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Buying property in Gran Canaria: what to check

By Daniel WhitcombeReviewed by Marta Calderón IbáñezPublished Updated Stage 3: Choose where and what

Quick answer

Gran Canaria has a large city, Las Palmas, resorts in the south and mountain villages inland. The foreign share in the province is lower than in Tenerife. Check ravines and flood risk, the coastal law, water and the community documents, and the rules on tourist use.

Applies toBuyers considering a flat in Las Palmas, a resort home or a village house in Gran Canaria.

On this page: 12 sections
  1. The island
  2. The market
  3. Taxes
  4. City flats
  5. Ravines and floods
  6. Mountain villages
  7. Coast and tourist use
  8. Who it may suit
  9. What we could not verify
  10. Questions to ask on site in this place
  11. Before you pay a deposit in this place
  12. More on this topic
Checked 26 October 2026by Marta Calderón Ibáñez. Claims on this page are tied to the sources listed at the end.

§ 1The island

Gran Canaria is a round island in the centre of the archipelago, with a large port city, Las Palmas, on the north-east coast. The south has dry resorts and dunes, while the interior has steep ravines, mountains and villages. This page belongs to the chapter on the section on Canary Islands.

§ 2The market

The registry reports that foreigners made up 26.55% of home purchases in the province of Las Palmas in the second quarter of 2026, against 29.33% for the Canary Islands. The regional average price was €3,052 per m². We found no island-level average, so we print none. Ask local agents for recent sales.

§ 3Taxes

The Ministry of Finance table updated in September 2026 gives the general resale transfer tax in the Canary Islands as 6.5%. We did not verify the rate of the islands’ own indirect tax on new homes, so confirm it. The costs section explains.

§ 4City flats

Las Palmas has flats in communities. Ask for the statutes, accounts, minutes and reserve fund. The law requires a reserve fund of at least 10% of the last ordinary budget. Check noise, parking and the state of the building.

§ 5Ravines and floods

Steep ravines can run with water after heavy rain. Check the national flood viewer and the position of the plot, and ask neighbours. The location checks section explains.

§ 6Mountain villages

Village houses can be old, with damp and unregistered parts. Check the licence and the registry, take a survey and check road access and services. The property types section explains old houses.

§ 7Coast and tourist use

Coastal homes are subject to the coastal law, which protects a zone of 100 metres inland from the shore. A 2025 regional law requires prior enabling by urban planning and a registration number for tourist use.

§ 8Who it may suit

It may suit buyers who want a mild climate with a real city, resorts and mountains on one island. Buying in Tenerife covers Tenerife and Fuerteventura explained covers Fuerteventura.

§ 9What we could not verify

We found no island average and did not verify the indirect tax rate or the municipal rules.

§ 10Questions to ask on site in this place

Ask about volcanic and coastal risk, the water supply and the licence of the building. Ask the community administrator, if there is one, for the statutes, the last accounts and the minutes of the previous meetings. Visit in more than one season and on both sides of the island, because the north and the south differ in weather. Write down the answers and compare them with the documents your lawyer receives from the registry and the town hall.

§ 11Before you pay a deposit in this place

Check the transfer tax rate on the date of your deed, because the regional rules can change. Have your lawyer check the title, the licences and the charges first, and keep the deposit small and refundable on conditions. Choose a lawyer who knows island rules and the regional indirect tax on new homes. The legal process section explains the contract and the deed.

§ 12More on this topic

Lanzarote explained explains what to check when buying in Lanzarote.

FAQRelated questions

Is Las Palmas a resort?

It is a large city with a port, a long city beach and a business centre, so life there is urban. The south coast has the resorts, and the mountains inland hold village houses.

Do ravines matter?

They do. Steep gullies cut across the island and can carry torrents after a downpour. Look at the national flood map, note where the plot lies relative to the channel, and ask neighbours about earlier flooding.

Can I let a home to tourists?

Possibly. A 2025 regional law requires prior urban-planning enabling and a registration number, and municipalities and communities add limits. Ask a local lawyer for the rules on your purchase date.

Sources

About this page

Written by

Daniel Whitcombe

Writer, buying and living in Spain

Daniel writes the chapters on how a purchase runs, who can buy, where to buy and how to check a location. He writes for readers who are new to the Spanish system and prefers plain explanations that name the official source. He is not a lawyer or adviser.

Reviewed by Marta Calderón Ibáñez, chief editor and source editor, 26 October 2026. Checked: Figures and rules checked against the official texts listed below

Found an error? Report it. Each report gets a dated reply, and confirmed corrections are logged on the updates page.

General information only. This is not legal, tax or financial advice. Check your own situation with a qualified adviser.