Gran Canaria Estate Agents

Gran Canaria is a paradise island; a miniature continent blessed with some truly exquisite natural resources, including miles and miles of endless sandy beaches, spectacular sand dunes and a perfect year round climate.

It’s the third largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, located 130 miles off the coast of West Africa. Its two closest neighbours are Fuerteventura and Tenerife. The capital of Gran Canaria is Las Palmas, a large cosmopolitan city, located in the Northeast of the island.

It’s like perpetual springtime all year round on this idyllic island. Air temperatures ranges from a balmy 18ºC in winter to a soothing 22ºC in the summer. It’s never too hot or too cold. You’ll see people (normal people) swimming in the Atlantic Ocean and sunbathing on the beaches, in the middle of winter!

This is one of the island’s biggest appeals – the beaches and climate. It’s also one of the reasons more and more people are choosing to make permanent moves down here.

Gran Canaria has long been a popular choice with UK and northern European investors. There’s now a very large English speaking expat community, another appeal for UK homebuyers, who’ll find many top-class apartments, villas and new developments on sale throughout the island.

A Miniature Continent
Within its small geographical size of just 50 kms (side to side) Gran Canaria has a fantastically diverse variety of landscape, flora and fauna. It’s home to an overwhelming array of natural beauty, and all within this very small size – justifiably a “miniature continent”.

Like the other Canary Islands, Gran Canaria is volcanic in origin.

Gran Canaria Beaches
Gran Canaria has some of the best beaches in the Canary Islands. It has over 235 kilometres of coastline with some of the most popular white sandy beaches in Europe. An absolute must see is hugely impressive sand dune region of Maspalomas and the untouched Güigüi beach.

There’s also a huge variety of beach here: long sandy stretches packed with tourists; secluded coves; family beaches; party beaches; gay beaches; nudist beaches; and some completely deserted beaches – the perfect getaway.

The two most well known are of course, Maspalomas and Playa des Ingles. Maspalomas (with it’s spectacular dunes) is regarded by many to be the most beautiful on the island. It’s a huge stretch of fine white sand with crystal clear turquoise waters, surrounded these glorious sand dunes.

Playa del Ingles is definitely one of the most well known (and popular) beaches in the archipelago. It’s probably one of the most well known in Europe, in fact. Located in the south, between Maspalomas and San Agustín, it’s 3 kms long and remains packed all throughout the year.

The south of Gran Canaria is normally a lot sunnier than the north and attracts significantly more tourists. During the summer months of July and August it can get incredibly packed – sometimes too packed.

If this doesn’t sound to appealing, try the west coast or some of the inland areas. During the busy summer months, these areas remains almost completely free of tourists and provide some of the most spectacular landscapes and scenery on the island.

Things to do and see
Apart from the beaches, there’s plenty of things to do and see here.

There’s a wide variety of both land and water sports available. You can also go camel trekking, visit Gran Canaria’s traditional Canarian towns and villages, check out the stunningly beautiful natural parks, go to the water parks or even go gambling.

One of the Island’s highlights has to be the charming little village of Puerto de Mogan, (also known as “Little Venice”).

Visually, Gran Canaria is stunning – with its massive white sandy beaches, endless blue skies, lush green mountains and surreal golden sand dunes. It’s also got some of the best hotels, nightclubs, bars and cafés in Europe.

Buying property on Gran Canaria
Despite the recent property scare on the mainland, the Canary Islands are still an attractive option with excellent (year round) rental potential, some very affordable properties and significant returns through capital appreciation.

Gran Canaria attracts more and more investors and homebuyers every year. Buying a property here is very easy, as all the real estate agents (like Cardenas Real Estate, Monte Leon and Canary homes, for example) speak English. There’s also a huge British expat community on the island, which means you’ll feel right at home as soon as you arrive.

Monte León is undoubtedly one of the most exclusive areas in Gran Canaria. It’s home to some fantastic luxury villas, surrounded by a spectacular natural landscape, away from the often crass commercialism of the larger Spanish resorts. Up here, it’s a different world – a world of peace and tranquillity, without bright lights and noise or endless rows of bars.

Background (Gran Canaria)
Gran Canaria, the third largest of the Canary Islands, is located just 130 miles off the west coast of Africa. It’s a paradise island with huge central mountains, lush green valleys, massive sand dunes, endless sandy beaches, a balmy year round climate and some of the best bars and clubs in Spain.

