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GoldAcre Estates offer our clients a Design and Build Service which will lead you through the whole process building your dream home and will guarantee that nothing goes wrong from the first concepts to your final completion and moving in. The first and most important step is to choose your favourite location in Fuerteventura and of course there are considerations regarding the location such as your needs and use of the property, will it be just for your own use ? Will you want to rent out your property? Maybe you will want a property that fulfils each of these needs? GoldAcre Estates will help you find your perfect area, respecting and understanding your budgets and the eventual use of your property, our professional team will then start by assisting you in finding that perfect plot. Once you have decided on a plot the next step is the design process. At GoldAcre Estates we have been working together with German and Spanish Architects, licensed in Spain for over 12 years who speak English, German, Spanish and French. The architects really care for all your needs and ideas as a client and will not be happy until you the client gets exactly what you want. The architect will produce for you all the design work for your property, getting the licence through the town hall and will be present on site throughout the whole process of building your home. All material choices will be recommended by the architect and based around landscape and the climate. Building standards today in Spain and the Canary Islands are identical to the standards of the northern European countries. All qualities have to follow the European norms ISO 9001. After receiving the licence from the town hall the real building process can start. A builder will be appointed with your approval that will be contracted for the whole build. We can recommend some exceptional builders that will guarantee the best standards of construction and examples of existing builds can be viewed. The complete process of building a turn key villa will take between 9 and 12 months including all the steps until being able to move in. During the process of building the Architect and another technician (aparejador) will be observing every single step of the construction, all structural materials like concrete, blocks steel etc. will be tested by an institute as per Spanish law. In case you cannot be here so frequently during the building process we can offer you a project management package to control the whole process and ensure you are confident everything is going well. Apart from quality control we will also control the economics and justify every purchase We are 100% behind you and acting in your interest and will keep in contact with you to help you solve any problems that may occur. After the whole building process is realized the architect has to get you the official finalization document so you are allowed to move in (Final de Obra). With that document and all the licenses of the installers you are then ready to use the house with all the necessary supplies. When you come to the point of furnishing your new home, GoldAcre Estates Design and Build Service will still be by your side and can give you advice on interior design, materials and give recommendations on where to buy. Your property will look much nicer even if you think about a minimum of exterior work. The complete garden surface can be covered with picon (a volcanic granulate) which makes the whole plot look nice and tidy. Into that surface you can plant as much as you want and we can offer advice on fantastic garden designs to suit your budget. To maintain a garden here is not the same as with gardens in northern countries, maintenance here is much easier. We can also help with pool design and maintenance, tiling and creating patio areas, water features and even an area covered with artificial grass using trusted and renown companies that we recommend. GoldAcre Estates Design and Build Service will be right by your side all the way from starting your search to walking through your front door offering an unmatched service that we believe is unique and comprehensive. http://www.buyin-fuerteventura.comLabels: build your own villa, building services, buyin fuerteventura, canary island, fuerteventura, goldacre estates, spain
Fly to let owners with properties in Spain have seen an increase in tourism during the first three months of this year although those using privately owned or family homes fell by 0.5 percent according to figures from the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade. The statistics published by the Frontur opinion poll showed that nine million international tourists visited the country in Q1 which represents an increase of 2.9 percent over the same period last year. Property website kyero.com reports that particularly noticeable were the increases in tourists from the Netherlands (22.3 percent), Belgium (20 percent), Switzerland (14.8 percent), Scandinavia (11.7 percent) and Italy (10.9 percent). However, the UK remained Spain’s number one market, with 1.8 million tourists (albeit a decrease of 4.8 percent from 2010), followed by Germany with 1.47 million (3.7 percent less), and France with 1.2 million (2.7 percent more than last year). The Canary Islands was the most popular destination and attracted 2.7 million of all international tourists in the first quarter, an increase of 15.2 percent over the same period last year. Fuerteventura showed the largest increase in visitors of all the Canarian islands This was followed by Catalonia, with just over two million tourists, or 22.9 percent of all arrivals, but still a decrease of 1.1 percent over the first quarter of 2010. Andalusia, in third place, accounted for 13.6 percent of arrivals, or 1.23 million passengers, and 0.9 percent less than last year. The popular city of Madrid attracted 894,628 tourists, a 0.1 percent increase, while Valencia recorded an increase of 3 percent, to 825,403 tourists. The Balearic Islands, another popular destination for Brits, registered a decrease in tourist visits of 11.8 percent. Most travellers (79.9 percent) chose to fly to Spain, which was 3.4 percent more than in the first quarter from the same period of 2010, while tourists travelling by road increased by 1.3 percent to 17.4 percent. Source Fly2let
