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www.theolivepress.es
November 2017
Issue 17
Heads up!
November 22nd - December 5th 2017
Find out how drones are changing the property game and how they can help you sell your home
SEE PAGE XVIII >>
The thinker’s finca
DON’T think about it too long… but this historic home once owned by one of the godfather’s of Spanish philosophy has just come up for sale. The 1,500 metre square country home, Casa Mata, was once owned by Mallorcan philosopher Ramon Llull, who wrote in Catalan. Credited as being one of the forefathers of the Catalan language, Llull even has a university named after him in Barcelona. On sale via various agents, the stunning hunting estate in Mallorca has 53 hectares of prime land and numerous outbuildings. The 13th century writer and artist was hugely influential on the island and once taught king James II of Aragon. Llull lived in the huge estate near ANCIENT: a Llull book Algaida from 1250 until a series of six religious visions led him to leave his family to lead a life as a missionary converting Muslims and Jews to catholicism. He wrote over 200 works during his life and has a tomb in Palma’s basilica of St Francis, currently being restored. His family sold the home in the 16th century. It sits near Llucmajor on the road from Randa to Montuiri.
The Brits are back
PHILOSOPHER’S STONES: Thinker Llull (left) once lived in stunning Casa Mata
Bring it on S PAIN’S property market is set for another healthy year. Sales and prices are expected to rise… as long as there are no sudden economic shocks, predicts one of the country’s largest agents. According to Anticipa sales will rise by 9.3% next year to 526,000 properties, up from 481,000 this year and 21% more than in 2016. Prices are also expected to rise by 6.1% next year, on top of an expected
Another 12 months of growth in Spain with 10% more sales - as long as Catalunya is dealt with
6.9% this year. Prices for resales and new builds meanwhile, are expected to continue to increase by 5.8% over the fourth quarter of this year. The firm’s latest report, however, was compiled before Catalunya declared independence and Madrid imposed
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direct rule. The region is regarded as the wealthiest in Spain and its capital Barcelona has seen some of the highest property price rises this year. It is hoped that the political uncertainty will not affect sales too much, particulary as regional elections have now
been called for December 21, and the situation has calmed down. However, this has not stopped some of Spain’s largest property companies with links to the region, seeing their share prices slump. Merlin Properties and Colonial fell by 5.3% and 6.4% respectively at the height of the independence crisis. Investors, though, are adopting a ‘wait and see’ policy in the run up to the elections.
BRITISH buyers have bounced back in Spain over the second half of the year. According to one key developer, the number of British buyers has more than doubled on the same period last year. Between July and October 2017, homebuilder Taylor Wimpey has seen a whopping 118% increase in buyers from the UK. “We are extremely proud of the results generated to date in 2017,” said sales boss Marc Pritchard. “And it is great to see the British buyers back. “They have been half of the buyers in the last four months.” So far this year, Spain’s leading housebuilder has reported a 13% increase in sales (388 properties) compared to 342 homes last year. Enquiries for holiday homes during the summer season were up by 13% - the biggest growth seen in the last six years.
Buying or selling?