Do you think it is possible for a non-native speaker to be fully fluent in spanish learning academically and never living in a spanish speaking country?

Is there anyone on this board that can speak spanish without much hesitation, meaning no pauses in understanding or speaking.

It depends on what you mean by "fully fluent"...
I was fully fluent in Spanish 9 years ago after getting my University degree, I could speak Spanish, as you say, without much hesitation.
After 8 years living (6 months a year) in Madrid now I' REALLY FULLY FLUENT, meaning that I sound Spanish, move my hands like a Spanish (well, almost, I'm Italian... you know... ), dream in Spanish, switch between languages with no hesitation, can express shades of meaning, can use different "levels" of language, use idioms as much as a Spanish would (and that's a LOT!) and I'm clearly considered being Spanish by both Latin Americans and Spanish that do not know me.
Of course the similarities between Italian and Spanish make things slightly easier, but you should hear Raffaella Carrá speaking Spanish!

Great question! I think it really depends on the person. Some people pick up languages quickly, they seem to just somehow "get it", understand the structure/logic very quickly. Others (ahem, perhaps even me) take longer. I studied Spanish in school in the US (native English speaker) but didn't really learn until I lived in Madrid.

Keys for me to finally really learning Spanish were:
- getting over the embarrassment/fear of making mistakes. It happens. Big whoop.
- really *thinking* in Spanish, even when you don't have to. That means your internal monologue as you're walking down the street, driving, falling asleep.
- patience. You might not *be* exactly the same in another language (like you might find you're more or less floral or your sense of humor is expressed differently). Don't force it. You'll find your tongue.

These are all things you're sort of *forced* to do when you live in a Spanish speaking country, but you could do them studying academically, too.

I agree, that getting rid of the fear of making mistakes and just speaking is important

How would you translate this sentence?

I would like to buy it but the price is too high.

Here is my *try*:
Gustaria lo comprar pero el precio es muy alto

LOL! is that even remotely what it is supposed to be? I'm not sure if alto is supposed to be used with "price"

Me gustaría comprarlo pero el precio es muy alto.

Yes, you can use alto/bajo with price.

Thanks Maria!!

so the "lo" has to come after the verb if it uncongugated? If I rephrased the sentence to say "I want it but the price is too high" would it translate to "lo quiero pero el precio es muy alto"?

Correct!

But also, if you wish to say: I want to buy it...
you can say either
Lo quiero comprar...
o
Quiero comprarlo...