The south of the island: a myth?

[Ducks]

Hi all,

new poster here, currently looking at buying a part-time home in Fuerte! We are hoping to be there for most of the winter as well as whenever flight prices permit! As we're fans of the quiet life (not much for bars/pubs/restaurantsâ€" we're more into long walks on the beach and cooking our own meals), we've been looking at the south of the island, specifically Costa Calma. There doesn't seem to be a lot of chat about this part of the island from anyone, though! If I hadn't been there myself, I might think it was a myth for all the conversation I've read about it here and on other sites.

Is anyone on here living in Costa Calma, or any of the surrounding towns (Gran Tarajal, Taralejo)? Does anyone have any in-depth experience with the area? Our only experience is as visitors, but we enjoyed it a lot and felt it suited us more than the north of the island, since pretty much everything grinds to a halt at 11pm, which suits our boring selves. We also won't be wanting to buy a car, as while it will be more than a holiday home for us, we won't be there full time, so we don't feel it justifies the cost of purchase/insurance/etc, so somewhere with a regular bus service is important, along with multiple supermarkets in walking distance. Safety is also a huge concern for us, both in terms of general walking around and regards leaving properties unattended. We've been reading some things about squatters and such lately, and considering we wouldn't be there full-time, we do worry that this might be an issue.

I know it's a very heavily German area, which doesn't bother us much; I'm nowhere near fluent, but I studied it for years back in my school days, and I got along well enough while we've been there before.

I'd welcome any thoughts and opinions anyone had on the matter, as well as general insights about the area! Any information or tips about house searching/purchasing (particularly what to look out for and avoid) would also be appreciated!

[calculator]

I would go for the town of Morro Jable - proper infrastructure and caters for the local community. Gran Tarajal would have similar appeal - I simply don't like it.

Crime on the island is very high - don't believe anyone that says it's not!! The place is swarming with police and for a reason. The only reason the locals have dogs is to deter criminals. You cannot leave your house/car unlocked. Also, be careful in the late hours, if wandering alone on the streets. As a foreigner it makes you a target.

On the whole, a peaceful life can be had here. But it is important to have a vision as to what you want out of life. Do your own thing. Forget about the locals and "integration". They are only interested in extracting as much money from you as possible. Northern European immigrants (expats) become the same after a while, lol.

[Ducks]

I would go for the town of Morro Jable - proper infrastructure and caters for the local community. Gran Tarajal would have similar appeal - I simply don't like it.

Crime on the island is very high - don't believe anyone that says it's not!! The place is swarming with police and for a reason. The only reason the locals have dogs is to deter criminals. You cannot leave your house/car unlocked. Also, be careful in the late hours, if wandering alone on the streets. As a foreigner it makes you a target.

On the whole, a peaceful life can be had here. But it is important to have a vision as to what you want out of life. Do your own thing. Forget about the locals and "integration". They are only interested in extracting as much money from you as possible. Northern European immigrants (expats) become the same after a while, lol.

I have never and would never leave my house unlockedâ€" I've heard people say they don't on the island, but having lived in a big city for most of my life, it's not something that would have ever entered my head! In terms of cars, is it more that the cars have items lifted from them, or the cars themselves are stolen? Not that we plan on having a car, but we will probably have to rent one occasionally, and it would be good to know what's more likely.

I've never been to Morro Jable, though that's on the agenda for our next trip in Oct/Nov/Dec (dates TBD). What is it you like about the place, can I ask? We did look in Gran Tarajal and didn't really feel it was for us; there were very few ex-pats around, and the general vibe seemed more suited to long-term local residents than occasional blow-ins from the North like ourselves.

Really, all we're after is nice beaches for walking, quiet atmosphere, a decent grocery store or two, and usable internet (though I'm aware this is a stretch on most of the island)...! 

[bedouin]

Costa Calma is quite well placed for great beaches, but it's a fair walk to the nicer naturist areas.  I'm not sure I'd want to live there for long though.  Why not try long-term winter rental in a few places before buying?

[Ducks]

Costa Calma is quite well placed for great beaches, but it's a fair walk to the nicer naturist areas.  I'm not sure I'd want to live there for long though.  Why not try long-term winter rental in a few places before buying?

I'm not fussy about naturist beaches, to be honest. I respect everyone's right to do as they please, but I'll probably keep my clothes on, in the main...! The beach at Costa Calma is about an hour's walk end to end twice, which is perfect to do in the mid-morning and early evening before it gets too hot. I'm not bothered by kids/holiday-makers, but I don't like having to deal with rowdy drinkers or groups of kids hanging around.

