The largest island of Spain, Majorca - known in Spanish as Mallorca - has a well developed property and tourism market, which effluent and prudent buyers may do well to take advantage of. Both Majorca and Mallorca are pronounced like "my-or-ka", and visitors will find that the island is used to tourists, to the extent that little knowledge of Spanish is necessary.
Palma, the capital city of Majorca is heavily urbanised, with a fascinating and eventful nightlife, while those searching for a more peaceful area in which to buy property, may find what they need in the quieter towns and villages inland.
Because Majorca is an island, land is limited, which has raised property prices. There are also strict guidelines in place on new developments; new resorts are banned outright, and new houses can only be built if surrounded by land, in order to prevent over development. Sea views are also somewhat restricted, and properties which have them will usually be more expensive.
Because of all this, real estate in Majorca can be expensive, with the average price being over £500,000. Bear in mind that large, expensive mansions in areas like Palma push the average up, and other areas can be cheaper. A two bedroom apartment in Palma could cost as much as £442,000, while a similar property in the south east of Majorca could cost as little as £120,000. Northern Majorca is also quite reasonable, with a five bedroom villa costing around £217,000, while a three bedroom townhouse in the south west of Majorca could put you back as much as £257,000.
Majorca is only a little cooler than mainland Spain, with lows of 4C in January. This is balanced by highs, in the summer months of August and July, of 27-28C. The rainy season lasts from October to January, although sun can still be common during these months. Even in January, southern Majorca can receive up to five hours of sunshine a day, and rain is a rarity in the summer months.
Majorca has one airport, the Son Sant Joan in Palma, which is easily sufficient for the island. From there, taxi services are available, or, if you're heading to another area of Majorca, an efficient train system is in place. The Son Sant Joan, which is also known as the Palma de Mallorca Airport, is the third largest airport in Spain, and they are well used to dealing with British visitors.