http://www.worldmarineguide.comLabels: buyin fuerteventura, canarian island, canary island, canary island property, fuerteventura, spain
Most medium to high handicap golfers don’t like bunker shots and many of you admit defeat before even entering one but tour pro’s and low handicap players love bunkers shots and many would prefer certain sand shots to a long putt. With a positive and fearless attitude everyone can improve every shot they play. There are certain very important points we need to learn first before tackling the sand shot; first of all read the shot like you would a putt and try to imagine where you want the ball to land, then study the sand itself, all courses are different so establish your footing by nestling into the sand which will also give you an idea of it’s depth and texture. If it is hard packed sand use a club with less bounce and play it like a soft greenside lob shot or putt it out it possible. With soft fine sand like we have at Las Playitas in Fuerteventura you need a club with more bounce and you need to hit the sand well behind the ball. I believe grip pressure is very important for the bunker shot and I teach my pupils to hold the club with about 50% of the pressure we use in a normal golf shot- i.e. very light in the fingers. Ball position can vary depending on the shot, a high, lofted shot with an open stance (this encourages a slicing motion) will be more forwards towards the front foot but a standard only slightly open bunker shot should be more towards the middle with a touch more weight on left foot – experiment and figure out what is best for you. The most important thing to remember is to hinge the wrists on the back swing and follow through to a high finish while holding the face of the club open - if you quit on the shot then you’ve got no chance! Remember with a bunker shot your not realistically trying to hole it unlike a long putt or even a chip so getting the ball onto the green and accepting two putts but occasionally achieving one should be satisfactory to most golfers – follow the above advice and you’ll increase your chances of a precious sand save. By By Murdo McCorquodale, Las Playitas Golf Course, Fuerteventura, Canary IslandsMore information on Fuerteventura Golf CoursesLabels: bunker shots, buyin fuerteventura, canary island, fuerteventura, golf, golf course, las playitas
Betancuria is situated in a picturesque valley high up in the islands mountain range also known as Betancuria. The valley is very fertile and produces a greener, softer feel to the area compared to other parts of the island. Fuerteventura was conquered for the House of Castile by Juan de Bethencourt, a French seafarer, between 1402 and 1417 and Betancuria was named after the sailor and established as the islands capital in 1404. His banner is now preserved in the town museum. The reason for the location of the capital was because of the tortuous journey to reach the town which protected it from frequent pirate attacks on the island, although in 1593 the pirate Jaban reached and attacked Betancuria and reduced everything including the Santa Maria church to a pile of rubble and ash. The church was not rebuilt until 1691 and little remains of the original apart from the bells. Fuerteventura was not the only Canary Island to be attacked by Pirates The town remained the islands capital until 1834 when eventually Puerto de Cabras, or Puerto del Rosario as it is known today, became Fuerteventura’s Capital. The town is still the capital of the municipality of Betancuria and because of its historical importance is now a National Park. On the main street running through the town is the Casa Museo Arquebiologico, flanked by cannons. The building contains a collection of important archaeological finds including farming tools, fertility idols, and articles of everyday life of this ancient people. Some of the old local handicrafts can still be seen today with a visit to the 'Casa Santa Maria' where you can watch the crafts men and artists at work and purchase some of the hand made products from the local shop. Betancuria's income comes mainly from day visitors. The church which has now been fully restored is open to the public from 10am until 6pm and there's also a church museum. Most of the property in the town is typical of Canarian design. The climb up to Betancuria is still as torturous as it was in the days of the pirate Jaban, but today with modern air-conditioned coaches the long mountain road is much easier to travel and the views over Fuerteventura from the top are breathtaking and well worth the journey. Labels: betancuria, buyin fuerteventura, canarian, canary islands, fuerteventura, puerto del rosario
