Just my 2 cents, but I think renting here beats buying every time. It's perfectly legal, so you never have to worry about anyone having you over a barrel, having to pay constant "fines" or losing your property. Renting, especially long term, is very good value here in comparison to "freehold". You can do anything you like with a rental property just as you would if you bought one. We've completely altered ours, pulling out parts of the kitchen because it was too boxed-in etc and our landlord is perfectly happy. A long term lease, done properly, is not even an agreement between 2 private parties, but a government issued right of use certificate that gives you the same rights over the property while you hold it as owning it does, and first option on renewal. Even "short" (a few years) term leases have very favourable conditions for the most part. You pay up front, and you take more responsibility for the care of the property than you would on a rental in Australia, but overall it's a simple transaction - pay and enjoy your home. Lease is not only legal but more respectful, leaving land in the hands of its rightful owners, the Balinese, for future generations.
Forgot to mention that a Hak Pakai certificate gives you the same benefits as ownership in that you can mortgage it, resell it and sublet.