Barcelona’s Top 5 Property Investor Hotspots 2014/2015

Barcelona continues to be one of Europe’s most exciting and progressive cities in the world. The city recently headed the list in the Southern European Cities section for the FDI’s “Cities and Regions of the Future 2014/15” and is continually singled out as being Europe’s number one city for quality of life. Not only is it home to the world’s most successful football club but in recent years it has gained a reputation as a global hub for design, creativity, technology and innovation.

Since the Olympics in 1992, Barcelona has also welcomed a growing international community, attracted to its excellent beaches, quality of life, good year-round climate, efficient transport infrastructure and more recently, low property prices. Hailed as a growing hub for business, in February 2014 the city hosted the largest ever GSMA Mobile World Congress, attracting nearly 85 thousand mobile and technology leaders from around the globe. Given the obvious attractions of living in the city, Barcelona property remains a viable long-term investment, either as a second home, rental or permanent residence. Prices are currently stabilising and are on average 30-40% less than at the peak in 2007.

Lucas Fox has its company HQ in the vibrant Eixample district in the heart of the city and opened its first Property Lounge there in June 2013. This summer it established its second Barcelona Property Lounge in the upmarket district of Turó Park in the city’s Zona Alta.

Top 5 Property Investor Hotspots

1. Sant Antoni: A vibrant centrally located district close to the Old Market and the up and coming Poble Sec district, where Ferran Adrià and his team of El Bulli have opened several tapas restaurants. Property is still very affordable, it is centrally located and it is a vibrant area.

2. Poble Nou: Originally the city’s more industrial district, Poble Nou and neighbouring Glòries have been part of a large-scale regeneration and are now home to many start-up businesses and chic bars. The area offers spacious, bright properties often converted from former warehouses, 5 minutes from the centre of the city.

3. Parc Ciutadella / Paseo San Juan: In the Borne district, there are many good value properties here in close proximity to the park, within walking distance of the beaches and with fantastic access to a plethora of restaurants and local food markets.

4. Eixample Dret: Beautiful Modernista properties with original features in one of the city’s most central locations, Eixample Dret continues to attract savvy investors. World famous Paseo de Gracia boasts luxury boutiques and fantastic dining options, as well as several Gaudí masterpieces!

5. Turó Park: Within Barcelona’s upmarket Zona Alta district, Turó Park offers spacious family homes in close proximity to renowned international schools, the ring road, quick access to the airport as well as the city centre.

“As with any property market, location is key. Given the price reductions since 2007 prime central locations in Barcelona represent excellent value and will be the first to see price rises when they happen. The traditional buyer nationalities from Northern Europe and the UK are still dominant but the major change in the last few years has been the significant increase in the number of non-European buyers, predominantly from China and South East Asia and the Middle East. High quality new development properties are currently most sought-after but due to the lack of construction in the last few years demand is currently outstripping supply.”

— Alexander Vaughan, co-founder Lucas Fox Barcelona