PALMA DE MALLORCA, Spain -
Jan. 28, 2014 -
PRLog -- “Never before have so many five million euro plus villas sold in one year”. The words of Daniel Chavarria Waschke, MD of Balearics Sotheby’s International Realty, referring to the property market on largest island Mallorca (http://www.mallorca-
sothebysrealty.com/)
. This Mediterranean archipelago is more sought-after than ever.
“2013 has been quite an incredible year in the history of the Balearics’ property market,” explains Daniel. “According to our own market research, in Port Andratx (http://www.mallorca-
sothebysrealty.com/
en/mallorca-
exclusive-properties-
in/southwest)
alone 16 villas priced over five million euros changed hands in 2013, the highest valued at 18 million euros. In southwest Mallorca no less than 25 five million euro plus villas were sold, 30 in Mallorca as a whole. Bearing in mind this is just information gathered from our owners and advisors, it’s likely that even more than 30 were sold. This is record-breaking.”
Mallorca Sotheby’s International Realty has 317 properties in its portfolio, of which 236 are villas over two million euros. 23 of these are priced over ten million euros, with plenty more being promoted discretely offline. Ibiza Sotheby’s International Realty (
http://www.ibiza-sothebysrealty.com/) lists 82 properties for sale, of which 59 are villas over two million euros. As a rule, the Company only promotes villas priced above two million euros and apartments above one million – with a distinct lack of the latter, 90% of its listings are in fact villas.
Daniel continues, “Our typical Mallorca Sotheby’s International Realty client is looking for a newly built or completely refurbished home, preferably furnished to immaculate taste, that they can just move in to and enjoy from the word ‘go’. It is these kinds of home that form the vast majority of those 30 multimillion euro sales on the Island. Properties that need refurbishment are simply becoming less desirable.”
The high end real estate agent has also spotted another interesting trend for 2013 and that’s the resurgence of Port Andratx as the in-demand location for a luxury home. Just three years ago, the area of Bendinat-Costa d’en Blanes-Puerto Portals, just a few kilometres west of the capital Palma (
http://www.mallorca-sothebysrealty.com/en/mallorca-exclus...), was on a par with Port Andratx in terms of sales activity. But research by Mallorca Sotheby’s International Realty shows that in 2013 properties with a combined value of over 250 million euros were sold in Port Andratx, more than twice the amount claimed by its former close rival. Meanwhile the average price per square metre of property sold by the agent now exceeds 9,000 euros.
“Nationality-
wise, Germans topped our buyer list in Mallorca”, says Daniel, “followed by Brits and Scandinavians. Interestingly this was not reflected in our enquiries with the majority being British, almost exactly a third, and just a little over 22% German. Perhaps this is a sign that we’ll be selling to more Brits in 2014. Only a few Russians purchased in 2013 but, in my opinion, this will change for 2014 as they discover Mallorca’s charm. Likewise I expect more Chinese, Middle Eastern and other non-Schengen buyers in 2014 as the law granting automatic residency (
http://www.mallorca-sothebysrealty.com/en/news-/important...) to foreign investors who use 500,000 euros or more of private funding to purchase a property in Spain is now in full effect.”
Across in Ibiza, the mood is also good. Glynn Evans, Managing Director of Ibiza Sotheby’s International Realty, based at the new Marina Botafoch HQ, says, “Figures are trickier to come by in Ibiza, perhaps that’s part of the Island’s mystique, but the general view is that between 18 and 25 villas priced above two million euros changed hands here in 2013. As a Company we have come into 2014 with negotiations on five separate properties on the table, totalling in excess of ten million euros. Various nationalities are involved including French, German, English, Spanish and Portuguese. We expect almost all of the five to come to fruition making this the best start to a year in Ibiza Sotheby’s International Realty’s short history.”
“I keep hearing the South of France cropping up in the same sentence as Ibiza,” continues Glynn. “Whilst both locations offer excellent service, upmarket restaurants and the finest homes (http://www.ibiza-
sothebysrealty.com/
en/featured-
exclusive-properties)
with famous name owners, the general consensus is that Ibiza has something that the South of France doesn’t right now, and that’s the ‘cool’ factor. Our buyers may be exceptionally wealthy and love to live the high life, but in Ibiza they can do it wearing flipflops in a slightly bohemian bar if they wish – and just be themselves for a while. We’re certainly attracting a clientele that may previously have opted for France, but prefer the unique ambience on this Mediterranean island.”
Certainly the White Island is an established celebrity hangout. Beyoncé
and baby Blue, David and Samantha Cameron, tennis heartthrob Rafael Nadal, socialite Paris Hilton, Wolf of Wall Street Star Leonardo DiCaprio and supermodels Bar Refaeli, Doutzen Kroes and Kate Moss all chose Ibiza for their summer 2013 holidays. Elle MacPherson and Jade Jagger have had homes on the Island, as do bad boy rocker Noel Gallagher, football favourites Cesc Fabregas and David Villa, musician James Blunt and DJs Pete Tong and Eric Morillo. They enjoy the beautiful scenery (http://www.ibiza-
sothebysrealty.com/
en/real-estate-
investment-in-
ibiza), unspoilt beaches, rolling countryside and an ability to escape the public and the paparazzi should they wish.
“Nationality-
wise Brits topped our buyer list in Ibiza, this is backed-up by enquiry figures with just under 40% of enquiries to the office being British, a significantly higher proportion than in Mallorca, and just over 10% of them being German,” continues Glynn. “The Dutch, Spanish and Italians follow behind at around 7% each. Americans are expected to feature heavily in 2014 with many affluent individuals already booking top-class summer holiday rentals – both homes and charter yachts – and the tendency is for more permanent arrangements to follow. And, with more than 300 Sotheby’s Realty affiliate offices in the States to assist, it’s certainly a territory worth exploring.”
Contact Mallorca Sotheby’s International Realty on (+34) 971 67 48 07 (tel:%28%2B34%
29%20971%2067%
2048%2007), mallorca@mallorcasir.com or visit www.mallorca-
sothebysrealty.com. Social media: www.facebook.com/
MallorcaSothebysRealty / www.twitter.com/
MallorcaSIR.
Contact Ibiza Sotheby’s International Realty on (+34) 971 31 07 99, ibiza@ibizasir.com or visit www.ibiza-sothebysrealty.com. Social media: www.facebook.com/
IbizaSothebysRealty / www.twitter.com/
IbizaSIR.
-ends-
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