Living in Budapest?

I am considering moving to Budapest or another Eastern European country. Anyone out there with experience in Budapest know how strict they are on visas for extended stays, or can you get by without one as a tourist -- not looking to get a job there as I am working on the Internet?

I tried this in Spain and it was crazy with police checkpoints all over -- if you where there for more than 90 days you were jailed and then deported.