Buy Property in Maspalomas

Buy property in Maspalomas — the property market

Looking to buy property in Maspalomas? Maspalomas is located on the the Canary Islands and offers a well-balanced mid-range property market compared with the rest of the coast. The town is characterised by iconic sand dunes and gran canaria's most established northern-european holiday destination, with year-round sunshine, which makes buying property in Maspalomas a natural choice for international buyers looking for a combination of quality of life, climate and a sound return on their investment.

Maspalomas and neighbouring Playa del Inglés form Gran Canaria's best-known holiday destination — famous for its enormous sand dunes and one of Europe's oldest and most established northern-European holiday scenes. Prices range from affordable apartments to luxury homes in the exclusive Meloneras.

The market for property in Maspalomas has seen growing interest from foreign buyers in recent years, particularly from Scandinavia, the UK and Germany. That means healthy demand, but also that the most attractive homes in the best areas often sell quickly — it pays to have your financing and documentation in order before you start looking at property for sale in Maspalomas.

Property prices when buying in Maspalomas

Price levels in Maspalomas naturally vary depending on location, condition and views, but as a general guideline an apartment can be expected to cost 150,000-280,000 EUR, while a house typically falls in the range of 220,000-420,000 EUR. Villas with a pool and private plot start from 400,000-800,000 EUR, depending on size and distance to the coast.

On top of the purchase price itself, you should budget for extra costs for the property transfer tax (ITP at 6.5% in the Canary Islands for resale property), notary fees, land registry fees and legal fees. For new-build property, IGIC at 7% (the Canary Islands' own VAT, instead of mainland IVA) is paid instead.

How to buy property in Maspalomas — step by step

The process of buying property in Maspalomas follows the same basic steps as the rest of Spain: you need an NIE tax number, a Spanish bank account and an independent lawyer to check the property before you sign anything at all.

Once you have found the right property in Maspalomas, you typically sign an arras contract with a deposit of around 10% of the purchase price, before the final notary completion takes place some weeks or months later. Your lawyer will make sure the nota simple (land registry extract) is clean, and that there are no loans or charges on the property.

Who chooses to buy property in Maspalomas?

Maspalomas attracts a wide range of international buyers — from families looking for a holiday home they can use themselves and rent out the rest of the year, to retirees dreaming of a life in the sun, and investors who see the potential in a growing market.

What particularly draws people to buy property in Maspalomas is the iconic sand dunes and lighthouse, one of europe's most established scandinavian holiday scenes and playa del inglés nightlife and the luxurious meloneras — a combination that is hard to find elsewhere on the Spanish coast.

Advantages and pitfalls of buying property in Maspalomas

The advantages of buying property in Maspalomas are the attractive combination of price, climate and lifestyle. The town has a well-functioning range of international services — banks, lawyers and agents used to helping international buyers through the process in English or other languages.

The most important consideration is to get a thorough understanding of the ongoing costs (IBI property tax, community fees and utilities) as well as how owning foreign property is treated for tax purposes in your home country, before you buy property in Maspalomas. We always recommend partnering with an independent advisor who knows the rules of both countries.

Life and culture in Maspalomas

The Maspalomas area has no old town centre in the traditional sense — it was built up as a holiday destination from the 1960s onwards — but the sand dunes and the iconic Faro de Maspalomas lighthouse from 1890 have become a symbol of Gran Canaria as a whole. The area is also known as one of Europe's most LGBTQ+-friendly holiday destinations, with an annual Pride festival drawing visitors from around the world.

Playa del Inglés has a lively, international nightlife with bars and clubs aimed particularly at northern European guests, while Meloneras further west offers a far more exclusive and calm atmosphere with designer shops and gourmet restaurants.

Location and infrastructure

Gran Canaria Airport is about a 25-30 minute drive from Maspalomas — one of the shorter airport distances on the island. There is no rail connection, but good bus links (Global) to the rest of the island, including Las Palmas.

Taxis are readily available throughout the area thanks to the large tourist flow, and most facilities are within walking distance along the long beach promenade.

Tourism & leisure

Maspalomas' beach and sand dunes are among the Canary Islands' most iconic natural attractions — the dunes are a protected nature reserve stretching several kilometres along the coast. Several golf courses are found in the area, including the well-regarded Maspalomas Golf.

Playa del Inglés can be noisy in the evenings during peak season, while Meloneras and the more secluded residential areas are quiet. The climate is the Canary subtropical type — a stable 20-26°C year round with minimal rainfall, making Maspalomas one of Europe's most reliable year-round destinations.

Everyday costs & what to know before you buy in Maspalomas

Eating out varies a lot by area — Playa del Inglés is affordable and tourist-oriented, while Meloneras has significantly higher prices with gourmet restaurants. Rents generally sit in the mid-range for the Canary Islands.

Before you buy: a tourist licence (vivienda vacacional) is required for short-term letting and administered by the local cabildo — the rules can differ from the Spanish mainland, so always seek local legal advice.