Fast Internet, Slow Pace: Rural Mallorca's Appeal to Remote Workers
Photo by Eugene Zhyvchik on Unsplash
Remote workers are embracing Mallorca's simple pleasures of country living paired with modern connectivity.
Rural Mallorca’s mix of old-world character and modern conveniences like high-speed internet is drawing international buyers who want a different kind of life. Many came during or after the pandemic and decided to stay.
Documentary maker Shaana Levy and her husband left Mumbai during lockdown in 2020 for her parents’ finca (farmhouse estate) in Mallorca.
“We fell in love with the rural paradise and decided to stay,” said Levy, who now owns a country house and grows almond trees for honey production. “Life is simple and a complete juxtaposition to the crazy busy life of Mumbai.”
The combination of natural surroundings with amenities like fast broadband and good roads is what Christina Deutsch of Engel & Völkers Mallorca calls the “new luxury” driving rural property sales. Buyers still want smart home technology, but they also want olive groves, wells, and homegrown produce.
Rural property sales across the Balearics have been the busiest in a decade over the past three years, according to Spain’s statistics institute. The average price for a prime rural home in Mallorca’s central region was nearly €1.7 million in 2023.
For families using Palma’s international schools, popular rural areas include Campanet, Selva, Bunyola and Santa Maria, with 3-4 bedroom homes on land costing €2.5-4 million. Renovated rural properties can be hard to find, though.
Some buyers are pursuing agricultural ambitions. Giuliano and Larissa D’Amico launched a regenerative farm after a three-year search. Others, like Brenda Irani, have turned holiday homes into permaculture gardens that serve the community.
The island’s pull goes beyond countryside living. Tax incentives like the “Beckham law,” which lets some residents pay just 24% on income up to €600,000, attract remote workers. A new digital nomad visa also makes it easier for non-EU telecommuters to relocate.
While some may eventually miss the energy of a big city, for now, remote workers from Mumbai to Munich are settling into Mallorca’s slower pace, pairing country living with modern connectivity.
Source: https://www.ft.com/content/c7e6a057-4289-4f59-ad32-bd97f115e094