I think you may be right saying it's lack of confidence. We have been trying to sell our property in Alhaurin el Grande and have not had much luck. I could understand us not selling if it was a villa and we were asking for 500K plus or something but its only a small town house and we have dropped the price to around 110K. I think a lot of people go to these exhibitions and look at things with rose coloured glasses on, they do not REALLY look into all the legalities of buying a property. Get yourselves a good solicitor for starters preferably one that has been recommended to you by someone other than your Estate Agents - hasten to add that not all Agents are not trustworthy but we had a bad experience in the past and you learn by your mistakes. Go through everything with a fine tooth comb, get a second opinion if you have to but go for it. If you do things correctly, you can have that home you always wanted. Do not let all of these stories put you off - there are thousands that have made the move or purchased a holiday home without any problems.