01.02.08
Posted in Articles, Canary Islands, New Development, Real Estate Agents, Spain, Tenerife at 4:19 am by admin
Spain’s two vastly different island groups attract thousands of holidaymakers, homebuyers and investors every year.
The Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea are known for their legendary club scenes, pristine beaches, affluent lifestyles, fancy cars and big yachts.
The Canaries, on the other hand, are a nature lover’s paradise, with an amazingly diverse landscape made up of volcanoes, deserts, lush green forests, epic mountains and gigantic cliffs.
Along with the price of property, one of the biggest differences between the two is the climate. The Canaries, known the “Islands of Eternal Springtime” have what’s described by many as the best climate in the world. It’s warm and sunny all year long, even in the depths of winter. The Balearic have a similar climate to mainland Spain.
The Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands comprising Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera are located in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Valencia, Eastern Spain.
Mallorca, a very popular holiday destination – particularly with British and German visitors – has a thriving nightlife and large expat community.
Its beaches range from quaint isolated coves to huge stretches of sand that get packed with holiday makers from all over the globe. The north is arguably the most beautiful part of the island, with its unmatched rugged charm.
Palma de Mallorca, the capital of the Balearic Islands was recently voted the “best place in Spain to live”.
Ibiza shot to fame during the late nineties when dance music and ecstasy were all the rage. It became the “club capital of Europe” with some of the world’s top DJ’s playing in the island’s mega clubs. Places like Manumission, Café del Mar, Pacha, Es Paradis and Space became household names even outside of the dance community.
Nowadays, Ibiza is a popular festival location with a thriving gay community. During the quieter winter months it can be a deserted paradise – the perfect getaway.
Menorca is a much more relaxed and conservative island – perfect for families with kids. It’s famous for Mayonnaise!, of all things. The island’s capital “Maó” is where it comes from. If you go there, try the gin, bitter lemon. A traditional local drink, it packs quite a punch.
Formentera is where you’ll find the best beaches in the Balearics and some of the finest in Spain. Its pristine white sands and crystal clear waters have been the setting for many advertising commercials. Most of the beaches are nudist and it’s a popular hippy hangout.
The Canary Islands
The Canaries are the only genuine winter sun destination in Europe – a major selling point used by both tour operators and real estate agents.
Average air temperatures stay warm and consistent all year long at between 18ºC and 24º C. Whereas, the mainland and Balearics can get very chilly during the winter months.
They’re a Mecca for watersports fans, windsurfing in particular, with average ocean temperatures of 22ºC in summer and 19º C in winter. You never even have to wear a wetsuit! although if you’re scuba diving, it’s probably a good idea.
The Canary Islands are renowned for their wonderfully diverse landscapes and beautiful natural scenery. Throughout the archipelago, you’ll find massive cliffs, imposing mountain peaks, lush green forests, volcanic craters, volcanoes, deserts and sand dunes. Tenerife is home to Mount Teide – Spain’s highest mountain peak.
Property Prices On The Islands
The two archipelagos are considerably different when it comes property, the Canaries being a lot cheaper.
If you’re looking for an apartment in Menorca, expect to pay at least €200,000 according to timesonline.co.uk (www.timesonline.co.uk). In Ibiza and Mallorca, minimum prices for apartments are around €300,000 and for a villa you’re talking at the very least €400,000.
The Canary Islands are a different story. For a basic apartment, average prices start at just €90,000 and you could get a small detached property for around €240,000.
Tenerife, one of the most popular islands for both investors and homebuyers, offers a great quality of life and some shrewd investment opportunities due to the affordable properties and guaranteed rental yields. Click here for the latest Tenerife New Developments.
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08.22.07
Posted in For Sale, Fuerteventura, Real Estate Agents at 11:54 am by admin
Mirador de Lobos Golf, located in the north of Fuerteventura, is one of the most exclusive developments on the island. Set for completion in 2008, it has investors very excited about the potential returns it offers. Homebuyers too, see it as an area with excellent potential, not just to invest but to live.
It comes from Montaña Roja – the Canary Island’s leading real estate agent and property developer.
Investing in Fuerteventura
Located just 100 kms off the west coast of Africa, Fuerteventura is home to some of the best beaches in the whole of the Canary Islands, the whole of Europe in fact.
It has miles of untouched white sandy stretches with crystal clear warm blue waters, all year round. It’s a wind and wave surfer’s paradise – many international surfing events are held here.
