Cardenas Real Estate Agent Blog – Gran Canaria

Top Canarias, the magazine of one of the two most important newspapers of Gran Canaria “La Provincia” published an article about Cardenas Real Estate talking about their 30 years history from 1980-2010.

Read here the translation into English:

When Cárdenas Real Estate was established 30 years ago, its founder   Antonio G. de Cárdenas, was a well-known person in Arguineguín-Mogán. His flawless previous professional career, his and Rolande’s  (his wife and an official translator) knowledge of foreign languages – both had lived and worked for some years abroad – earned him an excellent reputation especially amongst the non-resident Real Estate owners in the southwest of the island. They not only turned to him to buy and sell properties, but   recommended him as well to their friends and acquaintances.

Both founders remember how often new clients reported having been told by a friend: “if you buy something in Gran Canaria, go to Cárdenas only, to nobody else”. At a time when many foreigners, who had bought their property years ago through different agents, were still waiting for their inscription in the Land Register, the name Cárdenas meant the guarantee that far from limiting its task to the mediation between seller and buyer, it would take care as well of paying the taxes and of all the paperwork until the property was registered.

Thus Cárdenas started its career hardly needing any other advertising than the clients’ word of mouth recommendations. New methods were introduced when the founders’ daughter Carolina joined the company (1996) after completing her European Business Studies in Germany and Madrid with a dissertation on the Internet in the Real Estate sector, at a time when Internet was hardly known in the Canaries. Cárdenas was doubtless one of the first Real Estate Agents with  its own website. It was much applauded from the beginning and greatly improved when Ramón Sánchez Bruhn joined the company (2001) as Marketing and IT Director.  Nowadays the website gets every year more than 180.000 visitors. Cardenas naturally takes part in the social community on the Net (Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Flickr, etc.)

In 1997 Cárdenas acquired their superbly located head office in Arguineguín and its Mogán and Puerto Rico branches were opened 2000.  The staff was increased up to the present 14 members of a team that is second to none as for professionalism, linguistic competency and loyalty.

The founders of the company gradually stood aside and passed on the torch to their children: Carolina as Managing & Commercial Director) and Daniel (LLB with a postgraduate course in Tax Law) as Director of the Legal and Tax Department. .

Notwithstanding the growth of the company, the constant adaptation to the new technologies and the exemplary taking over by a second generation, Cárdenas Real Estate has remained faithful to the principles that inspired their first steps: to give their clients a professional, comprehensive and honest service and to mediate impartially and fairly between the selling and the buying parties.  The company still sets great value  - as the very first day – upon client testimonials, such as this one (April 2009), amongst hundreds received and published on  the web: “We are absolutely delighted with the attention and dedication the whole staff of Cárdenas Real Estate gave us. It was a real surprise to find truly professional people because there are not many nowadays.  We congratulate you for your services and will not hesitate to recommend you to our friends.”

Over the years of remaining day after day faithful to the company’s philosophy, Cárdenas Real Estate has achieved – in spite of several crisis that affected the sector in those years – a leading market position in the south of the island. They have received the “Best Property Agent Award” 2006-2010, granted by Europe’s leading property magazine BELLEVUE.  Cárdenas Real Estate thank their clients for their confidence during those 30 years.

Gran Canaria is famous for it’s beaches and sun but it’s also a popular venue for major international events. The 11th annual Las Palmas Film Festival takes place from 12 to 20 March and will attract entries from 10 different countries.

Five different venues across the city will host small independent films competing for awards, and most important, prestige among the film community. The whole event will give Gran Canaria a huge boost with hotels, restaurants and clubs all enjoying a knock on benefit.

All this will help to promote the charms and attractions of Gran Canaria, it already attracts visitors and home investors from many countries.

By Cardenas News

On Wednesday 10/02/2010, the Mayor of Mogan, Francisco González, presided a ceremony in Puerto de Mogan naming a square in honor of the late Rafael Neville Rubio – Argüelles, V Conde de Berlanga de Duero. The event was also attended by Nevilles nephew and niece Edgar and Mary Neville, Paolo Riccardi, representative of “Venice of the Canaries” and Ara Santiago, Managing Director of Puerto Mogan.

Rafael Neville was born in Málaga in 1926 and died in his beloved Sardinia in 1996, he was the soul and promoter of what is now Puerto de Mogan, a project conducted between 1983 and 1988 with the intention of creating the best and most beautiful urbanization of the Islands. The particular and unique design of the buildings, known as the Venice of the Canaries, have made this area one of the most charming tourist attractions and most visited of the Canary Islands.
Artist, developer, designer of natural areas and with a very active social live in the Costa del Sol, Rafael Neville designed and built with Paolo Riccardi the famous Porto Rafael on the Italian island of Sardinia before moving up to Mogán in the mid 60´s.

