Are you thinking about moving to Lanzarote? If you’re wanting to escape to a life in the spectacular Spanish sunshine, there’s no better place for it (and we promise that we’re not just saying that). Lanzarote has been labelled as one of the best Canary Islands for family life, so there’s no wonder that so many expats dream of
relocating here. According to the latest figures, around 30% of the island’s residents are expatriates - with Brits making up the largest portion of those. We know that packing your belongings up and upping sticks isn’t always easy, especially when you’re relocating to a new country. However, with these tips, moving to Lanzarote should be as straightforward and as stress-free as possible.
Finding a Property in Lanzarote
Before you can even think about the process of moving to Lanzarote, you need to make sure that you’ve found a place to call home. When it comes to finding a property on the island, there are many locations and property types for you to consider. In most cases, you - as the buyer - will already have an idea of what you’re looking for. But let’s take a look at three of the most popular places to live in Lanzarote.
Puerto del Carmen
Located on Lanzarote’s south east coast,
Puerto del Carmen is one of the most sought-after destinations for Spanish real estate. With a stunning coastline lined with pristine beaches and plenty of things to do in the area, it’s easy to see why. What’s more, due to its popularity with tourists, it’s a strong investment opportunity.
Playa Blanca
As well as being the most southern resort on the island,
Playa Blanca is also one of the newest areas to be created. Because of this, it’s fast becoming one of Lanzarote’s property hot spots, offering a wide range of properties for sale. Its large 9km bay gives you endless amounts of beachfront where you can enjoy the sights of the warm Atlantic Ocean.
Puerto CaleroSituated close to Puerto del Carmen is another popular resort known as
Puerto Calero. It’s found on the south west coast and is within 10 minutes of Arrecife airport, which means you’ll be well placed for travel. There’s a certain sense of luxury associated with this area of the island and there are a number of new developments that offer modern exteriors and divine interiors.
Lanzarote Property Purchase Process
No matter where you’re moving to, the
property purchase process can be confusing - especially if it’s the first time you’re relocating overseas. To help make moving to Lanzarote a little easier for you to understand, we’ve broken down the procedure you’ll go through. This simple step-by-step guide describes how to secure a property in Lanzarote in a quick and easy way. Once you’ve found your perfect home, this is what you should do:
- Make an offer - Most properties in Lanzarote are priced to sell but sellers can be open to negotiations
- Put down a reservation - When a seller accepts your offer, you will be asked to put down a reservation fee
- The initial contract - This is the first legal step towards securing your property where both the buyer and seller will agree to a deal
- Valuation and survey - Most banks will arrange for a valuation to be carried out on the property to ensure they’re lending you an appropriate amount of money for the mortgage
- Notarisation - The sale of the property can be completed at the Notary’s Office where the remaining fee will be paid
- Escritura - Property and mortgage deeds will be signed by the buyer and seller
- Registering the property - The final step is normally completed by your lawyer where they register the property to verify that you are now the new owner
About the Island
Lanzarote is the most easterly of the Canary Islands, meaning that it’s the closest one to Africa. Boasting spectacular beaches and a volcanic landscape, Lanzarote is known as the Island of eternal spring - largely due to the average annual temperature of 22°C. It is known for its year-round warm weather with rainfall being rare, only a small amount of precipitation is typically experienced during winter.
Born through fiery eruptions, Lanzarote is a volcanic island that has been formed through solidified lava streams as well as extravagant rock formations. With 300 volcanic cones spread across the island, it is a Unesco Biosphere Reserve.
With around 150,000 inhabitants, it is the third most populous Canary Island. Although it may not be the largest out of the archipelago, there are still plenty of things to do on the island.
Getting Prepared to Make the Move
If you’re moving to Lanzarote for the first time, we understand that it can be an equally exhilarating and scary experience. One way to help prepare yourself so that you can settle into your new life is to make sure that do everything you can to adjust. Researching local cultures is a great way of getting to understand what life will be like on the island. Generally, Lanzarote has a relatively relaxed lifestyle which is perfect if you’re wanting to escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. You may want to learn a little Spanish before you move too as this will help when speaking to locals in the area. It’s not expected for you to be completely fluent in the language but you may want to know the basics.
