The Ryanair announcement that it is due to open a base a Mallorca’s Palma airport, from which it will operate 17 new routes, could be good news for the island’s property market.

This is the opinion of Stephen Dight, managing director of Mallorca Sotheby’s International Realty, who noted the region has been performing well, despite difficulties elsewhere in the Spanish real estate industry.

Mr Dight explained property in Mallorca has international appeal and, therefore, any new connections to other countries are likely to have a positive effect.

Among the new routes unveiled by Ryanair are flights to Gothenburg, Magdeburg, Maastricht and Tampere, which will “open up the island to potential property buyers from countries that are not suffering from the effects of recession”, he asserted.

“We will be interested to see the trickledown effect on the housing market,” Mr Dight added.

Potential investors may be encouraged by figures published recently in the Holiday Lettings’ Insight Report 2011, which revealed the Balearic Islands were the eighth most-enquired about destination among those seeking holiday homes between January and October last year.

The level of queries about the archipelago increased by 21 per cent during that period, compared to the same time in 2010, the research found.

New figures have shown that the amount of money ploughed into the Spanish real estate sector by foreign investors in 2011 totalled 3.6 billion Euros (£3 billion).

Property Investor Europe cited the data from the Bank of Spain, which revealed investment in the country’s real estate market climbed by 27 per cent in 2011, compared with 2010.

According to the financial institution, more than €1 billion was invested over three consecutive quarters last year – the first time this has happened since 2008.

Last month, Global Property Guide reported on figures released by Spain’s Ministry of Public Transactions, which showed in the third quarter of 2011, 24.7 per cent more real estate transactions were completed by foreign buyers than in the same period a year earlier.

Alicante, Malaga, Barcelona, the Balearic Islands and Santa Cruz de Tenerife were named as the five most popular destinations for overseas purchasers looking for a home in Spain.

Source: Global Property Guide.

An increase in the number of overseas property buyers entering the Spanish property market has been recorded.

Global Property Guide reported on figures published by the Ministry of Public Transactions, which showed a 24.7 per cent rise in the number of foreigners involved in real estate deals during the third quarter of 2011, compared to the same period a year earlier.

Among the most popular regions for buyers from outside Spain were Alicante, Malaga, Barcelona and the Balearic Islands, the news provider revealed.

At the end of last year, chief investment officer at the private banking division of BBVA Enrique Marazuela told the Reuters Global Wealth Management summit that the housing market in coastal regions of Spain is starting to recover in terms of transaction volumes.

Though Marazuela said that new wealth creation should not be expected in the short and medium term in Spain, he said that some areas of Spain’s battered real estate sector were close to reaching a bottom in valuations.

Property on Spain’s coasts, where the market is largely driven by British and other European second-home buyers, has already stabilized, he said.

“Now what we have seen is that the houses on the coasts . are starting to recover not so much on prices but in transaction volumes and that is coming from European citizens that want to have a second house in Spain.

According to some property professionals, Marbella property prices are holding and unlikely to fall further. Interest from overseas investors is coming back to the area, looking for good investment opportunities.

Marbella is known as “quality destination” and attracts quality tourism. This summer has seen the largest number of occupancy in 5 star accommodation since 2007 as well as a record month of August for foreign tourists.

Some real estate companies are predicting that the market in the area has reached its lowest point, attracting interest from international buyers.

Why is Marbella different? According to one of the well established real estate professionals in Marbella, Christopher Clover, there are far fewer new properties for sale in Marbella: as a result of 24 years during which the Municipal General Plan was not renewed, there was a shortage of new land being zoned for construction, hence causing a freeze in building activity. The General Plan was only just renewed in the middle of 2010 and as much as anything else, Marbella has become a really glamorous place to live again, with an efficient, honest local administration, and with a new General Plan providing a legal security for property owners that was missing in the last decade. Marbella provides not only the glamor (if one wants it), but represents one of the cleanest, most secure places to live on the Mediterranean Coast.

Since the beginning of November Bancaja habitat has started an number of road shows in Alicante and Murcia with over 3000 properties with discounts of up to 60%. To further this, another promotional offer is in place with some of the new developments with further reductions of up to 40%. Dont delay and purchase before Christmas to take advantage of the VAT reduction also, making a substantial saving.

Bancaja Habitat has launched the property Outlet where you can find new and resale properties at heavily discounted prices. We have selected over 500 properties all over Spain and reduced the prices permanently. More properties will be added to the Outlet list, so don’t forget to visit our website regularly for new updates.

Come and visit our properties in Spain and if you buy one we will give you 500 Euros towards travel costs. We can also accommodate  you in one of our Life Resorts in Santa Pola or Benidorm at preferential rates; 150 euros for 2 days, half board for 2 persons.

This year’s event is taking place in London Excel from 13^th to 15^th October and will include an initiative organized in collaboration with the Spanish Ministry of Infrastructure and the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade (ICEX). The focal point will be stand 360 where leading Spanish companies will showcase a broad range of investment opportunities. Bancaja Habitat participates in this event with several of their discounted properties focusing on investment for individuals or corporate.

On Thursday 13^th October, the Spanish Secretary of State will participate in a special seminar presenting an up to date overview of the Spanish real estate sector. The presentation will focus on why Spain is an atractive investment and why now is the optimum time to invest in the real estate sector in Spain, with an overview of the Government measures put in place to promote this type of investment.

Source: Porperty Investor Show

The Spanish government has decided to cut VAT on new built properties from 8% to 4% as a temporary measure and only until 31^st December.

Development minister Jose Blanco has announced the good news as an initiative to stimulate the property market in Spain.

This means a saving of 6000 Euros on a property of 150.000 Euros, which together with Bancaja Habitat promotional offers on their new properties with up to 40% discount, converts to substantial savings for the purchaser.

Come and visit our properties in Spain and if you buy one, we will give you 500 Euros towards your trip.