During his time in Puerto de Mogan, this area became the usual place of VIPs visiting the European social landscape of Gran Canaria. Puerto Mogan, was for many years the meeting place of the “jet set” of the time.

Francisco Gonzalez, Mayor of Mogán: The legacy Rafael left us remains very much alive in Puerto de Mogán, an enormously attractive place and a real gem of the Canaries which we all feel truly proud of!

By Theresa Bona (photo by Townhall of Mogán, from left to right: Edgar + Maria , nephews of Rafael Neville, Francisco Gonzalez, Santiago Ara and Paolo Riccardi)

Get known Puerto de Mogán

Spain and its wonderfully sunny islands like Gran Canaria, are emerging as better value than ever, pushing holiday high fliers like Turkey, down the pecking order. The British Post Office Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer has shown a 44% rise in Turkey for meals, drinks and other holiday items. Spain, in contrast, is now the cheapest Eurozone destination, with a 30% fall in the cost of similar holiday items since last year.

That’s nice to know, but behind the figures, is an even more important message, the all year round sun and high temperatures make sure that Gran Canaria is still one of the most popular places for British holiday makers to visit and to live.

The south coast of Gran Canaria offers fantastic beaches that never go out of style, and with good transport, schools and shops, it’s sure to continue to put other holiday spots in the shade.

By Cardenas News

Photo by Oliver Bossecker, taken from Cardenas Facebook

How friendly is Gran Canaria? Well even the President of the Canary Islands Gobierno (government) felt relaxed enough to join in the annual marathon event in Las Palmas on Sunday 24 January.

At the front of the field the serious runners showed most people a clean pair of heels, but many just wanted to enjoy the day and the exercise. President Paulino Rivero finished in a very creditable 2 hours 14 minutes and 23 seconds, earning 787 th place on the course. The winner was African runner James Kutokirkogey, but everyone who took part can consider themselves winners.

It wasn’t all hard pavement pounding, on the day before the big race there was a half marathon for the juniors and even a large pasta party, good fuel for all the competitors.

By Cardenas News

Many clients have asked us if we know the exact dates for carnival in Mogán. We have asked the Townhall and the dates are 26, 27 and 28th of February.

Enjoy the it!

Lidl, the German discount supermarket, is going to open in the first 6 months of 2010 4 establishments in Gran Canaria: Telde, Arinaga, Carrizal and Vecindario.

This will for sure contribute to make prices for supermarket products more attractive.

By Cárdenas News

Snow may look nice on photos, and even be fun to play in for a few days, but the UK is in the icy grip of sub zero temperatures that are disrupting everyone’s lives. Gran Canaria with its golden sandy beaches and 20 degrees plus of sunshine has never looked so tempting.

Full marks to Thomas Cook for offering special low price flight deals from 51.99 pounds, during February, March and April. The UK cold snap looks like hanging around for a few weeks, so getting away makes good financial sense, saving on all that extra heating to keep the snow at bay.

The southern hot spots of Mogan, Maspalomas and Puerto Rico have great facilities, sensibly priced bars and restaurants, and glorious beaches to soak up some much needed sun. Winter takes on a whole new meaning in Gran Canaria and the people of the island always offer a warm welcome. Go on put away that snow shovel and head to the airport, the sun is waiting for you.

By Cardenas News

More than 40 million people world wide have seen already the famous musical Mamma Mia with the best ABBA Hits.

Now and until the 29th of January you have the chance to see this Musical in the theatre Pérez Galdos in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Entry tickets can be bought at the theatre or via La Caja de Canarias in one of their branches or via Internet at cajatique.com

By Cárdenas News

Last Saturday night there was a schoolmates’ get-together of the Colegio Alemán de Las Palmas (German School). We were about 40 old friends from different classes who finished high school in the early 90’s; hard to believe but it will soon be 20 years since! The event had eloquently been published on Facebook as “Show me your wrinkles”.

We met at the “Rockola Club” in Las Palmas, a live music night club recently opened by Oliver alias “el Rubio”, one of our old schoolmates and unconditional rock’n’roll fan. The club offers live music from the very best Rock and Blues bands of Gran Canaria, e.g. The Beatmaps (playing Beatles’ versions) or Red Marks (http://www.myspace.com/redmarksrock) only to name some. I truly recommend a visit to Rockola if you are fond of music of the 60’s and 70’s. The address is Olof palme 37 (next to Mesa y Lopez).

We had great fun. It was only the day after I realized I am not 18 anymore, what a shame. But I really look forward to repeating the event next year again at Rockola. So Keep on Rockin’, Rubio!

By Carolina García Chagrin