Enjoy our quick guide to Deià, a small coastal village in the Spanish island of Mallorca known for its residents who have a penchant for music and literature.
Featuring a stunning scenery every day of the year, it has been attracting American, English and German expats since the end of the First World War.
Below we feature two interviews with local expert Deia estate agents who give a wealth of tips and advice about Deia and the surrounding area.
We start with Meila Alzamora Good of LUXE PROPERTIES who covers Deià and the surrounding areas.
Specifically, we asked Meila on the advantages of choosing Deià as a place to live and the value for money that you can get if you decide to stay permanently in the area.
Meila, thanks for helping our readers. I guess we should start off by asking what would you say would be the advantages to living in Deià compared to other Mallorca towns?
It is a beautiful small village in the mountains near the sea. Perfect place to relax, sit and enjoy the exquisite views. During the season there are great restaurants that serve a simple meal or fine dining experience. There are also a number of small art and cultural events.
Would the Deia area not suit certain types of people, i.e. are there any possible downsides?
Folks with mobility issues as the terrain is quite mountainous.
What proportion of the local population are Spanish in Deia?
I would say approximately half of the population is Mallorquin or Spanish. The rest are international.
What are your favourite things to do in the area?
Hiking and cycling is great, as well as one can join the tennis club or participate in local yoga classes. Dining out, swimming and boating during the summer.
Can you give us some insider tips to the best bars or restaurants in Deia?
Sebastian’s, Es Raco des Teix, Bens D’Avall, Ca’s Patro March at Cala Deia.
Does Deia have many facilities such as doctors and dentists, shops etc?
There is a small medical center open limited hours, no dentist. The nearest hospitals and other facilities are located in Palma 30 minutes away, or even closer in Soller just 20 minutes away.
There are two local grocery stores, one bank, a few bars, several restaurants and a couple of clothing stores.
Are there smaller villages near to Deia that you might also recommend?
Valldemossa, Soller, Port of Soller, Fornalutx, Banyalbufar
What are the nearest international schools and how good are they?
The majority of the international schools follow the British curriculum, offering a high quality education. Most of them are in the Palma area. Some of the highly recommended are Queens College, Agora, The Academy, and many more. There is also a French school and a joint German and Scandinavian School.
Is crime an issue for expats?
Not at all. There is very little crime rate on the island. Very safe in the village, except for the odd robbery at a home or vehicle in summer during high season.
Coming onto buying property, what is the market like now in terms of prices going up, or down or staying the same?
The market is quite stable, though prices suddenly can rise a bit due to the increase in demand for properties.
Is this a good time to buy and are there any repossessions or very cheap properties still available to buy?
Everything is very expensive in Deià as property is limited and it is a special place.
What urbanisations are there and can you describe each one and how they might differ from each other?
Deià is not really a place for urbanizations. There are a few areas such as S’empaltada, Ca L’Abat and Llucalcari which are conglomerates of homes where most properties have sea views and exquisite sunsets. Usually the price for a home in that area is much higher.
How much are the typical property prices in Deià for apartments, villas etc?
The cheapest property currently on the market is at 295,000 euros. It is a small 2-bedroom apartment with no terrace. One can purchase an apartment, plot of land or townhouse for anywhere in the range of 500,000 to 1,000,000 euros. However any property with a pool or sea views usually starts at 1,000,000 euros and over. Also, the larger the property is, the price can range all the way up to 20,000,000 euros for a finca or estate.
Any tips and advice to people looking to buy in Deià or surrounding area?
It is a wonderful picturesque village and surroundings, not at all a bad place to choose to come and live, or have your holiday home. It is located in the Serra de Tramuntana which has been awarded world heritage status by UNESCO as an area of great physical and cultural significance.
Meila, thank you so much for taking the time to help our readers with your experiences in Spain. If you want to contact her, you can find her details below.
Total Property Solutions
Archiduque Lluis Salvador 4
Deia, Mallorca
07179, Spain
Mobile: +34 676 810 796 / 607 795 552
Email: meila@deialuxe.com
Website: www.deialuxe.com
Our next interview is with Maria Garde and Andreas Loftager of Charles Marlow & Bros.
What would you say would be the advantages to living in Deia compared to other towns in Mallorca?
Deia is a beautiful village – it has the cobbled streets lined with stone cladded houses, a beautiful church and the sound of donkeys echoing across the valley, but so do many other villages. What sets Deia apart from other villages on the island is it’s thriving artistic and bohemian community. It’s one of the few villages on the island that comes to life after dark – it offers some of the best culinary experiences on the island with an incredible selection of restaurants, from michelin stars to simple pa amb oli dishes to enjoy on the terrace of Sa Fonda. It is a village that has something to offer for everyone.
Would the area not suit certain types of people, i.e. are there any possible downsides?
Well, if you don’t like beautiful nature, calm and quiet and lovely views – this is not for you! Jokes aside, the areas of mountain villages like Deia, Fornalutx and Valldemossa are naturally raw, which creates the beauty, scenic backdrops, but can also be a challenge if you have a walking problem. Also, having a car or at least a license to drive one is recommended, although buses are very effective in Mallorca in general.