Fuerteventura is the second largest of the Canary Islands and enjoys over three thousand hours of sunshine a year.
Despite Spain’s recent property scare, the market in the Canary Islands appears to have been unaffected.
Fuerteventura, one of the lesser developed islands, has only recently become a popular investment option and is now widely regarded as being an extremely safe choice, with almost guaranteed returns through property appreciation and buy-to-let investments.
The island has recently undergone significant beneficial growth with various top quality new development schemes already finished.
In order to cope with increasing numbers of tourists, investors and homebuyers, the authorities have greatly improved the infrastructure on the island. There are also now many cheap and available flights flying to and from Fuerteventura from most UK and Irish airports.
Mirador de Lobos
Apart from being surrounded by your own private golf course, in Mirador de Lobos, you’ll have your own semi-detached villa or bungalow with 3 spacious double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms a guest room, a spacious lounge/dining room and a separate kitchen with a choice of single storey or two storey layouts.
Outside, you’ll have your own private garden and above, you’ll have a fabulous roof terrace, with spectacular views – perfect for lounging in the balmy winter and summer sunshine.
Being of such high quality, Mirador de Lobos is one of the most sought after developments on the island. Its location, in the exclusive Parque Natural area of Corralejo, just makes it even more in demand.
Living in this area means enjoying a fantastic quality of live. Investing here invariably means making substantial long (and maybe short) term investments.
Montaña Roja function as both a real estate agent and a property developer. As they don’t use intermediaries, they can offer their clients much better value for money than other normal real estate agents. They have a vast array of properties on their books throughout the Canary Islands and Morocco.
Montaña Roja
Always at the forefront, Montaña Roja are closely involved with nearly every new property development scheme throughout Fuerteventura.
All their staff and multilingual, so can provide advice in most major European languages. Buying property with Montaña Roja is easy. The staff will make every possible effort to find a property that’s right for you and your budget.
Contact details
Montaña Roja
Gestión Inmobiliaria Montaña Roja. S.L.
C/. Nuestra Sra del Carmen, 40
35660 Corralejo
Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain
Sales Office New Developments
Phone: 00 34 928 537 301
Phone: 00 34 928 866 337
Fax: 00 34 928 867 614
Fax: 00 34 928 867 481
Email: info@Montañaroja.com
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08.02.07
Posted in Buyer's guide, Real Estate Agents, Spain, Tenerife, Uncategorized at 9:11 am by admin
A recent article by Tony Riley, Managing Director of Tenerife Property Consultancy, points out some of the steps involved in buying your dream home in the sun.
Getting the right solicitor is vital. “The agency or lawyer has the responsibility to gather up-to-date receipts and to see that there are no pending debts on the property”. This will leave you free to concentrate on the many other aspects of the purchase.
At Tenerife property consultancy, they’ll also appoint an independent conveyancer. His role is to investigate the property, obtain all the correct paperwork and confirm that there are no outstanding debts or embargoes on the property.
Opening a Spanish bank account
“The cost of opening a bank account for ‘non-residents’ is around £10 for the administration fee.”
Opening a bank account in Tenerife is very straightforward. All you need is your N.I.E. (Numero de Identificacion de Extranjero) number, which can be got in less than a day. You’ll need this if you want to open a bank account or have any other fiscal representation in Spain.
Tenerife property Consultants work with all the major banks on the island. If your planning on only spending certain periods of the year on Tenerife, they can help you set up direct debits for all your household bills, so you won’t have to worry about bills not being paid while you’re not there.
Getting a Mortgage in Tenerife
“Mortgage rates in Tenerife tend to be amongst the lowest in Europe, and are currently around 3.75% of the bank valuation of the property”.
Obviously it makes more sense to get a Spanish mortgage but if your uncomfortable with it (for any reason) you can always get one from back in the UK. The banks in Tenerife require minimal financial information. They’ll give you a mortgage whether you’re employed or self-employed. Mortgages are available within as little as 15 working days.
The purchase
Actually buying a property in Tenerife (the whole process) is very simple, especially if you’ve chosen the right agent and lawyer, who’ll do most of the work anyway.
Firstly, once you’ve decided on your dream home you need to pay a deposit of 10% of the purchase price upon signing the title deeds (escritura) of the property. This has to be done in front of a “Notaria” or notary in English.
The Notary (Notaria)
A notary is a solicitor appointed by the Spanish government to witness the signing of all legal public documents.
