Spain has everything you could possibly wish in a retirement location – the warm sunny climate, large UK expat community, low cost of living, beautiful beaches, spectacular landscape, healthy outdoor lifestyle, less crime and significantly less stress.

In a survey of 400 people from the UK, Kyero found that 26% of them saw Spain as the ideal retirement location because of the “warmer climate, sociable atmosphere and reduced taxes”.

It’s no wonder then that “Britons invested £12 billion in Spanish property in 2004/05”. The average price they paid for properties a reported £160,000, according to Kyero. The typical type of investors is male between 40 and 60 years old.

It’s not just UK investors who have an interest in Spain. Kyero regularly get enquiries from the Portuguese, American, Dutch, Japanese, Canadian, Australian and Swedish. It appears that everyone wants a piece of the Iberian Peninsula.

Properties Type & location
When it comes to Spain, Britons are mostly looking for studio apartments. Two and three bedroom villas are also highly sought after. The majority of UK homebuyers are looking for a Spanish resale property.

On Gran Canaria (Canary Islands), there’s a big demand for one-bedroom apartments with a swimming pool.

In Alicante, on the eastern coast, three bedroom apartments are a popular choice and in Girona (Northern Spain) UK homebuyers are largely looking for three bedroom villas.

The survey revealed that on average, UK investors are willing to pay between €150,000 to €200,000 for property in Spain.

According to the survey, 97% of the respondents said location was one of the most important factors when choosing a property. The most popular parts of Spain with UK homebuyers are Alicante, Granada and Malaga.

Accessibility is also important. People need to be close to amenities. The most important ones being shops, the local hospital, bars and restaurants, chemists, public transport, the police station and the airport.

Finding the Right Property
The Internet is undoubtedly the most useful resource for anyone looking for properties abroad. It provides everything from property listings and local area information to mortgage advice and buyer’s guides. 71% of those surveyed said they were using it to find information.

For a comprehensive range of overseas investment property listings try the following link – Diasoleadoinvest.com

Brits Around the Globe
The past few years have seen growing numbers of UK residents emigrating abroad to sunnier, more exotic locations, in what looks like a mass exodus.

There are now over 40 nations with at least 10,000 permanent British residents, according to a recent survey by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).

Spain, France and Italy are still some of the most popular locations for UK investors and homebuyers but there also been a growing trend towards more far-flung destinations.

In the United Arab Emirates (including Dubai) there are 55,000 UK nationals, Pakistan is now home to 47,000, in Singapore there are 45,000, Thailand has 41,000 and China has 36,000.

With the increase in the numbers of budget airlines and more and more direct flight options, people are travelling now more so than ever before. The world appears to be getting smaller and smaller.

Overseas investors are thirsty for new destinations and opportunities. They’re eager to find new emerging markets or discover new areas in established markets. In order to maintain sales, estate agents and developers are having to adapt and cater to this more globally demanding investor.

They now need to be able to provide access to property listings and area information from as many locations as possible – everywhere from Cape Verde to Slovakia and way beyond.

Property for sale in the Canary Islands
Casa Quest is an information site providing local area information, property and investment related articles, links to legal advice and information about mortgages and finance. It also gives you access to a massive range of available properties throughout the Canary Islands (Tenerife, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria.

Set up since 2003, the website’s main aim is simply to make buying and selling property in the Canary Islands easier.

Canary Island Highlights
The Canary Islands have it all – beaches, nature, climate, nightlife, outdoors sports, culture, history, tradition, spectacular landscapes, nature, restaurants, wildlife and more.

No visit to the islands would be complete without seeing at least one of the following…

Mount Teide (Tenerife)
Mount Teide, Spain’s highest mountain peak, rises to a staggering 3.718 metres high. Nowhere on the island can you escape its ever-present gaze. It’s pronounced teid – e. In 1954 it was declared a national park.

This natural paradise experiences some extreme weather conditions. In winter you’re likely to find snow and possibly gale force winds, whereas in summer, temperatures can reach a sweltering 40C!

