter on Las Colinas, every 14 days

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Your conversation with John

## This is how you start your discovery with me.

No obligations, at your own pace.

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**John R. Uppard** · Buyer's advisor, owner at Las Colinas

## Read on

[All articles](https://lascolinas.no/en/lcn-blogg?hsLang=en)

### [![For owners: form 210 for 2025 is due by 31 December 2026](https://lascolinas.no/hs-fs/hubfs/LCN%20Newsletter/2026-11/insider-2026-11-hero.jpeg?width=900&name=insider-2026-11-hero.jpeg) Tax and inheritance For owners: form 210 for 2025 is due by 31 December 2026](https://lascolinas.no/en/lcn-blogg/form-210-for-2025-due-31-december-2026?hsLang=en)

A short reminder: form 210 for 2025 is due by 31 December 2026. What it covers, the rates, and the simple way through.

### [![A viewing trip that leads to a good decision](https://lascolinas.no/hs-fs/hubfs/LCN%20Newsletter/2026-11/insider-2026-11-visit-v2.jpeg?width=900&name=insider-2026-11-visit-v2.jpeg) Buying process A viewing trip that leads to a good decision](https://lascolinas.no/en/lcn-blogg/a-viewing-trip-that-leads-to-a-good-decision?hsLang=en)

The four questions I would take with you on a viewing trip. The last one matters most.

### [![New build or resale? How the two differ](https://lascolinas.no/hs-fs/hubfs/LCN%20Newsletter/2026-11/insider-2026-11-lima-v2.jpeg?width=900&name=insider-2026-11-lima-v2.jpeg) Resale and new build New build or resale? How the two differ](https://lascolinas.no/en/lcn-blogg/new-build-or-resale-how-the-two-differ?hsLang=en)

A finished home today, or one paid in stages. How I would choose between them.

### [![Visiting in November: what to expect](https://lascolinas.no/hs-fs/hubfs/LCN%20Newsletter/2026-11/insider-2026-11-golf-v2.jpeg?width=900&name=insider-2026-11-golf-v2.jpeg) Life here Visiting in November: what to expect](https://lascolinas.no/en/lcn-blogg/visiting-las-colinas-in-november?hsLang=en)

Summer days, cooler nights, a quieter coast and a sea still around 19°C. November at Las Colinas.

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Las Colinas Nordic ASOrg. no. 935 328 063Ankerveien 36B, 0785 Oslo, Norway[john@lascolinas.no](mailto:john@lascolinas.no)[Privacy](https://lascolinas.no/en/privacy?hsLang=en)Cookie settings

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