I just reached out to my title guy to confirm.

1) Research Zoning of similar property2) Do search with same zoning criteria with propertyradar or have title company give you a list.3) Possibly filter by satellite photos to eliminate undesirable topography.

Your realtor/accountant/title company/attorney cannot be the QI. 

You just have to close the sale of your old property before you take title to the new properties. 

I found a seller who is motivated to sell his property at a pretty steep discount.My plan is to put the property in escrow on an executory contract/land contract with the condition that the title will transfer once the seller receives his funds.

@Kay S.Assuming you are getting title insurance (which I recommend) the closing costs will be similar to a traditional closing.

Andalucía is much more than just the Costa del Sol, and my intention was to speak about Southern Spain in general, including rural areas and small villages, which can also offer opportunities depending on the type of investment being sought.When I spoke of similarities with Southern Italy, I did not mean they were categorically identical but rather that they share certain characteristics, such as affordability in rural areas and initiatives to revitalize villages.

Make sure you understand the auction process and are prepared for any unseen issues with the property.Auction Considerations: With auctions, pay close attention to the condition of the property, title issues, and financing restrictions.

I've also used some more obscure companies in the seller financing world like Pioneer Title in Idaho (they call in Long Term Escrow Servicing) and Security Escrow in NM (recently purchased by Sunwest Escrow).

Always use a title report and escrow though.It's over paying on a creative finance transaction that tends to happen.