The notary represents both the buyer and the seller of the property. The fees they charge are set by Spanish law on an increasing or decreasing scale based on the value of the property. The notary must be paid during the transfer of the title deeds.
The notary holds onto the original signed document. He/she then applies for a formal change in the land registry – he puts the property into your name.
You’ll get an initial (fully usable) copy of the signed title deed, which is your proof of purchase and ownership and MUST be kept in a very secure place. The official title deed can take a while to be processed.
Other fees
If you’ve bought a property in a complex shared by other people you’ll need to pay community fees. These are regular fees paid for the upkeep of all communal areas like swimming pool and gardens as well as security, lighting etc.
Normally the larger your property, the larger the percentage of the community you have to pay. Depending on the community rules, they can be paid monthly or quarterly etc.
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08.01.07
Posted in For Sale, Gran Canaria, Real Estate Agents, Spain at 10:44 am by admin
Monte León is one of the most prestigious areas in Gran Canaria. You’ll find some of the most exquisite luxury properties for sale and rent in this idyllic part of the island. Located 400 metres above sea level, with superb views; it’s an area of outstanding natural beauty.
Cardenas Real Estate
Cardenas Real Estate has been up and running for over 25 years now and has established itself as one of the most reputable estate agents on the island. It was founded by Antonio García de Cárdenas and his wife Rolande Chagrin Chevènement.
Their core philosophy has always been simply to work hard to provide clients with all the honest advice they need when buying and selling in Gran Canaria. They use a strict “no hard sell” approach, which gives the client time to relax and enjoy the experience and ultimately decide for themselves.
Antonio García has now retired, leaving his daughter Carolina to continue the success of Cárdenas Real Estate. Yet, his passion for life and his love of Monte León’s landscape are as strong as ever. In a recent interview he commented:
“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”.
Properties for sale in Monte Leon
Here’s just a few examples of what Cardenas have to offer…
3 Bed Villa For Sale in Monte Léon
New villas.
3 Beds
1.092,13 m²Plot
667.800 €
Land For Sale in Monte Léon
Plot in high exclusive area
8.040 m² Plot
643.200 €
5 Bed Luxurious Villa For Sale in Monte Léon
With several apartments
5 Beds
12.390 m² Plot
3.000.000 €
Background (Monte Leon, Gran Canaria)
Monte León is located in the south of Gran Canaria. This luxurious residential area of is one of the most exclusive on the island.
These sumptuous villas (of which there are less than thirty) have been designed to blend in perfectly with the surrounding landscape.
Close by, there’s also some very attractive villas in the areas of La Atalaya de Monte León and Montaña Alta.
The clean mountain air and spectacular ocean views are all part of Monte León’s charm. Up here you’re completed isolated from the world below. It’s undoubtedly the most peaceful and private residential area in Gran Canaria. The only sounds you’ll hear is the sounds of birds singing. Looking up you often see exotic species of birds from the nearby of Palmitos Park, gliding above.
Many of the world’s rich and famous have bought villas or rent properties in Monte León. They come here to enjoy Gran Canaria’s year-round sunshine, away from the crowds.
Some familiar faces to the area include; Leonard Bernstein and former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt.
Amenities
There’s a mini-market in the nearby village of Montaña la Data, just eight minuets walk away.
It’s less than 15 minuets by car to the supermarkets, shops, banks and all other basic services in the towns of El Tablero and San Fernando. The airport is just a 45 minuets drive away.
Maspalomas, One of Gran Canaria’s most famous beaches, is just 15 minuets away. Here you’ll find everything – shopping centres, restaurants, medical facilities, car hire services, golf courses, casinos and much much more…
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07.02.07
Posted in Fuerteventura, Real Estate Agents at 4:03 am by admin
Fuerteventura enjoys over three thousand hours of sunshine a year and has some of the best beaches in Europe. Properties here are still relatively cheap and provide excellent (year round) return on investment.
There are many quality new developments for sale at excellent prices. Buying property in Fuerteventura is fast becoming a much sought after, stable investment option.
Montaña Roja Estate Agents have a wide range of re-sale, new development and off plan property for sale all over the island. They sell apartments, penthouses, villas, bungalows, townhouses, country houses and fincas.
Background (Fuerteventura)
Located just 100 kms from Africa’s Western Sahara Desert, Fuerteventura is the second largest of the Canary Islands.
It’s home to some of the best beaches on the archipelago with miles of white sandy stretches and crystal clear warm waters; perfect for all kinds of water sports. It’s a diver’s paradise with excellent conditions in crystal clear warm blue waters – all year round.