What proportion of the local population are Spanish?
That varies from village to village, area to area. But generally, all villages along the west coast still has a lively local, Mallorquin population. It’s probably somewhere between 80/20 to 50/50 in villages like Deia and Fornalutx, with the change to winter season being felt more heavily. In general though, many of the foreign citizens live here all year round or live 50/50 between Mallorca and abroad, so they play a vibrant role in the village life too.
What are your favourite things to do in the Deia area?
Where to start! The hikes and walks are incredible. Mediterranean herb scents, stunning views and a very good variation in difficulty. There are paths for everyone, and often the tracks take you past calas where you can rest and go for a swim in the salty sea. If you are looking for an easy start, just walk through Son Canals in Deia and continue on the small path where the road ends and down to Cala Deia. It’s a 20 minute walk, and down there you can swim and have a lovely meal in one of the two restaurants.
Another classic Deia activity is to sign up for one of the more alternative spiritual sessions that are on offer. You can find various types of body work like healing in nature, pilates, yoga, massages, reiki – you name it.
Are there many facilities in Deia such as doctors and dentists, shops etc?
Deia has a small medical center on the main road as well as a pharmacy and two great bakeries and supermarkets. On Wednesdays there is a small market in the village car park where locals buy their fresh fruit and vegetables and congregate at Eduardo’s coffee truck to mingle with neighbours.
Are there smaller villages nearby to Deia that you might also recommend?
Llucalcari is a village just outside of Deia, towards Soller. It is one of the smallest villages on the island with only a handful of old houses. It is small but magical. You won’t find any shops there, but there is an old chapel and you can walk down to the sea from the village in 5 minutes.
What are the nearest international schools and how good are they?
The nearest international schools are in and around Palma. Queens college in Palma and Agora are amongst some of the excellent international private schools on the island. Deia has a small village school which, although a Spanish state school, is naturally international since many expats living in the village send their children there.
Is crime an issue for expats?
It is very rare that you will hear of any crime in Deia. Families happily let their children run around the village playing while they eat dinner at the restaurants. It is a very safe place.
What is the market for buying property in Deia like now in terms of prices going up, or down or staying the same?
Deia is in the heart of the UNESCO protected Tramuntana Mountains and building is very restricted in this area. This means that new property coming to the market is very few and far between. This low turnover of stock means that the house prices are generally protected. In the past 10 years house prices in Deia have been steadily rising.
Is this a good time to buy and are there any repossessions or very cheap properties still available to buy?
This year I believe we will see an increase in properties coming to the market, which makes it a good time to buy. It is important to not only rely on what you see on the web, we often have privately listed homes so we would always encourage you to get in touch in case we have the perfect home for you off the books.
How much are the typical property prices in Deia for apartments, villas etc?
If you are looking for a small apartment or house with a terrace you would be looking at paying anything between €400,000 to €800,000. For a larger family home with swimming pool you can expect to pay anything from €1,000,000 and beyond. The price depends on a variety of different factors such as orientation, privacy, views, sun, outside space as well as m2.
What urbanisations are there and can you describe each one and how they might differ from each other?
Deia and its surroundings has many different micro communities. Es Clot is the oldest part of the village and is lower down. It is authentic Deia. The Church Hill is another part of old Deia where you will find all of the traditional townhouses lining the streets, some with beautiful views over the mountains. High Deia is the area across from the Church, which gets lots of sun, and which has more recently built villas, mainly. S’Empeltada is an urbanisation just a 10 minute walk outside of Deia and has a cluster of homes all looking out over the sea. These houses are mostly south-west facing and can get great sunset views. Ca l’Abat is one of the most exclusive areas of Deia, with its own monastery and a select few larger homes – or fincas – each with their own unique view over the sea. You can read about all the sub-areas on our website, in detail.
Do you have any tips and advice to people looking to buy in Deia or the surrounding area?
Patience is key and be prepared to compromise. Due to Deia being UNESCO protected, new homes coming to the market are few and far between so it can often mean you don’t find exactly what you are looking for from the get go. It is important to be clear on what you want and what you are prepared to compromise on so you can be ready to move on the right home for you when you find it. But, that is what we are here for – to help guide you on your search for your dream home.
How much does it cost to rent in Deia for an apartment or villa on a long-term rental basis?
Anything from €800 per month for a smaller apartment and anything from €1000 upwards for a townhouse with outside space or finca with swimming pool.
Andreas and Maria, thank you so much for taking the time to help our readers with your experiences in Spain.
Charles Marlow & Bros
Carrer Arxiduc Luís Salvador, 2a, 07179 Deià, Illes Balears
Telephone: 971 63 64 27
Email: hello@charlesmarlow.com
Website: www.charlesmarlow.com/
Here is an interesting tourist video on Deia.
Contact us to be featured – we want more expat interviews for our newsletter and website. You don’t need to be an estate agent, we want to hear from anyone who lives in Spain whether you are working or retired.
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