It has such vast diversity of landscape, flora and fauna in its relatively small space, that it’s known as a “Miniature Continent”.

The two closest islands to it are Fuerteventura and Tenerife. Las Palmas, the largest city of the Canary Islands, lies on Gran Canaria. It’s a large multinational city, located in the Northeast of the island.

There’s a large English speaking population on the island, with many permanent UK residents. Gran Canaria has always been a popular choice with northern European investors and homebuyers; and with all it has to offer, one can understand why.

There are many top-class apartments, villas and new developments on sale throughout Gran Canaria, but not many equal Monte Leon…

Monte Leon
Located 400 metres above sea level, with some truly spectacular views, Monte Leon has a very privileged position – away from the hustle and bustle of the other resorts but close to everything you need and.

Surrounded by Gran Canaria’s exquisite natural resources, it’s stunningly beautiful; a visual delight as a well as a haven of peace and tranquillity.

At this height, the only sounds you’ll here is the whistling wind and the sounds of songbirds singing. Palmitos Park, located close by, is home to some fascinating species of tropical birds that you’ll often see hovering above in the perpetual blue skies.

The journey up to Monte Leon is an experience in itself. You’ll pass through a harsh volcanic landscape sprinkled with fresh palm trees and Canarian pine, another example of Gran Canaria’s contrasting geography.

Monte Leon has attracted many of the world’s rich and famous. They come here not just to get away from the crowds but for the fresh mountain air, perfect climate and breathtaking views that Monte Leon has now become famous for.

Some of the regulars include Justus Frantz – the famous musician, Leonard Bernstein and former German Chancellor – Helmut Schmidt.

Although it might seem isolated, Monte Leon is just a few minuets drive away from shops, bars, restaurants, beaches, golf courses etc.

This private paradise offers peace and quite, one of the best locations in Gran Canaria, and some stunning top quality properties.

Cardenas Real Estate
Cardenas Real Estate was set up back in 1980 by Antonio García de Cárdenas and his wife Rolande Chagrin Chevènement. Since then, it has gone on to become one of the most respected property companies in Gran canaria.

Both Antonio and Chagrin have been living in Monte Leon for many years now and know the area and local property market extremely well.

It’s a family run business, with a strict emphasis on finding the right property for the client – one that suits (as much as is possible) his or her financial and personal needs. Hard sales tactics are never used, and this is why they’ve successfully become one of the most trusted agents in Gran Canaria.

Properties for sale in Monte Leon
Here’s just a few examples of what Cardenas Real Estate have to offer…

3 Bed Villa For Sale in Monte Léon
New Villa
3 Bedrooms
1.092,13 m²Plot
667.800 €

5 Bed Luxurious Villa For Sale in Monte Léon
With several apartments
5 Beds
12.390 m² Plot
3.000.000 €

Tourists and property investors flock from all around the World to enjoy Gran Canaria, especially all the pleasures the coastline has to offer. From craggy coves to wide welcoming beaches, there is something for everyone, so it’s good to know that local people are doing their bit to keep the coast clean, and are picking up behind those that don’t show this holiday island the respect that it deserves.

Caja Canarias, the leading bank in the Canary Islands is backing a new clean up campaign through their cultural and social work foundation. Gran Canaria is at the forefront of the work. On Saturday 25 August, a team of volunteers will set out to blitz Playa Chica in the capital, Las Palmas. Local diving club Triton will pull on their flippers and air tanks to hit the sea bed while others comb the beach to remove unwanted waste.

Then on Saturday 29 September it’s the turn of Puerto de Arinaga, also in Las Palmas. A busy commercial port, this will be the more challenging of the 2 with more heavy duty rubbish to bring up. Thankfully again the Triton club will be giving it their all.

Past clean ups have shown that they may find anything, including the kitchen sink, but it will all have to go. Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are also being targeted and it’s hoped that these rubbish raids will become a regular event. The campaign is not just about the clean up itself, but also a way to raise awareness and encourage others to take more pride in their island.

Ramón Sánchez Bruhn
Marketing Director
Telephone: +34 928 15 06 50

Cardenas win prestigious Bellevue Best Property Agents award

Arguineguín, Gran Canaria, Spain, 2007.

