Category: Blog

Why I chose Barcelona Sants for my new house in Barcelona

Why I chose Barcelona Sants for my new house in Barcelona

Published: 4 APRIL of 2023
Sevine Abi Aad

Sevine Abi Aad

Having lived in as many as 4 continents in the last few years, I´ve always considered myself a citizen of the world with one firm constant throughout the moves and the years: my deep love for Barcelona which I made into my forever home. This city combines the perfect elements that turn my job as a flat hunter into a true mission where I get to meet incredible people, building a new life or reinventing one, and helping them find the perfect home where they will be making new memories and experiencing poetry in their day-to-day lives. As the saying goes ‘Find something you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life’. In the case of flat hunting in Barcelona, these words could not sound more true.

‘Metro Hostafrancs’ I read, as I looked up my most recent address-to-be on my 2nd international move to Barcelona.

This was the second time I was making my way to Barcelona all the way from another continent, the reason being simply, that Barcelona is a city that effortlessly wraps itself around the strings of your heart.

So here I was, at the dawn of 2023, looking back at the different neighborhoods in Barcelona I had already lived in over the course of the last 5 years. After various stints in hip Eixample, quiet and elegant Sant Gervasi and bohemian eclectic Gracia, this was the perfect time for me to go a little more southwest of the city towards the industrial socio-cultural melting pot that is Barcelona Sants, a neighborhood which I remember a French inhabitant saying it was ‘chouette comme quartier’ when I first visited in 2017. For the non-French speaking, ‘chouette’ means ‘cool’.

So, what makes Sants ‘chouette’, you ask? Well, for starters, it still has that rough, raw and authentic ‘not trying to be pretty’ vibe as opposed to Sant Antoni for instance, a neighborhood only 10 minutes away from here which, looking back only 5 years, also possessed this rough-around-the-edges, shamelessly real and in-your-face aesthetic and energy.

In order to understand this roughness that makes Sants so distinctive, one should go back in time and understand its history.   It was an industrial town par excellence, home to some of the oldest cotton, textile and porcelain factories. The Vapor Vell (‘Old Steam’ in Catalan) for instance, is the first structure that comes to mind. A public library today, Vapor Vell was the oldest steam-driven textile mill factory in the area in the mid 19th century. Another testament to its industrial past is the Vapor Nou (‘New Steam’), another textile factory, which if you take a stroll around the Sants Barcelona train station today, you will stumble upon the park it has been turned into: the Parque de l’Espanya Industrial, a delightful green oasis and landmark of the neighborhood.

Up until 1897, Sants was an independent village, outside the limits of the city of Barcelona and it quickly grew and expanded, given the population boom it experienced in parallel with its industrial expansion. Around the mid 19th century, with the factories booming and drawing in more workers, the population quickly grew around Sants, and with it, the demand for housing which led to a dynamic real estate movement as more and more residential construction took place in the streets around the plants.

You will typically find these properties in Barcelona Sants interspersed with more recent, higher rise buildings dating back to the 1960’s and 1970’s as well as more recent constructions.

That mix of modernist and recent construction is very distinctive of Sants and gives it this rougher blue-collar identity.

 You have to bear in mind though, that what is referred to as ‘modernist architecture’ here will be widely different and more humble looking than the typically opulent modernist buildings you might be feasting your eyes on around Passeig de Gracia for example.

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There’s nothing pretentious or luxurious about Sants, and I think that’s what people love about it. It still retains its humble working-class identity, it’s safe and very well connected to the rest of Barcelona and actually, the rest of the country, thanks to the Sants train station. It still offers the old vintage charm of century-old businesses and market stalls, and it has the narrower streets, reminiscent of a simpler, slower pace of life. And most of all, it is still considered a less expensive area to invest in, real estate wise. 

So if you are looking for a house in Barcelona in low-rise buildings, historic charm, narrow semi-pedestrian streets and an unbeatable location, then you’ll find all of that and more in Sants, a neighborhood that definitely gets Barcelona Flat Hunter’s seal of approval. 

But for now, Sants is high up on Barcelona Flat Hunter’s top 5 neighborhoods list.

