Listening to and reading reports this week about the recent slump in Spanish Construction companies stock on the Spanish Stock Exchange and the imminent demise of the Spanish property sector instantly brought to mind the well known quote that I have used in the title. The British press and television coverage has been quick to link this correction to a crash in the property market for holiday property in the coastal areas, (Costa's), and the dangers for UK citizens purchasing property in Spain.

If you are an estate agent in Spain, then you will not need to be told about internet marketing because you probably get enquiries every day from companies telling you how they can provide leads through this portal or that. Spinning you with figures about how many hits their website is getting and their page 1 ranking for this key phrase or that keyword.

For anybody that has done their research they will know, that paying some-one to work on their website to get to that elusive Page 1 ranking on Google seems to be an expensive exercise with quite possibly no guarantees and the need for a level of trust that frankly, you would find difficulty bestowing on a member of your own family!

The arguments for obtaining the ranking spot are clear.

When you decide to buy a place in the Spanish sun, be it for a holiday home, investment, or a place to retire, there are several ways you can ensure that the process is safe.

The first thing to recognize is that you are entering an unregulated industry. The Spanish property market used to be regulated by the A.P.I. (Agente de la Propiedad Inmobiliaria), a professional body that oversaw estate agents, set exams etc.