Walk the streets  

If you know the area you're interested in, walk around with a notebook or a mobile phone and write down the numbers on For Sale (Se Vende) signs. Most will be from agencies but if they say “Particular”, they are advertised by the owner. If you speak Spanish, then you may find yourself a bargain but please get  advice about the buying process in Gran Canaria and all the things you need to check before buying.

On the Internet   

Many owners and agencies list their properties on Spanish websites such as Fotocasa.com and Idealista.com. They are pretty easy to use if you speak Spanish and you can find bargains (and plenty of over-priced horrors). Many properties on these sites are listed by agencies so don’t be surprised if you are contacted by someone other than the owner. The same precautions apply here as with private sales advertised with signs: Make sure that you know that all paperwork is in order before committing to buying.   

Lex Says: See our useful and funny Spanish Property Glossary For Buyers for a guide to common Canarian and Spanish real estate terms and their translations.   

With an Estate Agency  

Estate agencies charge 5% of the purchase price and this is a worthwhile sum to pay for peace of mind. Pick a good agency that is part of the Boican shared property database,  publishes client testimonials and is willing to explain the whole buying process to you. 

Boican membership is vital as it allows an agency to show you almost every property that's for sale in south Gran Canaria. This means that you can pick an agency that offers the best service and really get your money's worth.

Be careful with off-plan developments in Gran Canaria at the moment as some projects have stalled and look unlikely to be built anytime soon. Our advice is that you should never buy off-plan or in construction property in Gran Canaria without professional advice from an independent lawyer or estate agency.   

Alex says: By law all agents in the Canary Islands have to tell you everything they know about a property. If you get evasive answers from an agent, simply walk away.   

Be careful with off-plan developments in Gran Canaria at the moment as some projects have stalled and look unlikely to be built anytime soon. Our advice is that you should never buy off-plan or in construction property in Gran Canaria without professional advice from an independent lawyer or estate agency.   

Cardenas Real Estate

We’ve lived and worked in Gran Canaria for many years and don’t hand out recommendations lightly. However, the one south Gran Canaria estate agency that has always stood out for its experience and integrity is Cardenas Real Estate. They have been going for 30 years, know the south Gran Canaria property market better than anyone, and do things properly.

They are members of the BOICAN shared property database, offer deposit insurance and after-sales services such as tax-filings.  

Cardenas have offices in Arguineguín, Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogán but list properties all over south Gran Canaria. For quality advice on the Gran Canaria property market, and the best selections of property, contact them when you start to look for property in Gran Canaria. See their blog for lots of useful tips about Gran Canaria property.

Las Palmas Property

There are dozens of agencies in Las Palmas but all of them cater to the local market and very few estate agents in the city speak English or other foreign languages. Laura Leyshon from Las Palmas Property is the exception. She works for RE/MAX Cony Overseas, one of the city's oldest and best-regarded agencies, and speaks English and French as well as fluent Spanish. 

If you want good advice about buying a property in Gran Canaria's capital city, speak to Laura