There are regular guided tours to the natural park and if you’re feeling energetic, you can actually climb to the top (with an experienced guide of course).

Caldera de Taburiente (La Palma)
La Caldera attracts nature lovers and trekkers from all over the globe.

It really is an awesome sight – definitely one of the most impressive on the island. This massive crater was formed over the years by several powerful volcanic eruptions. Its rugged mountain peaks (often shrouded in mist) contrast dramatically with the lush green vegetation that surrounds the crater. Well worth a visit!

Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory (La Palma)
Roque de los Muchachos has an International Astrophysical Observatory, which was opened in 1985.

The Canary Islands have amazingly clear skies and this area is one of the best places on the planet for stargazing. Once a year, all the lights on the island are turned off at the same time to make certain observations possible.

The observatory has six telescopes in total, including the famous “Herschel” telescope, named after William Herschel.

This is a spectacular location, even if you’re not into astronomy. Don’t miss it if you get the chance.

La Isla de Los Lobos (Fuerteventura)
This tiny island is located between Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. Volcanic in origin, it’s a paradise for nature lover’s and perfect for hiking and swimming.

Los Lobos is a perfect daytrip location. To get here just take the ferry from Corralejo – it’s just 2kms away. There’s a very peaceful nature reserve on the island with amazing views back to Fuerteventura.

Playa de las Americas (Tenerife)
Play de Las Americas is one of the hottest nightspots in the Canary Islands and one of Tenerife’s largest attractions. A Mecca for northern European tourists, it was built back in the 1960’s and still draws large numbers of part-goers every year.

It’s particularly popular with the British. Lined with row upon row of English bars and fish & chip outlets, it’s like a home away from home.

Although it’s now perhaps lacking in terms of indigenous Canarian culture, who cares! Las Americas is all about going out, meeting new people and having a good time.

Using Casaquest
Just click on your chosen island and you’ll instantly have access to a huge range of properties with descriptions, locations, photos and prices.

It’s simple.

Investing in a new country, setting up home in a new country can be daunting. It’s a major step both financially and emotionally. Getting the right advice and choosing the right estate agent is essential.

Canaryproperty.com’s latest blog displays contact details and information from all the top agents in The Canary Islands, some of which are listed below…

Canary Homes Online; Cardenas Real Estate; Carmen Villazan; Casa Quest; Costa Sol Tenerife; Crossley Morfit & Lennox; Delta Metropolitan; Dream Home Okey; Fuerteventura Properties; Home Sweet Home; Homes of Tenerife; Horizon Property Group. Click here for full details…

Featured Agent – Tierra del Fuego
Tenerife based Tierra de Fuego have a reputation for building in the most scenic and desirable parts of the island. They’ve been around since 1996 and have become an icon for quality and excellence. They build and promote luxury villas in the south of Tenerife.

Featured Island – Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura is the closest Canary Island to the African mainland. It has the same barren/desert-like landscape as the Western Sahara Desert and some of the best beaches in Europe. There’s just 100km separating the ‘Punta de la Entallada’ from Cape Juby in Morroco.

Fuerteventura is the second largest of the Canary Islands and gets an astonishing 3000 hours of sunshine a year. The climate is more or less the same as Florida and Mexico, which are on the same latitude.

Fuerteventura is the oldest of the Canary Islands. It’s strange shapes and outlines come from various episodes in its volcanic past. Fuerteventura’s last eruption took place over 7,000 years ago so nowadays chances of mass volcanic eruptions disrupting your beach time are pretty slim.

The neighbouring island of Lanzarote is where to go to see some volcanic activity. It’s surreal reddish Mars-like landscape is fascinating – well worth a visit and just a short ferry ride away.

From Fuerteventura, you can also take a trip to the tiny island of Los Lobos. Located halfway between Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, this popular little island is volcanic by nature and perfect for hiking and swimming. It’s the perfect getaway during the busy summer months.

Apart from the beach, there’s plenty of other things to do and see on the island. Some of the other attractions inviting you to discover different aspects of the Island’s landscape and culture include the Betancuria Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography and Tefia Craft Village.