Regards buying: we're afraid of getting priced out of the market, basically! Prices in the Canaries seem to be on the rise consistently (we were looking in Gran Canaria last year and the year before, and ended up deciding to go for Fuerte instead as it's a little quieter and calmer and the prices are a little lower still), and I think with the other Spanish islands being overwhelmed by tourists and therefore increasingly less welcoming to them, coupled with other areas having a greater terrorism threat, I think prices will continue on the up. We're thinking sooner might be better than later.

It also seems to be quite difficult to find a long-term rental still available for the coming winter, unfortunately! Many places are available for a few weeks here and there, but not throughout the winter. We're hoping to visit a few times over the winter months this year, though.

[MalT]

Didn't know i was living in crime central! Let's get some perspective, your far less likely to get robbed or assaulted here than at home, good luck with your search.

[bedouin]

Regards buying: we're afraid of getting priced out of the market, basically!

I don't think there's much chance of that.

[Ducks]

as for buying at the right price im afraid you might be at the wrong end of the market, ive been keeping an eye on the prices for years and there are still property for sale today that where for sale years ago, only the price has quadrupled.

Regards buying: we're afraid of getting priced out of the market, basically!

I don't think there's much chance of that.

(Vivafuerteâ€" Did not like how "isolated" Las Playitas was and how it didn't seem to be as well-serviced by busses, etc., but will give it another look, thank you!)

I've also noticed prices have been going up for the same properties which have been sitting around for a long time! Bedouinâ€" what makes you say there's no chance of being priced out of the market when the same stuff has an increased asking price a year later?

If owners have a high expectation, even if it's not realistic and they're not going to get it from someone else, if they won't sell to me at a price I can afford, I still end up with no property.

[bedouin]

Bedouinâ€" what makes you say there's no chance of being priced out of the market when the same stuff has an increased asking price a year later?

If owners have a high expectation, even if it's not realistic and they're not going to get it from someone else, if they won't sell to me at a price I can afford, I still end up with no property.

Many asking prices are extremely - shall we say - optimistic.  Actual selling prices are less.  The effect of Brexit should help to hold or reduce prices.

[MalT]

In corralejo prices are on the up, if brits can't buy because of Brexit, there are plenty of other candidates with the money, furte is becoming more popular for obvious reasons and that is fueling the demand 😎

[Archer]

Morro Jable is a good first time buyer Spanish Town. One of the best safe,  sandy beaches on doorstep. No need for a car - express bus service from Puerto/Airport. A mix of nationalities in our Community
Inmobiliaria Costa Canaria (look on google) have apartments and duplexes in town. The owner is from Finland and speaks English.
We bought here 3yrs ago. Great place with many improvements being made.

[Ducks]

Many asking prices are extremely - shall we say - optimistic.  Actual selling prices are less.  The effect of Brexit should help to hold or reduce prices.

I don't think the impact of Brexit will be as big as it could be, because other EU countries (Germans, Italians, Irish) have such a strong presence here; I feel like maybe Caleta will be badly hit by that, and that will have a knock-on effect on other parts of the island, but the south and Correljo probably won't feel it as strongly? I think you're right about actual selling prices, at least in some cases, though. When we were there last month, we looked at a few properties. Of those we were moderately interested in, on about half we were told the sellers were flexible and prepared to negotiate. On the other two we were told no chance. We're considering waiting until October when there are more properties available, though, because while there is one we are heavily considering, it is not 100% right for us. (Then again, what is ever 100%?) We're keeping our eyes open for a while, anyway.

Morro Jable is a good first time buyer Spanish Town. One of the best safe,  sandy beaches on doorstep. No need for a car - express bus service from Puerto/Airport. A mix of nationalities in our Community
Inmobiliaria Costa Canaria (look on google) have apartments and duplexes in town. The owner is from Finland and speaks English.
We bought here 3yrs ago. Great place with many improvements being made.

I will look those up now, thank you! Are there any areas of town which are nicer/safer than others, or any other recommendations you might have?

[Tamkid]

I am not sure how calculator has come to the conclusion that crime is rampant, compared to the UK its like living in a convent.
I could not emphasise enough, try renting long term before you buy, 80% of the ex pats I know who bought properties on the Island over a 15 year period sold up and left, some after a couple of years others within 4 to 6 years. You can get cabin fever after a while, if your mentality really is sitting reading and walking and not bothered about seasons, greenery or socialising then go for it, knowing what I know now I would have went for long term rent first, good luck with whatever you decide.

