Germans buying more property in mallorca
Photo: Yngvil Osdal Runde
Germans are buying more property in Mallorca, according to agents, as foreigners continue to prove essential to Spain's real estate recovery.
The area of Mallorca has always been popular with international tourists, as the Balearic island's sandy shores offer stunning scenery and sumptuous food. But while Mallorca attracted more than a million Brits this summer, it was the Germans who just couldn't get enough of what the island had to offer: so far in 2015, German visitors have accounted for more than 40 per cent of all foreigners to visit Mallorca, according to data from Ibestat, the statistics institute of the Balearic Islands.
Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of Spanish homebuilder Taylor Wimpey España, is one German who loved the island so much that he couldn't bear to leave. He is not alone in his passion: August data from the company shows a 160 per cent year to date surge in sales to German buyers, almost all of whom have opted for a second home on Mallorca.
More than 2.1 million Germans have enjoyed a break on the island so far this year, according to Ibestat's figures. Pritchard says that the sharp increase in buyers has been driven, in part, by the recently launched Cala Anguila and Costa Beach sites.
Cala Anguila is one of the last remaining developments with direct access to the beach on the island, while Costa Beach also enjoys direct beach access and four golf courses within a 10-minute drive.
The surge in sales for Taylor Wimpey follows a study by the Instituto de Practica Empresarial business school and Mar Real Estate, which highlights the upward trend in the Balearic Islands overall, fuelled by activity from overseas buyers. The increase is being led by Mallorca, says the report, with growth of 5 to 7 per cent in the property market predicted.
What is helping to attract a wider variety of international house-hunters to the area? The weather may be the answer: according to the World Travel Guide, extreme winter temperatures in Germany commonly reach -10°C, far below the Mediterranean climate of Mallorca.
"There is something about Mallorca that really captures the German imagination," suggests Pritchard. "From the plethora of sporting activities to the stunning landscape, there is so much to do and admire here. It's a great place for an active holiday, but it's also a wonderful destination for those looking to relax."