At the moment, the project that will transform the future of El Hierro doesn't look like much more than a hole in the ground. Or two, to be exact: one on top of a mountain, another smaller one down below, and in between, a long stretch of pipeline tinted the same color as the scrub that grows so abundantly on this volcanic island. But when this innovative wind-power system goes online at the end of 2011, it will turn El Hierro, the easternmost of Spain's Canary Islands, into the first inhabited landmass in the world to become completely energy self-sufficient. And that's just the first step in a plan that may make the island the most sustainable place on Earth. Sound ambitious? Consider the source. El Hierro is located over 750 miles (1,200 km) from the Spanish mainland, and its stark, volcanic landscape harbors no coal or fossil fuels. Fresh water is scarce, and for electricity, its population of 10,000 has long depended on the diesel brought in weekly by tanker. Which is why, some 25 years ago, the islanders began thinking about ways to convert to renewable energy, using the two resources that they actually have a lot of: wind and water. Now, with oil supplies dwindling worldwide and the Fukushima disaster offering an all-too-present reminder of the perils of nuclear energy, El Hierro's hydro-eolic plant looks positively prescient. "At first, it was simply an issue of becoming more self-sufficient," says Tomas Padrón, president of the Island Council, whose role is similar to that of a mayor's. "We were completely dependent on outside deliveries and could be cut off at a moment's notice. But then with the global-energy crisis, and climate change, and everything else that's happened, we've realized it has a lot more value." El Hierro is pushing ahead faster than its larger neighbours, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, La Palma and La Gomera who all have theira green agendas, Fuerteventura was recently awarded UNESCO Bio Sphere recognition. The future power station is at once a marvel of engineering and remarkably simple in its design. Five windmills on the northeastern end of the island will power a pumping station that, when the wind is blowing, will drive water 2,300 feet uphill, from a small, 5 million-cubic-foot (150,000-cu-m) reservoir down by the shore to a larger, 19 million-cubic-foot (550,000-cu-m) reservoir snuggled into one of the island's volcanic craters. When the wind abates, water from the top depository will be released, along 1.8 miles (3 km) of mostly camouflaged pipes, into the bottom one, and the pressure of that falling water will drive six hydraulic turbines. In other words, El Hierro will combine the two resources in which it abounds to deliver a continuous supply of electricity, no matter the weather. "If we don't want to depend on fossil fuel, we have to have steady input and output," says Gonzalo Piernavieja, director of research and development for the Technological Institute of the Canaries, which designed the plant. "And the only way to do that is through massive storage. In this case, we're using nature's gifts, wind and sea water, for storage." The plant is expected to produce 48 GW/h (gigawatt hours), enabling El Hierro to conserve some 6,000 tons of diesel per year, and to meet 100% of its energy needs by 2015. And by that time, the island will be well into its next sustainability projects. One of them, already underway, is a plan convert all 4,500 of El Hierro's cars to electric; the same municipal company, Gorona del Viento, that is building the new hydroeolic station will supply car batteries powered by excess energy from the plant. "The whole system will be integrated," says Javier Morales, El Hierro's councilman for sustainability. "It's beyond green. When the power plant and the car system interact, it will be like galaxies colliding." And that's not all that will be integrated. Unlike most of the other islands in the Canaries archipelago, which have staked their economies on mass tourism, El Hierro remains largely agricultural (pineapples and mangos are its primary exports). Its farmers too are looking ahead: all of the island's agricultural cooperatives have signed on to a plan that will convert their fields to organic production in the next eight years. And those farms, in turn, will be connected to a "biodigester" that converts sewage into both methane (which can then be used as fuel) and fertilizer. How did a place so small that it lacks a movie theater and so culturally conservative that it still frowns upon unaccompanied women in bars come up with such a revolutionary plan for the future? Thank geography, says Island Council president Padrón. "We've always been doubly isolated, first from mainland Spain, and then from the rest of the Canaries," he says. "And we've always had problems with drought and with supplying ourselves. It makes us look harder for solutions." But if El Hierro's problems are particular, its solutions don't have to be, say officials. "Absolutely this technology can be applied elsewhere," says Morales about the power station, whose upper reservoir is currently being lined with massive sheets of PVC in preparation for the first water pumping. "Hawaii, for example. We're already advising them." That's something that another volcanic archipelago, notably larger but perhaps newly aware of the limits of conventional energy, might want to look into Source: Timehttp://www.buyin-fuerteventura.comLabels: buyin fuerteventura, canary islands, el hierro, fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, unesco
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