Fast Internet, Slow Pace: Rural Mallorca's Appeal to Remote Workers

The rustic charm of rural Mallorca combined with modern conveniences like high-speed internet is attracting international buyers seeking a new lifestyle during and after the pandemic. Many have fallen in love with the island’s “rural paradise” and decided to make it their permanent home.

Documentary maker Shaana Levy and her husband fled Mumbai’s lockdown in 2020 to 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 mix of an immersive natural setting with amenities like fast broadband and good roads is the “new luxury” driving rural property sales, according to Christina Deutsch of Engel & Völkers Mallorca. While buyers still want smart home tech, they also desire rustic comforts like olive groves, wells, and homegrown produce.

Rural property sales across the Balearics have been the busiest in a decade over the past three years, per 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. However, renovated rural properties can be hard to find.

Some buyers are pursuing agricultural dreams, like Giuliano and Larissa D’Amico who launched a regenerative farm after a three-year search. Others, like Brenda Irani, have turned holiday homes into permaculture gardens serving the community.

The island’s appeal extends beyond a rural idyll. Tax incentives like the “Beckham law” letting some residents pay just 24% on income up to €600,000 are attracting remote workers. And a new digital nomad visa facilitates non-EU telecommuters moving to Mallorca.

While some may eventually miss the vibrancy of big cities, for now, remote workers from Mumbai to Munich are embracing Mallorca’s simple pleasures of country living paired with modern connectivity.

Source: https://www.ft.com/content/c7e6a057-4289-4f59-ad32-bd97f115e094