Gran Canaria has a wide range of opportunities for foreign house and villa buyers. Most developments are near the coast - the mountainous interior is not highly populated.

There's a large city (Las Palmas) which is a major port, and an authentic Spanish feel can be found here.

For beach lovers it's a great idea to be near Maspolamas and Playa Ingles, where there are large sand dunes casued by the blowing sands of the Sahara.

The island has a distinctive approximately circular shape. It's really handy for the UK with lots and lots of flights (not dirt cheap but often reasonable). Lots of foreigners have settled on the Canary islands, so for a more authentic way of life one may need to stray of the well-beaten tracks. There are good opportunities for new build houses and developments, as well as resale properties. Prices are quite high, but you get year round sunshine and potentially a year-long tourist season if you choose to rent out your new abode / apartment / finca.

Lonely Planet Guide to the Canary Islands

Beautiful images of the Canaries

Ask a Professional

There are investment prospects in the Canary Islands, but it is essential that you seek independent expert professional advice before undertaking any property purchase. There are lots of things to bear in mind, including local laws and regulations, taxes, surveyor's assessments of the building, financial currency exchange, dealing with interbank transfers, volatity of the housing market, etc. etc. In some countries there are various restrictions on foreigners owning land or property, so this needs to be checked out fully. Any property purchase is a major undertaking.

It may seem obvious but it's well worth going on holiday to a country several times to see if you like it.

Surge in Interest

All links and text on this site have been provided for informational purposes - they are not recommendations.