The southeast corner of Mallorca, between Colonia Sant Jordi and Santanyí, is an unspoilt gem known to connoisseurs of the island, but often overlooked by house-hunters following the motorway from Palma in the other direction to better known spots.

The motorway from Palma ends at Lluchmayor, only halfway to the southeast coast of Mallorca. It’s the first sign you are heading for an unspoilt corner of the island overlooked by mass tourism, though once the motorway comes to an end the main road is perfectly good, and it only takes about 40 minutes to get from Palma airport to Colonia Sant Jordi, on the southeast coast. So, even without a door-to-door motorway, it’s not like this corner of Mallorca is that hard to reach, just overlooked.

I’ve been to Mallorca many times, but like most visitors I have tended to head west or north out of Palma towards the best-known hotspots, and never ventured southeast until recently, when I went to look around Santanyí, Colonia Sant Jordi, and a few ‘cool casas’ on the market in the area with Nils Haase, head of the regional office of upmarket estate agents Engel & Völkers. Nils is a goldmine of property knowledge in southeast Mallorca, with fifteen years of real estate experience under his belt.

Protected by Mallorca at its back

What did I like about the area? Well, for one thing, I imagine it must have the best climate on the island, as the most southerly spot protected from the Tramuntana north winds by the rest of Mallorca behind it, with great sunset views on the Colonia Sant Jordi side, and sunrise views on the Santanyi side of the coast. If you are interested in wintering in Mallorca, this must be a good spot.

I also found the countryside incredibly appealing – rural low ground with lots of attractive farmland producing delicious local products (which explains why market day in Santanyí is a feast for the eyes) and country roads with dry stone walls passing through vineyards and orchards, often ending in handsome country houses hidden from sight. There’s a lot of wealth in this area, and some spectacular properties, but for most part it’s discreetly tucked away out of sight. This area is known for its discretion, not ostentatious displays of wealth.

If it’s beaches you like, the coastline in this corner of Mallorca is unspoilt, perhaps one of the least spoilt in all of Spain. It includes the spectacular Es Trenc beach, and looks south towards the Cabrera islands national park, where environmental protection is the highest it gets. The pleasant small town of Colonia Sant Jordi – with its shops, restaurants and marina open year round – is flanked by fine white beaches that holiday makers dream of.

Homes for sale in southeast Majorca: Santanyí and Colonia Sant Jordi

You will find a selection of rural properties, country mansions, townhouses, village houses, and villas for sale in this area, and prices reflect the state of the market, which is not over-supplied. Demand has strong international foundations but buyers are looking for fair value, and are not prepared to overpay for trophies. This is not an area to go bargain hunting for cheap property or distressed vendors, which is possible in other parts of Spain. During the crisis house prices in this area did not fall, they just stopped rising for a few years, though recently they have returned to moderate annual increases.The biggest group of foreign buyers in this are German-speakers, with an eye for quality and value.

5eh Colonia de Sant Jordi new development

If you are interested in a brand-new home there’s only one option to consider in the area – a development called 5eh Colonia de Sant Jordi by the OD Group, a well-established developer in the Balearics.

5eh Colonia Sant Jordi a stylish project of four large apartments in a condominium with communal gardens, pool, private parking, just a short walk from the beach and the centre of town. This new development is being built with all the latest in design, fixtures, and fittings, so the homes will be easy to maintain and use both as permanent, semi-permanent, or holiday homes in an area you can enjoy year round.

This article is sponsored by OD Group.