You are currently browsing the archives for the “Mallorca resources, services and information” category.

Car hire in Majorca: Top tips

March 3, 2010 // Posted in Mallorca resources, services and information (Tags: , , ) |  No Comments

Anyone that wanted to book a hire car in Majorca last summer will have been aware of the car hire shortage which swept across Spain, with many of the popular holiday resorts being hit hardest.

A combination of unexpected demand and increased fleet costs, thus leaving car rental firms with reduced supply. were the main reasons for the shortage. However such reasons offered little consolation for holidaymakers who had no choice but to pay increased prices.

The outlook for 2010 is looking more positive, the number of visitors to popular Spanish holiday destinations such as Majorca is set to remain at a similar level to 2009, possibly with a slight increase. The difference this year will be larger fleets from many of the islands top car hire companies.

Despite the increase in supply it’s still important for anyone planning on renting a car in Majorca this year to book as far in advance as possible, to be sure of getting a car at the best possible price. Shopping around before making a booking is usually a good idea, and whilst price comparison websites will give you an indication of the best prices on offer, lower prices are sometimes available by going directly to the supplier.

When renting in Majorca it’s also important to check the car hire supplier’s fuel policy as some will add on a compulsory fuel charge which is non-refundable regardless of how much fuel the car is returned with.

Finally it’s important to remember to check that you have all the right documentation ready for when you collect your car. Most car hire companies will need to see your driving license (both photo, and paper counterparts) along with a credit card in the drivers name and an additional piece of identification.

Have a safe trip!

For car hire in Majorca with a fair fuel policy visit sixt.co.uk

  • Share/Bookmark

Should you use a UK or local Mallorca Lawyer?

February 9, 2010 // Posted in Mallorca property finders, Mallorca resources, services and information (Tags: , , ) |  No Comments

The choice of lawyer is obviously one of the most important questions when considering how best to go about the property purchase process in Mallorca. There are many lawyers in the UK who specialise in Spanish property law, and some buyers might feel more comfortable using one of these rather than finding and dealing with one based on the island.

Our advice however is always to use a local lawyer, but this is provided they meet certain criteria which should be straight-forward to satisfy.

Why do we recommend using a local lawyer? Primarily this is to do with knowing the island and having the right contacts. A UK (or mainland Spanish) lawyer might technically be well qualified to handle the conveyance. But they are less likely to know the location in any detail and this is important. A good local lawyer may well be able to give you insight into the area or even the individual property you are considering. They are more likely to know if there are any issues that should be looked into – this is after all the most important part of their job.

Furthermore, the local lawyers contact-base in Mallorca will often prove invaluable. For example, if there are planning considerations that need to be checked with a town hall the local lawyer will be more able to look into it than someone who is operating remotely. Such matters are usually straight-forward in principle but can get messy if not dealt with at first-hand by people that know the town hall well.

Having said this, the choice of lawyer is key. Just as in the UK there are good and bad. Be cautious who you take recommendations from as many lawyers offer referral commissions. This in itself does not mean they are no good, but it does bring into question how objective the referral is. Mallorca Property Partners does not accept commissions from lawyers. In fact our preferred legal partners do not offer them which we think is a more professional way of operating.

Beyond this there are simple things to check:

  • Independence. For your own peace of mind it is best to get a lawyer who is independent of any estate agent. Many estate agents recommend very good lawyers but this is not always the case. In the UK it would be unusual to take on a lawyer that the vendor’s agent has recommended and there is no reason why you should behave differently in Mallorca.
  • English-speaking. There are plenty of good English-speaking lawyers in Mallorca so it makes little sense to use one that is not fluent, at least to a level where you can have clear conversations on the phone. Their advice is key but of little use if neither of you is 100% sure of what the other is saying.
  • Pre-meeting with no commitment. The most simple piece of advice we can give is to meet with a lawyer at an early stage, ideally
      before

    you start looking at properties. They should be prepared to do this with no charge or commitment. By meeting them at an early stage in the process you have plenty of time to review alternatives if you are not completely satisfied in your choice. You will also feel far more confident in the process you are undertaking. It speaks well of you to vendors too that you already have a lawyer on-board and this can help in negotiations.

The most important thing is to be completely confident that you have made the right choice. If you are not, review further options.

For initial recommendations, seek a trustworthy and independent source such as MPP. We will happily introduce you to our legal partners in Palma at any stage. They are English-speaking and will be equally happy to sit down and discuss the process with you in more detail. This will be with no fee and with no commitment. They are also specialist tax advisers which may also be of great use to you.

≈ Click here for more information on lawyers in Mallorca.

  • Share/Bookmark

Mallorca weather: guide to the climate in Mallorca

August 1, 2009 // Posted in Mallorca resources, services and information (Tags: , , ) |  No Comments

Almond blossom, Mallorca, January 2008

If you are reading this blog you probably know already that Mallorca enjoys Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot summers. Each season is different with peak temperatures and nearly 11 hours a day of sunshine in July and August coinciding with the peak tourist season.

Increasingly however people come out-of-season. Even in December and January the temperatures are quite mild averaging around 14 to 15 degrees – its more chilly in the evenings at this time of year but quite often possible to eat outdoors in a T-shirt during the daytime.