Water sports
Fuerteventura is a wind, wave and kite surfer’s paradise.
This where they hold the P.W.A world windsurfing speed and slalom event. Every year hundreds of surfers come to witness this adrenaline-fuelled event, held in the south of the island at Sotavento. Scuba diving and snorkelling are also very popular here, with great visibility and warm, cosy waters all year round.

Beaches
Fuerteventura unquestionably has the best beaches in the Canary Islands. It’s home to many enormous sand dunes and some spectacular stretches of fine golden sandy beach with warm pristine turquoise waters.

There are over 150 beaches here, many of them remaining isolated all throughout the year. Even during the busy summer months, you’ll be able to find a secluded spot for yourself.

Even though it can often get very windy on the island, the Dunes of Corralejo for example, you’ll always be able to find a sheltered spot on the east coast. Morro Jable is normally very calm.

With all this, it’s no wonder Fuerteventura’s beaches are regarded as being the most impressive in Europe.

Freedom4sale isn’t a real estate agent. It’s an independent property company that works with some of the best English-speaking estate agents on mainland Spain, Lanzarote, Tenerife, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria. They’ve recently branched out and now include new emerging markets in their magazine and website.

How it works
Online you’ll find a specific property search function, where you can search through a vast range of properties right throughout mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. You can also search properties via a certain estate agent.

Other online feature include; a property Forum – where you can discuss property issues with other website members; information on investment property; a newsletter; property articles; local information; property statistics; and mortgage & finance information.

The magazine & Website (www.freedom4sale.com)
The magazine is free and the properties on the web site are updated by the estate agents themselves, ensuring up to date and accurate information.

Since the beginning (over seven years ago) Freedom4sale have built up a wealth of information about property in the Canary Islands, including; maps, buying advice and local information.

The website is very user-friendly. They’ve made it as accessible as possible for the first time user and at the same time have drawn back many returning visitors.

Featured Article – Successful Buy-To-Let
A recent article by Lee Grandin of Landlord Mortgages, comments that in the UK, “People looking to make a success of buy-to-let will have to be in it for the long term, with rental yield the bottom line and the possibility of capital appreciation an extra something special”.

Buy-to-let has been a popular and successful investment option (both in the UK and Spain) over the past few years. Basically it involves buying a property and renting it out, letting the rental income cover the cost of your mortgage.

But as the UK property market is apparently “on the wane”, investors have to be more vigilant and do more extensive research.

After the dreadful performance of the stock market, there was a large increase in property investment, new developments in particular. The logic being, that property is a more stable option than stocks and shares.

New developments however, can be saturated with buy-to-let investors, and when the properties do eventually come on the market (at the same time) they often drive the rental yields down.

What buy-to-let investors need to determine before they take the plunge is how much rental income is this property “likely” to guarantee and for what period of time.

Handy tips
“The most successful buy-to-let investors purchase property close to where they live”.
Why? Because they know the area – the market.

Nowadays, research is the only way to try and ascertain whether a buy to let investment in a particular area will succeed. It’s absolutely essential for any buy-to-let investor to keep a keen eye on the locations that they are interested in.

If you’re investing abroad it might be impractical to go and live there just to get to know the place (unless of course you’re very well off). You can however go online and access a wealth of information from most community websites about your chosen location.

Asking the seller for information about the property and surrounding area is often pointless, as they’ll invariably point out the good points and conveniently forget the bad.

The same goes for letting agents. Don’t pay to much attention to promises of high rental yields. Try and speak to the tenants and find out how much people generally pay in that area.

Freedom4sale Magazine
If you’re considering buying a property anywhere on Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote or Gran Canaria or want information about upcoming markets, investment options (anything property related) you should set up your own freedom property account.

With this you’ll be able to keep track of the properties you are most interested in, stay updated with the latest properties coming on to the market and much more.

After the recent property crash, many buyers now have a negative view of investment property in Spain. Although, according to many experts the problems have been exaggerated, and that the “crash” is not necessarily a bad thing.

