Mallorca Property Guides · Insights & Editorial from the Field
HISTORIC FINCA SANTA MARIA
Set deep in a protected valley of pine forest and mountain, this stone finca has stood for roughly two centuries and wears its history quietly. The façade is dr
3 bedrooms · 2 bathrooms · 356 m² · 67900 m²
PLANTA NOBLE SANTA CREU
Set on the planta noble of a restored heritage building in La Lonja, this is one of only five residences within a palazzo whose origins reach back to the early
3 bedrooms · 3 bathrooms · 210 m²
GARDEN POOL MAISONETTE
Set on the ground floor of a restored heritage building in La Lonja, this is one of five residences within a palacio whose origins reach back to the early fifte
4 bedrooms · 5 bathrooms · 323 m² · 422 m²
PETNHOUSE CAS CATALA
This considered triplex unfolds across three floors above Carrer de Barranc, anchored by materials and craft. The open-plan ground floor flows from a sculptural
4 bedrooms · 4 bathrooms · 179 m²
PENTHOUSE CAN SANTACILIA
This carefully restored palace residence occupies the principal floor of Can Santacília, a 16th-century building with over four centuries of architectural herit
3 bedrooms · 2 bathrooms · 186 m² · 233 m²
GEORGE SAND VILLA
Located in the heart of the Serra de Tramuntana, this finca combines contemporary design with traditional Mallorcan character. The property centres on a strikin
4 bedrooms · 4 bathrooms · 309 m² · 1293 m²
TOWNHOUSE GENOVA
Set over four levels, this newly built townhouse has been conceived as a calm, light-filled home where proportion and material do the work. The ground floor ope
2 bedrooms · 3 bathrooms · 170 m² · 187 m²
BONANOVA DUPLEX
A complete renovation carried out to a considered standard, this duplex apartment on Carrer Escultor Rosselló occupies the upper floors of a well-maintained res
3 bedrooms · 3 bathrooms · 131 m²
Explore Mallorca's most coveted areas
Buying property in Mallorca raises questions no sales brochure answers. How does the NIE number work? What does the Balearics' banded transfer tax mean for my budget? Which municipality permits holiday letting, and which does not? And how do you recognise a finca with a clean planning file? Our guides gather the answers — written from day-to-day buying work, not researched from a distance.
The topics fall into four strands. First, the purchase process itself: from the search brief through the arras contract to the notary appointment, including the cost blocks you should realistically budget for. Second, law and tax: NIE, residency, the 183-day rule, recurring charges such as IBI and wealth tax. Third, life on the island: schools, healthcare, the annual rhythm from almond blossom to high season. Fourth, the property as an object: architecture, building fabric, renovation and fit-out — from the winter-heating question to legalising a pool.
Every article follows the same rule as our curated portfolio from €800K: fewer pieces, properly checked. Where blanket statements would not be honest — taxes, say, which depend on your personal situation — we say so and point you to a specialist adviser, to whom we are glad to make the introduction.
In our experience, most readers begin with three pieces. The first is the guide to relocating to Mallorca — the broad overview of sequence, authorities, taxes and a realistic timeline from decision to moving in. The second is the short explainer on the NIE number, because without it neither the purchase nor a bank account works, and with a little preparation the application takes days rather than weeks. The third covers purchase costs in the Balearics: transfer tax, notary, registry and lawyer, together roughly 10 to 13 per cent of the purchase price.
Then come the lifestyle topics, which often shape a buying decision more than any number: architecture between Mallorcan tradition and contemporary new builds, life through the island's year, the right location for families with school-age children. If a topic is missing, write to us — the best guide articles so far have grown out of specific client questions.
How does a property purchase in Mallorca work in principle?
In five steps: NIE number and a Spanish bank account; property selection and negotiation; legal review by your lawyer; the arras contract with a deposit of usually 10 per cent; then the notary appointment with the balance paid and keys handed over. From agreement to notary usually takes four to eight weeks — longer for fincas with a complex planning file.
What purchase costs and taxes should I expect?
On purchase, roughly 10 to 13 per cent: the banded Balearic transfer tax (for new builds, 10 per cent IVA plus stamp duty instead), notary, land registry and legal fees. Recurring charges include the IBI property tax, refuse fees and, where applicable, wealth tax; rental income is taxable. The exact arithmetic depends on value, use and your tax residency.
May I let my Mallorca property to holiday guests?
Only with an ETV licence — and that is the bottleneck: new licences are issued restrictively, and in Palma's multi-family buildings holiday letting is not permitted at all. Properties with an existing licence therefore command a visible premium. Long-term letting, by contrast, is possible everywhere. Settle the letting question before you buy, not after — it determines which properties qualify.
Do the guides replace personal advice?
No — they prepare for it. The articles give you the framework: process, cost blocks, typical pitfalls. What they cannot do is assess your situation: budget structure, tax questions, the right location for your daily life. That is what the first conversation and our network of specialist lawyers and tax advisers are for — the guides simply make those conversations faster and better.