Balearics lead the way for Spanish house price rises
According to official figures for Q3, house prices in four Spanish regions are now on the rise. The Balearics lead the way with 4.4% growth year on year and Balearics Sotheby’s International Realty expects the trend to continue for 2014.
Daniel Chavarria Waschke, Managing Director of Balearics Sotheby’s International Realty, with offices in Mallorca and Ibiza, explains, “The factors that kept these Mediterranean islands buoyant in recession, are the same as those fuelling price rises today – lack of supply and appeal across the nationalities. Ibiza and Mallorca were never overbuilt, planning controls have always been much tighter, and as a result we have never had an oversupply to ‘sell off’. Meanwhile with British, Dutch, Germans, Danes, Swedes, you name it, keen to secure a home in the Balearics, demand is constantly high. It’s the ‘perfect storm’ for a healthy real estate market.”
Foreign ownership in the Balearics has indeed more than doubled over the past five years from 1,642 purchases by foreigners in 2008 to 3,571 in 2012. Latest data shows that up until June this year, 1,412 foreigners had purchased homes – almost the same as the whole of 2008. In many ways they are propping up the Islands’ market.
The Council of Notaries reveals that Germans are out front in this trend, making three times the number of house purchases in 2012 (1,303) than 2008 (396). Brits always feature heavily in the Balearics but Russian and Nordic house buyers are also catching up. For example only 27 properties were bought by Swedes in 2008, rising to 168 in 2012 and already 75 in the first six months of 2013. In 2008 there were 35 Russian purchases, by 2012 this figure was 86. Growth is also evident amongst the Chinese, Romanians, Argentineans, French and Italians.
The four regions experiencing house price rises in the third quarter of the year are Navarra (2.8% over the same period in 2012), Extremadura (2.2%), Madrid (0.3%) and the stand-out stars, the Balearics at 4.4%. Of course, the picture isn’t so rosy across Spain with some regions still experiencing strong price falls. Overall prices fell 0.4% quarter on quarter (4.5% year on year) although this is the smallest decline since the end of 2010. Rioja props up the bottom of the table with a Q3 price tumble of 12%
Whilst the experts predict more price falls for Spain in 2014, or at best stabilisation, Daniel can only see more price rises for the Balearics, “Each month we are listing more and more expensive homes. In Mallorca the seven, eight, nine, ten million euro plus category is growing and properties in the best locations with the finest qualities and move-in décor are being snapped up – even at those prices. Meanwhile in Ibiza, a luxury developer on the west coast has instigated two price hikes at his million euro plus villa project this year as phase one sold out in a matter of months. The Balearics really are the ‘exception’ to the Spanish ‘rule’.”
Another interesting nugget of information from the Ministry of Housing is the towns where prices per square metre have risen the most. At number two in the charts is Calvia, an affluent town in southwest Mallorca, where the figure is 13.4% year on year. At number seven is Ibiza, the capital of the island of the same name, up 6%. Meanwhile Manacor, a substantial town in Mallorca’s east, is at number nine with a price rise of 4.8%. Bottoming out this chart is the Catalonian town of Sant Adria de Besos where prices have collapsed by 24.7% over the same period in 2012.
On the market in Ibiza:
Ref 6366 - Villa in Jesus, Ibiza
Newly built designer villa set at the end of a cul de sac in the exclusive gated community of Can Rimbau, just minutes from the town of Jesus, Talamanca beach and Marina Botafoch. Strategically positioned to offer open sea and countryside views, the villa is very bright and spacious. At ground level there is a living room opening onto the swimming pool terrace, a kitchen, dining area, games room and an en-suite bedroom. Upstairs a further en-suite bedroom benefits from an enormous panoramic terrace.
Two bedrooms, Three bathrooms
Built area 550m², Plot size 2,500m²
Price 3.85 million euros (approx 3.25 million GBP)
For more information, visit ibiza-sothebysrealty.com.
On the market in Mallorca:
Ref 6206 – Villa in Alaro, Mallorca
A newly built country home with a natural stone facade set on a flat ten hectare plot in beautiful countryside. Completed at the end of 2009, the property is accessed by an electric gate and long driveway to ensure privacy and security. Inside a double height hall gives a wonderful sense of space, as do the large windows used throughout. Outside there are many trees, including ancient olives and almond trees, a lovely garden and large swimming pool. This home has been styled to the ancient Mallorcan tradition but with the latest technology and high spec materials.
Four bedrooms, Four bathrooms
Built area 500m², Plot size 100,000m²
Price 3.6 million euros (approx 3 million GBP)
For more information, visit mallorca-sothebysrealty.com