For many the nicest times of year are the spring and autumn months, with less tourists and less humidity but still many beautiful sunny days. The lowest rainfall tends to be in July and the highest amount of rain falls in October, November and December.

Temperatures in Mallorca rarely fall below zero. Occasionally there are brief snowfalls in the mountains and this winter the snow was thick enough for some enthusiasts to get their snowboards out. This is rare though and Mallorca is not recommended as a winter sports destination!

Regional variations

There is slightly more rain in the North and Northwest where the orientation of the island and the micro-climates created by the Traumantana Mountains have an influence. The benefit to these areas however is that they get more cooling breezes during the hottest and most humid times of the year.

Overall the same influences mean the average temperature is generally slightly higher in the Southwest, South and Southeast than the North and Northwest. It is not a dramatic difference and for many the slightly cooler weather is very welcome in the hottest summer months.

Mallorca weather forecasts

Short term weather forecasts are generally quite accurate these days. There is a range of sources and you can get a current majorca weather forecast on out main website along with links to long-term weather forecasts for Mallorca too.

Maximum
Minimum

Mallorca weather in January
13°C / 55°F
4°C / 39°F

Mallorca weather in February
14°C / 57°F
5°C / 41°F

Mallorca weather in March
16°C / 61°F
7°C / 45°F

Mallorca weather in April
17°C / 63°F
8°C / 46°F

Mallorca weather in May
20°C / 68°F
12°C / 54°F

Mallorca weather in June
24°C / 75°F
16°C / 61°F

Mallorca weather in July
27°C / 81°F
19°C / 66°F

Mallorca weather in August
28°C / 82°F
19°C / 66°F

Mallorca weather in September
26°C / 79°F
17°C / 63°F

Mallorca weather in October
21°C / 70°F
12°C / 54°F

Mallorca weather in November
17°C / 63°F
8°C / 46°F

Mallorca weather in December
14°C / 57°F
6°C / 43°F
  • Share/Bookmark

Mallorca lawyers: when is the best time to get a lawyer for your property purchase?

July 27, 2009 // Posted in Mallorca resources, services and information (Tags: , , , , , ) |  No Comments

When it comes to buying property, Mallorca is generally a more “certain” environment than parts of mainland Spain or other Mediterranean locations. Planning regulations are tightly controlled building developments are tightly monitored. Regardless of this however it is essential to have a qualified and experienced lawyer involved in an property deal.

Even with off-plan and new build apartment developments where everything is nicely packaged-up and presented, you still need to check that there are no background issues with the development, that title is properly passed over to you, and that you are covered if there are any problems with the developer finished the development.

In a resale purchase the current ownership of the property has to be checked, you need to establish that there are no outstanding debts or bills against the property, and many other detailed points should be covered just as you would expect in the UK. In the UK you would employ a lawyer to cover these points and there is no reason for it to be any different in Mallorca.

We often get asked when is the right time to get a lawyer on-board. In our view it is best to do this at an early stage as it will give you more confidence in your search if you fully understand the steps you will need to go though once you have found your Mallorca property and agreed a price, and if you have someone you can refer to if there are any questions of a legal nature before an offer is made.

This last point is key, unless you speak fluent Spanish you should seek a lawyer who speaks fluent English, is willing to have a first meeting with you for no fee and with no commitment to outlined their services in order that you can assess whether they are the lawyer for you. It is likely they will offer other services too – certainly “Gestoria” services such as sorting out your NIE number. It is best not to have them do any work on this unless you are happy that they are your lawyer for the property purchase too – it is simplest for you and will save a lot of time to have one firm dealing with all of these things.

Some lawyers will also give you a lot of helpful advice in advance of any offer being made, and during the offer process. If a seller knows you already have a lawyer involved they are likely to take your offer more seriously.

For these reasons we’d advise you to choose a lawyer at the point where you are seriously considering one or two properties and thinking about making an offer. It is not essential – the lawyer’s role only becomes essential once and offer has been made and accepted – but there are some real advantages to having them in place earlier as noted above.

There are no additional costs to assigning your lawyer earlier and benefiting from all this advice. In Mallorca the lawyers work on a percentage of the transaction cost, usually between 1% and 1.5%. The earlier you involve them the more value you will get from their services.

For more information on property lawyers in Mallorca please see “Mallorca Lawyers” on our main website.

  • Share/Bookmark

Mallorca Properties: MPP launches service for people moving to Mallorca

July 9, 2009 // Posted in Mallorca property finders, Mallorca resources, services and information (Tags: , , , , , , , ) |  No Comments

Copy of press release 09.07.09.

Mallorca Property Partners has extended the depth and range of its services by announcing an offering specifically for people thinking of moving to Mallorca. In addition to property finder services MPP will offer comprehensive advice and support for people looking to relocate.

In line with their ongoing mission to provide the most comprehensive services to all people interested in properties in Mallorca, MPP (Mallorca Property Partners) has launched a new service for those looking to to relocate there permanently or semi-permanently. The service utilises the long-established MPP infrastructure to cater for the specific needs of people looking to move to Mallorca.

For full release: ≈ MPP launches service for people moving to Mallorca

More information on relocating to Mallorca: ≈ Relocating to Mallorca

  • Share/Bookmark