[Ivemovedon]

As to crime being rampant on the island my answer would be yes it is and no it isn't. Burglary is rampant. All other crime I would say is far less than the UK.  Even burglary seems to come in waves where they work an area over and then move on to another place.Car theft is very rare, after all they have nowhere to go, but leave anything of value in it  in view and it will be gone quicker than you can blink.

[Ducks]

You can get cabin fever after a while, if your mentality really is sitting reading and walking and not bothered about seasons, greenery or socialising then go for it, knowing what I know now I would have went for long term rent first, good luck with whatever you decide.

That's about what I've been doing for the last ten years and it's worked well for me so far! (That said, there were decent internet speeds here...) I have zero interest in seasons, and I feel I see more than enough greenery at home, so I think this might suit well.

We are still considering renting over the winter, but since we won't be there for more than a month or so at a time initially, the cabin fever element shouldn't get too intense, we hope!

Are you still on the island yourself?

As to crime being rampant on the island my answer would be yes it is and no it isn't. Burglary is rampant. All other crime I would say is far less than the UK.  Even burglary seems to come in waves where they work an area over and then move on to another place.Car theft is very rare, after all they have nowhere to go, but leave anything of value in it  in view and it will be gone quicker than you can blink.

Burglary in our absence wouldn't be the biggest concern for us, since we wouldn't have anything of value worth taking! (Obviously not something anyone wants to experience, of course, but it's on the lower end of the scale.) Break-ins with violence and abuse when we were in residence is something that would definitely put me off, though. Is there much of that sort of thing here?

Squatters etc. (the stress and long-term hassle sounds nightmarish) and crimes against the person (assaults, murders, etc.) are also something that would worry me, though I'm not seeing reports of that happening too often outside of Corralejo and Rosario?

We're basically just trying to do our due diligence and make sure we know as much as possible before we actually commit to anything.

[Ivemovedon]

Fact is the biggest crimes on the island a few years ago were fraud involving property sale and rental. There was a time you couldn't trust an estate agent or solicitor and to an extent even the police. Cleaned up their act now fortunately but even so I'd still be careful who I dealt with and go on recommendation.

[spitfire58]

You can get cabin fever after a while, if your mentality really is sitting reading and walking and not bothered about seasons, greenery or socialising then go for it, knowing what I know now I would have went for long term rent first, good luck with whatever you decide.

That's about what I've been doing for the last ten years and it's worked well for me so far! (That said, there were decent internet speeds here...) I have zero interest in seasons, and I feel I see more than enough greenery at home, so I think this might suit well.

We are still considering renting over the winter, but since we won't be there for more than a month or so at a time initially, the cabin fever element shouldn't get too intense, we hope!

Are you still on the island yourself?

i think in general, you have to be of the mindset to slow way down here but that is part of the charm is it not. People who want the high flier type of lifestyle would struggle on the island IMO. I think alcohol, if not handled correctly could also be an issue, it is one thing being on holiday & having a session every evening but could get to be a problem if one was to try & live long term that way

As to crime being rampant on the island my answer would be yes it is and no it isn't. Burglary is rampant. All other crime I would say is far less than the UK.  Even burglary seems to come in waves where they work an area over and then move on to another place.Car theft is very rare, after all they have nowhere to go, but leave anything of value in it  in view and it will be gone quicker than you can blink.

Burglary in our absence wouldn't be the biggest concern for us, since we wouldn't have anything of value worth taking! (Obviously not something anyone wants to experience, of course, but it's on the lower end of the scale.) Break-ins with violence and abuse when we were in residence is something that would definitely put me off, though. Is there much of that sort of thing here?

Squatters etc. (the stress and long-term hassle sounds nightmarish) and crimes against the person (assaults, murders, etc.) are also something that would worry me, though I'm not seeing reports of that happening too often outside of Corralejo and Rosario?

We're basically just trying to do our due diligence and make sure we know as much as possible before we actually commit to anything.

I don't think that these types of crimes are as bad as we are used to "at home", wherever that is, having said that, I only see what is in the forum news etc but do feel that crime levels are pretty low in general & if normal defence methods are put in place for property & person then risks should be pretty low. Just because one is in a different environment doesn't mean one should lose their brain cells !!

