Many prospective buyers only search for a property in Mallorca in the coastal areas close to the sea, although the central part of the island is also attractive with its high-quality leisure opportunities and cheaper prices
Contents
Central Mallorca: high-quality leisure opportunities
Those looking for the real authentic Mallorca will find it in the centre of the island, where the almond trees blossom in spring, vines are grown, and the local farmers take their fresh crops to be sold at the big weekly market in Sineu. The village festivals in this part of the island are legendary and mass tourism is unknown.
The recreational opportunities are manyfold. Anyone who has hiked in the Alaró mountains and enjoyed the panoramic views from the castle ruins at the summit understands the magic of the region. Those not wishing to complete the whole route can park their car halfway up at the traditional Mallorcan inn and farmhouse, which is also a good place for a rest when on the way back down from the summit.
“One of the advantages of the secret of the centre part of Mallorca is the relatively short distances involved to reach all parts of the island. The city of Palma can be easily and quickly reached, as can numerous beaches, so that the diversity can be completely enjoyed – today swimming on the “Playa de Muro”, tomorrow a stroll along the promenade of Port de Pollenca, and then a shopping day and enjoying the culture in Palma. Thanks to the central location most of the island highlights are easily accessible within 20 to 30 minutes by car,”
enthuses Roland Schepp, franchise partner of Porta Mallorquina Real Estate for this region.
In 2017, he came to Mallorca from Germany with his wife Nicole and immediately fell in love with this beautifully scenic region with the mountain ranges of the “Serra de Tramuntana” in the north-west and the “Serres de Llevant” in the east.
Central Mallorca: high-quality leisure opportunities
Amongst the best-known municipalities, and now very popular with property buyers, are Alaró, (where the Porta Mallorquina property shop is located), and the “capital” of the Mallorcan wine industry, Binissalem. Santa Maria del Camí, famous for its Sunday market, is also a popular stop for biking tourists who are particularly numerous in the spring and autumn. Each village has its own special charm. Sineu, for example, is not only situated in the heart of the island but is also a centre of agriculture where farmers offer their freshly-harvested produce for sale every Wednesday at the village market. For those who are more interested in mountain scenery the real estate experts at Porta Mallorquina recommend the region around the idyllic village of Selva.
With around 33,000 inhabitants Inca is the largest town in the central part of the island with a good, permanent infrastructure and direct connections to Palma, not only via the Palma – Alcudia motorway but also using speedy connections by train or bus. Last but not least the proximity to the airport makes the central island region a popular place to live for remote-workers who prefer to work at an “island office” instead of a home office.
Real estate offers in the central region
The centre of the island is not only classic ‘finca country’ with a good 90 per cent of the portfolio consisting of detached country houses, there is also a compacter range of charming town and village houses, often with a pool which is virtually a “must have” in this region. According to the current market study by Porta Mallorquina Real Estate around 70 per cent of the holiday homes offered by the largest real estate agencies are in the medium to up-market classes, with 7 percent of the properties in the luxury segment.
Around every tenth property on the internet is located in the middle of the island, with the market supply of around 380 properties having fallen somewhat compared to the previous year. The relatively low entry prices are attractive for investors, and with an average square metre price of 3,554 euros the centre of the island is just under 2,000 euros below the island average, which was calculated by the Centre for Real Estate Studies from Freiburg at 5,309 euros in 2022. Compared with Mallorca’s most expensive region, the south-west, the difference is particularly striking. A luxury villa in the central part of the island is on average about 40 percent cheaper than its equivalent on the coast between Port d’Andratx and Santa Ponsa.
Study leader Prof. Marco Wölfle and his team have been investigating the real estate market on Mallorca since 2015 on behalf of Porta Mallorquina Real Estate S.L.U., and have confirmed an island-wide price increase rate of 40 percent in the last seven years. On site in the central region of the island, Roland Schepp can also confirm that last year property prices increased in his region.
Attractive for investors
The favourable entry prices and above all the possibility of licensed holiday rentals make the region interesting for capital investors:
“Fincas with 3-4 bedrooms, up-market furnishings and a pool generate returns of between 5 and 7 percent,” Roland Schepp confirms.
Added to that is the emotional factor of being able to use your holiday property yourself and enjoy it during your holidays. However, anyone looking for maximum returns on their investment would be better advised to rent out their property between June and September and not use it themselves during that period.
The top locations in central Mallorca
The most desirable locations in this part of the island include Santa Maria, Alaró, Selva, Montuiri, Sineu and Binissalem. They are all characterised by their idyllic locations and the wide range of leisure activities on offer. The cycle paths often start directly from the finca, and the nearby foothills of the mountains offer excellent hiking opportunities, and there is also ample climbing for those who want more.
The Mallorcan wine-growing area around Binissalem and Santa Maria is also very popular with many wineries offering the opportunity to stop and taste the wines from their own bodegas, for example the Ferrer or Tianna Negre vineyards.
The property price-level in these areas is, however, significantly higher than in the rest of the municipalities. For a luxury villa in Santa Maria, for example, depending on the location and view – between 3.5 and 6 million would be required. A further advantage for those locations, however, is their proximity to the Son Termens golf course, a steeply sloping course which rewards with spectacular views.
Insider tips when buying property
For market expert Schepp the area around Caimari offers real potential. The village lies directly at the foot of the Tramuntana mountains, between the towns of Mancor de la Vall and Binibona. Property prices here are still a good third below the level of the top locations, but with definite potential for appreciation:
“Its proximity to Inca, the short distances to the beaches and the close proximity to the Tramuntana mountains make this area a very interesting location for investors.”
Porta Mallorquina real estate shop Alaró
Until 2022 the real estate office was located directly in the market square of Santa Maria, but at the beginning of the year the team moved to Alaró. The new real estate shop is centrally positioned, which Roland Schepp believes is not only convenient for owners but also attracts walk-in enquiries, and on Saturdays (market day), the office is also staffed. On site six real estate agents take care of the customers, but due to the high demand Schepp plans to further increase the size of his team.
Restaurant recommendations central Mallorca
The culinary offers of the region are wide-ranging and include restaurants for every taste and budget. The team regularly tests the restaurants in the region – “apart from being good for our working atmosphere we can also give our customers authentic advice and recommendations,” smiles Roland Schepp.
The team’s favourite places to eat include the following restaurants:
Es Rústic Petit Restaurant -home cooking and great service.
Miceli in Selva – delicious tasting menus.
Villa Vegana in Moscari – highly recommended for vegans
If you’re looking for a property in Mallorca but are not yet familiar with the central island region, Nicole Schepp recommends renting a holiday home there:
“That way you can experience the area first-hand and then make a decision’’.
The Porta Mallorquina office in Alaró is open from Monday to Friday from 10am to 6pm, and Saturdays from 10am to 1pm.