Why so much property buying in Mallorca is paid in cash — and what that means for the island

Why so much property buying in Mallorca is paid in cash — and what that means for the island

Key question: Why do so many buyers in the Balearic Islands reach for their wallets instead of the bank — even though prices per square meter are nearly €4,000?

The latest figures from the association of notaries are clear: in September, 1,280 purchase contracts for residential properties were registered in the Balearic Islands, alongside 624 loan registrations. That means only 48.7 percent of transactions involved mortgages; the rest were paid for directly in cash. The average loan amount was €250,971 and covered on average 67.9 percent of the transaction costs. At the same time, the islands record prices of almost €4,000 per square meter — far above the Spanish average of around €1,940 per square meter.

Sounds contradictory? Not necessarily. What the figures show above all is that liquidity is concentrated on Mallorca. Buyers who can pay in cash do not need bank guarantees and are independent of interest rate cycles. That explains why cash purchases dominate even in a market with high prices per square meter.

A sober look at the segment data makes the picture more concrete: last September sales of flats fell by 4.9 percent, the purchased flats were on average smaller (99 square meters, down 4.1 percent) and more expensive (an average of €3,850/m², up 9.7 percent year-on-year). For single-family homes, the number of sales increased (286, up 24.3 percent) and the average living area rose slightly; the price per square meter here was €4,088 (down 11.3 percent year-on-year).

So much for statistics — now the practice: on a grey morning on the Passeig Mallorca, a look out of the window gives the real mood. Mopeds roll by, cups clink in a café, construction boards stand on a corner, and a young couple stands silently in front of a shop window studying a property. For them, paying in cash is not a thought but distant. For others, who have capital from sales or inheritances, it is a daily freedom of choice.

What is often missing from the public debate is the origin of these cash payments. Do they come from legal sales, inheritances, foreign funds? The notaries provide figures on the prevalence of mortgages, but not full anonymized profiles of buyers. That silence facilitates speculation — and prevents targeted policy.

What risks does the cash predominance bring? First: increased price dynamics in central locations. Buyers with large liquidity set price anchors that others — including landlords — follow. Second: a harder access for the local generation that depends on loans and faces high equity requirements. Third: a potential reduction in the supply of housing available for long-term rental if many buyers purchase flats as investments or second homes.

What is missing in the public discourse: concrete data on buyer structure (domestic/foreign, primary residence/second home), insights into usage (owner-occupied vs. rental) and information on whether cash payments are accompanied by tax transparency. Such information would enable policymakers and administrations to take targeted measures.

Concrete solutions being discussed on the island include: first, the notary chamber could publish expanded anonymized statistics that include categories of origin and intended use without violating privacy rights. Second, municipalities could provide targeted incentives for long-term housing — for example through tax benefits for owner-occupiers and stricter conditions for short-term rental licenses. Third, a fund for affordable housing, financed by a moderate additional levy on luxury transactions, would provide direct support for local buyers. Fourth, subsidized loans or guarantees for young families could improve access to mortgages.

In the short term, practical steps are possible: more transparency in listings (indicating whether a property is intended as a main residence), mandatory reporting of vacancies at the municipal level, and stronger integration of property registers and housing authorities. In the long term, social solutions are also needed: cooperative housing projects, infill development in areas with good infrastructure, and municipal building plots.

The conclusion is sharp: the notaries' statistics show more than a payment pattern — they point to inequality in access to housing. When prices on Mallorca approach €4,000 per square meter and many buyers pay in cash, a large part of the population has less room to breathe. Without data and targeted policy, these patterns will solidify.

The island has not only sun and sea air; it has residents, bakeries, schools and bus routes that must function. People who have coffee in Santa Catalina in the morning should not have to watch their neighborhood become unaffordable for those who live and work there. Transparency, fair tax rules and concrete support instruments could ensure that the housing market does not belong only to the largest wallets — that is the simple but urgent choice facing politicians and society.