If buying direct from owner, you need local knowledge to make sure that:

1. The sale and purchase is legitimate. (Hire a good solicitor).
2. You are paying a good price for the property.

One great reason to buy direct from the owner is to cut costs. You also might get a cheaper price, particularly if you offer cash.

Try to get a really good idea of what the property is worth. In the UK this is easy with the help of websites that tell you the price of property in that exact area since 2000. Have a look at the Our Property website for example. If the property you are buying has been sold in the last 8 years, you'll be able to see exactly what that property was bought for. Very handy indeed! Not many countries provide this data though, so pinning down a value is harder.