Mark Stucklin, spokesman for Spanishpropertyinsight.com points out that for the first time in years, Spain is a buyers market. Clearly, one simply has to focus on long-term price rises.

There’s still a number of excellent property investment opportunities in Spain. Spain’s lesser developed locations like Costa Calida in Murcia now appear to be showing strong capital growth, according to Andrew Ward, managing director of Equity Property Portfolios.

The Canary Islands also remain strong with property sales still rising steadily.

Over the years buyers have made massive returns on investment in Spain. It’s long been a favourite with foreigners, UK nationals in particular. The sun, sea and laid back way of life are still as appealing as ever and will no doubt continue to draw prospective overseas buyers into the market.

Why Choose Spain
Spain has everything – sun, sea, beaches, snow, mountains, culture, art, nightlife, cuisine, architecture, music, sports and a fantastically diverse landscape with a fascinating variety of indigenous flora and fauna.

Spain has one of the most laid back lifestyles in Europe. It also has very low mortgage rates – the lowest in the European Union, after Finland.

Cheap flights
Unlike many new emerging markets (Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Cyprus, the Dominican Republic etc), Spain is very easy to get to. It’s just a few hours away from most UK airports and with the emergence of low-cost airlines getting here is now incredibly cheap – the number of flights continues to increase while the costs decrease.

A home away from home
In 2004, over 13 million British tourists visited Spain. Spain has always been a popular spot with the British, many of them eventually setting up home here. There are now well over half a million holiday homes in Spain owned by UK nationals.

Over the years, Spain has built up a huge European ex-pat community of English, German, Dutch French, and Irish along with many other nationalities. It’s not just a “holiday hot spot” anymore; it’s a real place to live.

Investing in property in Spain
There are numerous English-speaking agents both on the mainland and on the Canary and Balearic Islands that can help you find your dream home or lucrative investment.

The internet is also an excellent source of information. Diasoleadoinvest.com are one of the leading specialists when it comes to investment property in Spain and worldwide. Based in Spain, they have an in-depth knowledge of the local market and can provide inside information on the latest upcoming areas set to provide greatest return on investment.

Buyer’s 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 Residence Card as soon as possible. With this you’ll be offered a loan of 80%.

Before buying a property in Spain or on the Canary Islands, you should get legal advice and representation. Choose a local, English speaking, Spanish lawyer. The fee is usually between 1200 to 1500 euros.

Buying a home on Spain 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.

Instead of visiting Estate Agent websites individually, why not log on to  www.canaryproperty.com together with its  blog www.canarypropertyforsale.com and let them do the hard work for you.  Searching for property in the Canary Islands has never been easier.  With plenty of property for sale in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, El Hierro, La Gomera and La Palma, your property search in the Canary Islands just couldn´t be more simpler using the most up to date property search facilities.

To advertise on Canary Property contact Gary on info@canaryproperty.com

Casa Quest has the largest and most varied selection of property for sale in Tenerife, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria). The site is aimed at buyers, sellers and investors. It provides a wealth of information about the Spanish property market and the buying or selling process.

Sale options
When selling your property in the Canary Islands you can either go through an agent or sell it privately yourself.

Selling through an Estate Agent
An agent will normally charge you between 3% and 10% of the agreed return price for selling your property.

Depending on the value of the property, this can be a significant amount of money. For example, an apartment for sale at an asking price of 150,000 euros, would be subject to an Agents fee of 7,500 euros at 5% commission.

For this fee, most agents will advertise your property in press & magazine adverts as well as on their website.

Real estate agents in Spain generally take a very hands- on approach to the sale of your property. They’ll look after everything for you, from initial property search and market advice to arranging legal proceedings and conveyancing.

Selling privately
The obvious advantage with selling privately is that you don’t have to pay the agents any commission.

That said, you’ll have to do all your own advertising – you need to let potential buyers, who are looking for a property like yours, know that it’s available. Communicating back and forth with numerous would-be buyers can be quite time consuming. You’ll probably need to seek legal advice too (to be on the safe).

Selling your property through Casa Quest
Casa Quest offers a unique advertising opportunity. Instead of just putting your property on one agent’s website, it allows you to advertise to a wide audience across a network of establish and reputable web sites.