Cardenas Real Estate, one of the most well established agents in Gran Canaria has recently won the Bellevue award because of their “professionalism, market knowledge, experience, choice/variety of properties, and, in particular, quality of service.”

The Bellevue Property Awards
The aim of the Bellevue Best Property Agents initiative is to support and encourage the highest of standards within the real estate industry, throughout the world.

Their logo conveys the same message wherever you see it, whether it’s on the internet or on an estate agents wall – it says exceptional quality.

This award is only valid for one year. Best property agents need to continuously prove their worth as they are reassessed at the end of it, for further certification.

If there are any material irregularities or justifiable complaints about the agent, Bellevue will immediately remove the agent from the list, and to forbid use of the logo.

Belleveue are continually looking for professional, trustworthy agents and developers, in order to enhance their list and ultimately make the whole buying and selling process easier for both buyer and seller. This year one of the lucky winners was Cardenas Real Estate.

Cardenas Real Estate
Cardenas Real estate have been around for over 26 years. Within this time they have developed an in-depth knowledge of the local property Market in Gran Canaria.

Dealing specifically with non-resident customers, the staff are all bilingual and the website can be seen in Spanish, German and English.

With a strict no hard sales approach, honesty and reliability are common factors found amongst all of the staff members. Their aim is to find the right property for you, not just the best sale for them.

Cardenas also provides an extensive after sales service, meaning you’ll probably be their client for many years after the property transaction.

Languages spoken in the office (to date) include: Spanish, English, German, Norwegian, French and Italian.

Background
Cardenas Real Estate was set up back in 1980 in Arguineguín, Gran Canaria. In 2000 two new offices were opened in Puerto Rico and Playa de Mogán.

The owners are Mr. Antonio García de Cárdenas and his wife Mrs. Rolande Chagrin, who after spending many years in the hotel industry gave themselves over to the real estate profession.

Mr. Cárdenas is a certified real estate agent and speaks fluent English and German. Mrs. Chagrin is a certified translator in English, French, German and Spanish.

Their daughter currently runs the sales department. She speaks fluent German, English, French and Norwegian.

Contact Details:
Arguineguin
C/ La Lajilla, 2
35120 – Arguineguín
Gran Canaria
Telephone:+34 928 15 06 50
Fax: +34 928 15 05 83
e-mail: info@cardenas-grancanaria.com

Puerto Rico
Address: Av. Tomás Roca Bosch, 6
Bungl. Costa Rica, 1
35130 – Puerto Rico
Gran Canaria
Spain
Telephone: +34 928 15 30 57
Fax: +34 928 15 36 02
e-mail: info@cardenas-grancanaria.com

Playa de Mogan
Address: Pasaje de los Pescadores, 8
35138 – Playa de Mogán
Gran Canaria
Spain
Telephone: +34 928 56 59 66
Fax: +34 928 56 59 88
e-mail: info@cardenas-grancanaria.com

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A recent article by Simon Lambert (21 July 2007) “Make your holiday home dream a reality”, discusses some of the potential pitfalls of buying your own dream property in the sun.

“Prospective purchasers are urged to apply the same checks to buying property abroad as they would at home, and not get carried away with the romance of owning a home abroad”.

After spending two weeks in the non-stop sunshine, who’d want to go back to gloomy northern Europe, with it semi permanent rain and ever present cloud…

The climate is the one of the main reasons UK homebuyers are looking to set up a new life for themselves abroad. Other factors like better standard of living are of course a welcome bonus.

But, before you take the plunge it’s very important that you thouroughly research the local market and the property itself. You need to find out about how the different laws and taxes will affect you.

Research
“One of the main reasons why potential buyers encounter problems with overseas home purchases is a lack of research and the temptation to follow the easy route of trusting legal advice supplied by estate agents or developers”.

Getting a bilingual solicitor is essential. A soliticor that’s independent of the developer or agent will (of course) give more impartial advice. Ideally you should get a British solicitor to check all the documents as well. Pay particular attention to permission for building work and contracts.

You need to fully investigate the legal and planning situations in your chosen country. If it’s a buy to let investment you need to find out exactly how much rent people in the area are really paying, despite what the agent might say.

You can check with the local tourist offices and councils. The internet (LINK) provides a wealth of information about most property investment areas and the buying procedures involved.

Emerging Markets
“Experts warn investing in emerging markets requires caution”.

More so than traditional markets like Spain and the Canary Islands, all emerging markets do need very careful research.