Fuerteventura has a perfect year round warm climate similar to that found in Mexico and Florida. Temperatures range from 17°C in January to 25°C in August. It’s rarely too hot and never too cold.
Inland, you’ll find some excellent climbing and hiking routes. This surreal desert like landscape boasts some spectacular mountain scenery with some great opportunities outdoor sports fans.
Being the least developed of the Canary Islands, You can still find some fantastic bargains here. Property in Fuerteventura is considerably cheaper than on the other islands.
Main resorts (Corralejo and Caleta de Fuste)
Two of the most popular places to invest in Fuerteventura are Corralejo and Caleta de Fuste.
Corralejo
Once a small traditional Canarian fishing harbour, the town of Corralejo has expanded to become one of the island’s most popular resorts with a good infrastructure and full amenities for both holidaymakers and residents.
Although now a bustling tourist resort, Corralejo has managed to retain its authentic Canarian charm. The pretty town square is full of shops, restaurants and bars with original architecture and indigenous Canarian features.
Corralejo’s nightlife is fairly low-key, especially when compared with say Playa de Los Americas, on Tenerife. There is however, free entertainment most evenings in the main square – normally live music, Canarian dancing and flamenco.
Caleta de Fuste
Caleta de Fuste is one of Fuerteventura’s most up and coming resorts. Located on the east coast of the island, it’s a modern resort with shops, restaurants, cafes and bars.
This is a popular area for families with kids. The gently sloping beaches are safe and the waters are calm and shallow. Sports enthusiasts can also practice scuba diving, snorkelling and windsurfing in this protected bay.
Every year more and more visitors are coming to Caleta de Fuste to invest in property and also to live here. The area has an amazing quality of life, property prices are still low compared to the other islands and it has great rental potential – if you own a property here you can rent it out at “tourist prices” almost all year round.
Fuerteventura Property Investments
Given the massive variety of properties and a multitude of profit-making possibilities, buying property in Fuerteventura requires some thought. But between the numerous real estate agents and the many UK expats on the island you’ll never be short of advice.
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05.30.07
Posted in Fuerteventura, Real Estate Agents at 3:27 am by admin
Property sales in Fuerteventura are increasing every year. As the island becomes more and more popular we’re seeing many lucrative real estate opportunities (including new developments and off plan) (www.montanaroja.com) spring up all over the island. Investment property in Fuerteventura is now in big demand. It’s one of the most sought after areas on the archipelago.
Fuerteventura is the second largest of the Canary Islands. It’s located just 100 kms from the Western Sahara Desert on the African mainland.
This paradise island enjoys over three thousand hours of sunshine a year and is home to some of the best beaches on the Canary Islands. Fuerteventura has miles and miles of (often isolated) white sandy stretches with pristine clear waters that are warm all year round. Even during the busy summer months, you’ll be able to find a secluded spot for yourself. The island is perfect for all kinds of water sports.
The winter swells of the Atlantic and the summer Trade Winds make Fuerteventura a surfers’ paradise. It’s also very popular with scuba divers and sailors, who are drawn to these crystal clear, blue Atlantic waters – home to dolphins, whales, marlin and turtles.
The climate on Fuerteventura ranges from 17°C in January to 25°C in August, making it a popular winter and sun destination. With all this it’s no wonder people are choosing to make this their new second home.
Investment options (Off plan/Buy to let)
With an off plan investment you buy property in a new development at a low price and normally sell it at a profit either prior to completion or when the development is finished.
The reason that off plan properties are priced so attractively is so that the developer can make a quick sale. The developer will try and sell units as quickly as possible, in order to reduce their required capital outlay and minimize their own risk.
In buy to let situation, you purchase a property, rent it out as soon as possible and ideally the rent should cover the cost of your mortgage.
Buyers guide
If you’re looking for a mortgage in Spain you’ll be offered 70% of the purchase price of the property. It’s highly advisable to get a “Residencia” (Residence Card) as soon as possible. With this you’ll be offered a loan of 80%.
Before purchasing a property in Spain or on the Canary Islands, you should get legal advice and representation, the same as you would back in the UK or Ireland. Choose a local, English speaking, Spanish lawyer (there’s plenty of them). The fee is usually between 1200 to 1500 euros.
Buying a home on Fuerteventura is simple and easy. You’ll find that most of the real estate agents can provide advice in all major European languages. Mortgages are readily available and there are plenty of new developments, off plan and buy to let opportunities.
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