It’s one of the best ways to reach people looking for property for sale in the Canary Islands. Here are just some of the properties you’ll find on Casa Quest…

Tenerife

1 Bed Apartment in Golf del Sur
Good size apartment on popular complex, excellent for rentals all year round. Fully furnished, terrace, communal pool.
Price: €94.000 EUR
£ 62.700 GBP

Fuerteventura

1 Bed Apartment in Corralejo
Beautiful spacious 1 and 2 Bed apts. Close to the beach, sand dunes and harbour. Up to 100% mortgage available and guaranteed rental scheme.
Price: €120.000 EUR

Gran Canaria

4 Bed Villa in Maspalomas
Beautiful four-bedroom villa in a very quiet area of Maspalomas. Has the option of two separate large apartments – ideal for guests or as a large family home.
Price: €580.000 EUR

How it all began
Casa Quest is the brainchild of Dr Paul Johnson, a retired British medical practitioner. After living and working in Tenerife for ten years he saw the difficulties that can come with buying or selling a property in the Canary Islands.

With the help of Sorted Sites – leading local web development agency, Casa Quest was created. This unique and very complex site took several months to create. It’s now up and running since 2003.

If you are an Estate Agent and would like to advertise on Canary Property contact Gary info@canaryproperty.com

About the team
They’re an independent property company that work with some of the best English-speaking estate agents on mainland Spain, Lanzarote, Tenerife, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria. With over 10,000 estate agent properties in the magazine and online, Freedom4sale is an absolute must for anyone looking for property for sale in the Canary Islands. They’ve recently branched out and now include other “hot” investment areas around Europe.

Featured Article – Emerging markets & established locations
As the world’s beaches are becoming more and more congested, people are looking further a field for their dream home in the sun.

Recently, British estate agents have begun marketing beachside developments in places like Cape Verde, the Seychelles, Mauritius, Belize, Brazil, Réunion and even Nicaragua. But some traditionalists, most British buyers in fact, continue to look to more established locations, like Spain, the south of France and Greece.

Paradise found (In Europe)
If you’re lucky (and have millions of pounds to spend) you can easily purchase that luxury dream villa, just steps from the beach, in stylish St Tropez or racy Monte Carlo. If not, extensive research is the answer to finding your dream property.

The Algarve, in Portugal, is a popular choice for buyers on a fairly standard budget. Here, £300,000 will buy you a place fit for a king. This area is less densely developed than Spain but has the same climate, a very sophisticated infrastructure and some truly amazing beaches.

In Portugal, properties are well built and the government has limited the number and scale of new developments, meaning less likelihood of the overdevelopment problems they now have in Spain.

In Quinta do Lago (just 20-minute drive from Faro airport) you can buy a two-bedroom villa with a terrace for between £270,000 and £350,000. This area has become very popular with English, Brazilian and Portuguese buyers. Ayrton Senna (the racing driver) once owned a villa here.

Spain and the Canary Islands still have a massive range of coastal properties available. On the mainland, however prices have dropped by as much as 20% from their 2006 highs, whereas on the Canary Islands prices still appear to be rising. Many investors are now pulling out of the mainland and investing in the Canary Islands, Tenerife in particular.

Cyprus also has a large volume of coastal properties and they’re going incredibly cheap. For a large house or villa in the Paphos and Limassol area you’d pay as little as £150,000. The south of Cyprus is now heavily developed. Properties are a lot cheaper in the north but ownership issues remain a problem.

Another area where you can find your dream villa at realistic prices is Sardinia. This is one of Europe’s best-kept secrets, but not for long! In Costa Paradiso, in the northwest of the island, you’ll find three and four bedroom villas for just £250,000. For one and two bedroom flats, prices start at as little as £90,000.

Freedom4sale Membership
If you’re serious about buying or selling anywhere on Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote or Gran Canaria you should set up your own freedom property account. With this you’ll be able to keep track of the properties you are most interested in, stay updated with the latest properties coming on to the market and much more.