For example Bulgaria, which saw massive enthusiasm over the past few years is now experiencing difficulties. Like some parts of Spain, it has experienced mass overbuilding. People who got in at the beginning are now trying to sell their two bedroom apartments in Bansko and Sunny Beach and reinvest in more favourable areas.

Buying a home in Thailand can be tricky. If you’re a non-resident (which you are) you can’t legally own a freehold property in your own name. So, to get round this you need to actually set up a Thai company, where you can “only hold 49% of the shares, along with seven Thai nominees”.

Traditional markets
UK buyers can get 2 dollars to the pound at the moment, meaning greater spending power if you’re considering investing in Florida, a well established and popular homebuying area, but prices here are falling due to an oversupply of new homes, so if you’re thinking of buying in order to sell quickly at a profit, think again.

On the other hand if you are looking at the long term potential of the area, you need to ask yourself what fundamentals benefits does the area have, as property markets will invariably fluctuate.

Similarly, Spain has been affected by overbuilding (along with other factors). But the market has gone down before in the past, so is still widely regarded as a safe long term investment.

Spain and the Canary Islands have everything for the UK homebuyer – the sun, the beaches, excellent cuisine, vibrant nightlife, good infrastructure, good education system, a spectacular and diverse landscape, art, music and culture, as well as a massive expat community of English speakers.

But again, research is the key to a safe, secure and happy investment.

Monte León in Gran Canaria is where you’ll find some of the most prestigious property for sale and rent in the whole of the island. Think fabulous luxury villas surrounded by a landscape of spectacular natural beauty.

Background (Monte Leon, Gran Canaria)
Monte Leon has a privileged location – set 400 metres above sea level, you can live here in absolute peace and tranquillity, surrounded by the serene Canarian countryside and still be close to everything you need.

As you approach Monte Leon you’ll pass through some of the most beautiful landscapes in Gran Canaria - spectacular volcanoes dotted with palm trees and Canarian pine.

Away from the noise of the city, at this altitude the only sounds you’ll hear are the birds performing their merry little tunes. Up here, there’s spectacular views out over the rest of Gran Canaria and the Atlantic Ocean. Hovering above you’ll see many exotic species of birds that come from the nearby subtropical oasis of Palmitos Park.

The fresh mountain air and breathtaking views are all part of Monte León’s charm.

This private paradise location has attracted many of the world’s rich and famous, who come here to enjoy Gran Canaria’s year-round sunshine, away from the crowds.

Justus Frantz, the famous musician, owns a villa here. Monte Leon has also attracted people like Leonard Bernstein and former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt.

Although you get the feeling of complete isolation and privacy here, in this hidden oasis you’re still very close to civilisation. Just down the road there’s shops, bars, restaurants, beaches, golf courses etc.

Cardenas Real Estate
Cardenas Real Estate was founded back in 1980 by Antonio García de Cárdenas and his wife Rolande Chagrin Chevènement. The couple have been living in Monte Leon for several years now and know the area and the market incredibly well.

With a strict no-hard-sales approach, this family run business is widely regarded as one of the most reputable and trustworthy in Gran Canaria.

Extracts from a recent interview with Antonio Garcia De Cardenas
By Barrie Mahoney

“In Monte León, you feel as though you were in another world, and yet the area is well connected and everything is just a few minutes’ drive away – shopping centres, restaurants, beaches, golf courses, you name it”.

“Monte León is an island within an island. Here, you can get away from the crowds and the stress of daily life and be more in touch with nature”…

”the natural beauty and wildlife are safeguarded and the area will never be overdeveloped as you see elsewhere on Gran Canaria”.

Now officially retired, Antonio Garcia finally has more time to enjoy and continue to develop his home in beautiful Monte Leon. His passion for life and his love of Gran Canaria, as you can see, are as strong as ever.

Properties for sale in Monte Leon
Here’s just a few examples of what Cardenas have to offer…

4 Bed Luxurious Villa For Sale in Monte Léon
Unique panoramic views!
Luxurious Villa
4 Beds
11.456 m²Plot
2.300.000 €

Land For Sale in Monte Léon
Unbeatable plot with approved project ready to be built
12.050 m² plot
550.000 €

5 Bed Luxurious Villa For Sale in Monte Léon
With several apartments
5 Beds
12.390 m²Plot
3.000.000 euros