[Ducks]

Fact is the biggest crimes on the island a few years ago were fraud involving property sale and rental. There was a time you couldn't trust an estate agent or solicitor and to an extent even the police. Cleaned up their act now fortunately but even so I'd still be careful who I dealt with and go on recommendation.

That's very worrying! I will definitely keep my eyes and ears open, in that case. I did hear about some people being fleeced of deposits, etc., but do you mean full-scale fraud regards properties that weren't theirs to sell or registered?

i think in general, you have to be of the mindset to slow way down here but that is part of the charm is it not. People who want the high flier type of lifestyle would struggle on the island IMO. I think alcohol, if not handled correctly could also be an issue, it is one thing being on holiday & having a session every evening but could get to be a problem if one was to try & live long term that way

I don't think that these types of crimes are as bad as we are used to "at home", wherever that is, having said that, I only see what is in the forum news etc but do feel that crime levels are pretty low in general & if normal defence methods are put in place for property & person then risks should be pretty low. Just because one is in a different environment doesn't mean one should lose their brain cells !!

I hardly ever drink at all, so I can't imagine that being a problem personally, though considering the price of alcohol there, I can see how it is definitely be an issue for many! Really, the big draw of the island for me is the weather; I'm watching a big ugly band of rain roll in right now that will probably put an end to my hopes of an afternoon stroll, something which happens far too regularly for my liking! Life moving at a slower pace isn't really my preference, if I'm honest, but it's something that goes part and parcel with (hopefully) lower crime rates, better weather, etc. You have to take the bad with the good.

I wouldn't expect to be able to leave doors open and whatnot, but it would be nice not to need an alarm as they're a constant extra expense! I think a monitored alarm might be something we'll need to consider budgeting for, though, in order to make sure we don't have the squatters issue, and it should hopefully help with deterring other forms of crime also.

[Archer]

Ducks, don't over-analyse the move. If you like the place get on and do it. Too many people hesitate and don't enjoy all the benefits.
If you keep one foot in the UK, you can make your choices. Easy!
The only delay we had was deciding where to buy, just to cut out the long-term rental/hotel costs.

[MalT]

We came here primarily for the weather, culture and relatively cheap living, I must admit crime with us was never an issue and whilst we have witnessed low level nuisance ASB and some burglaries it still remains low on our list of concerns, I do however think that it's a good idea to try a long term rent before buying as the island and its ways aren't for everyone, personally, best purchase I ever made.

[Johnrgby2]

We came here primarily for the weather, culture and relatively cheap living, I must admit crime with us was never an issue and whilst we have witnessed low level nuisance ASB and some burglaries it still remains low on our list of concerns, I do however think that it's a good idea to try a long term rent before buying as the island and its ways aren't for everyone, personally, best purchase I ever made.

Totally agree Mal, we had been coming here regularly since 1979, and knew the Island well, but I took a Sabbatical in 2010 and rented here for 6 months, I am constantly asked when I tell someone we live here that although we love it it is not for everyone, and crime is much much lower than The UK.

[woe10]

Crime on the island is very high - don't believe anyone that says it's not!! The place is swarming with police and for a reason. The only reason the locals have dogs is to deter criminals. You cannot leave your house/car unlocked. Also, be careful in the late hours, if wandering alone on the streets. As a foreigner it makes you a target.

I've read some rubbish on the Forum over the years, but this is absolute garbage.
I leave my house door open every night for the dogs to go in and out, My car is outside sometimes unlocked, sometimes with the keys still inside. When I go in the Supermarket, I never lock my car door, no reason to. I feel as safe as houses where I live.
Calculator must be on a different Island to me.

[Ivemovedon]

Can only think you are very isolated to do that on a regular basis .If you tried that in Lajares a couple of years ago i can guarantee you would have been burgled. And you would have deserved to be for plain stupidity. As for your car you could leave your keys in it all night and they would still be there in the morning. Try leaving a laptop in full view, i doubt you'd have the same result especially in any town. Again anyone who leaves valuables inside a car in full view deserves what they get. You wouldn't do it at home so why do it on holiday.

I'm not saying the island is rife with crime and many major types are very rare,  but petty theft and burglary as in all holiday locations is a major problem.

[woe10]

Lajares is home to lots of potless surfer hippies.

[Ivemovedon]

That's true there's a few of those. And very nice they are too. Also some very rich people in expensive villa's. It's what a lot of people like about the place...it's diversity. It's either that or get immersed in the British expat community in somewhere like Caleta. Not sure what that has to do with crime in the area anyway. Burglaries are normally committed by outsiders not the local community.