A very big question - I shall try to answer part of it.

The situation here in Almeria at least that you should be aware of is that there is much more control on building and rebuilding than there used to be.
To rebuild (or infact do much work at all on) a ruin will require a licence from the ayentamiento and architects plans - each of which is liable to cost around 5000 Euros or more.
You used to be able to pay a small fee for a licence then just get on with it. There are good reasons why this needed to change but some people may be surprised by what is involved now.

Builders can also be difficult to get hold of especially if you are not here much of the time.

As for the plus/negative points for town/beach - your decision -but if you are hoping to let your property, the beach is still more popular (in southern Spain at least) but you will get more for your money inland.

More info required! Are you looking to live in the property, rent it out, or do it up and sell it on? What is a "very tight" budget? Do you want to be on the coast, inland, or not bothered?

For additional costs, the rule of thumb is that you'll pay 9% to 10% in taxes and legal fees over and above the price of the property. For town vs beach, it depends very much on why you want the property.

What Denis said about building goes for all Spain, not just Almeria. You don't necessarily need an architects project though - if you're not changing the volume or exterior dimensions of the property it can often be done as an "obra menor", in which case you put together a quote of how much the work will cost and if the local council approve it you're away - after paying them their pound of flesh of course in the form of a tax at 6% of the price of the works to be done.

Post deleted - member banned from forum for spamming.

Bawbee

That sounds cheap Mikey, where abouts are you?

It's in his subject line...

Why not try Turkey

sorry i obviously didnt have my glasses on