And in case you are still wondering what it feels like to live in Sants / Hostafrancs, here are some pictures taken along my daily walks, enjoy !
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Covid19: impact on average time to sell a property in Spain

Covid19: impact on average time to sell a property in Spain

Published: 13 November of 2020

Tell me where you wish to buy real estate in Spain and I will tell you how fast properties are getting sold!


The 2020 3rd trimester data were released and without a surprise the saying “location location location” is even more true in time of pandemic than ever.


One of the advices we systematically give our clients when we assist them in purchasing a flat in Barcelona is to ALWAYS think about the “resell” potential. Because eventually, they will sell the property they are about to purchase!

 

To that extent, the average time to sell real estate is a key aspect to keep in mind, both when buying a property (as it is a good indicator of how agile you will need to be) and when selling it (to properly anticipate what is to come).

According to the latest data from Idealista, one of the main property listing websites in Spain, the average time to sell a property in Spain has increased from slightly over 5 months to 6 months on average during the 3rd trimester of 2020.

Looking closer, the current crisis has widened the gaps between the different Spanish provinces and the real estate market is now more heterogeneous than ever. One thing seems clear, not all the provinces are equal when it comes to how the covid crisis is affecting their real estate market and while some see their situation improving, others on the contrary, see the selling time getting even longer.

 

In some provinces (Teruel, Palencia and Zamora) it now takes over a year to sell your property while other provinces are below the 4.5 months mark (Granada, Madrid, Barcelona y Zaragoza)   and have even in some cases such as Granada improved the selling time compared to 2019.

 

Looking at the province’s capital cities where the demand tends to be higher, the dynamic follows the province one within the top 5 of the cities where the properties are sold in the shortest time: Granada (2,2 months), Barcelona (2.7 months), Zaragoza (3 months) followed by Valencia and Madrid (both at 3.1 months).

 

Barcelona comforts its position as one of the main cities in Spain where properties rarely stay long on the market even in times of Covid. With this in mind, now more than ever, property buyers moving forward with the search of their perfect flat need not only to be fully prepared for it but as well have the time needed to be on top of their search and not let the perfect place escape them.

To that extent, to have a buyer agent by your side is the guarantee that a professional will pro-actively screen the market and ensure that you do not miss on any property that meets your criteria.

Once the perfect flat has been identified, the buyer agent will assist you with every step needed to buy real estate in Barcelona and will ensure that you save time, money, hassle and have your interests protected at all times.

 

Barcelona Flat Hunter makes it easy for you to buy a real estate in Barcelona & turns your real estate project into reality. 

 

Check out here testimonies of   real estate buyers with first-hand experience of what we are like to work with.

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How to buy Real Estate in Barcelona step by step

How to buy real estate in Barcelona step by step

Published: 12 November of 2020

Whether you are looking at purchasing a property for your own private use or as part of an investment strategy, Barcelona Flat Hunter is here to ease the whole process. You will find in this section a detailed description of each of the steps required to buy real estate in Barcelona and how we will make it a hassle-free experience.

step 1. Project Definition

EVERY PROJECT IS UNIQUE, BUT THEY ALL START WITH ONE THING: WE WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING. If you haven’t done so yet, feel free to fill out our Property Search Form, for a free consultation with one of our Barcelona Flat Hunter experts.

 

This consultation would allow to:

1. Validate your search: your expectations & budget versus real estate market in Barcelona.

2. Define the extent of the support needed: at Barcelona Flat Hunter we do not believe in “one package suits everyone”. Each client is unique and as such should only be charged for the services he actually needs. Whether you wish to get a full support throughout from the search to the purchase, or have already identified the potential property but wish to be assisted moving further, Barcelona Flat Hunter places its expertise to your service.

3. Answer your questions: from general explanation on the purchasing & financing process to the market characteristics, real estate prices in Barcelona and trends, we are here to answer your questions.

4. Validate your financial plan: once the ideal property has been defined we will review together the financial structure of your future purchase. Should financing be needed, banks/brookers will be approached to ensure you get the adequate financing.

GOOD TO KNOW >>> Making an offer on a Spanish property is usually done in writing & it requires in most cases a down payment of 1% of the offered price, This written offer is then presented to the seller so that they can study it and respond. If the offer is accepted, the 1% is considered as a first down payment, if it is refused then the amount is refunded entirely by the seller agency. Lastly, if your offer is accepted but you change your mind, you would lose this deposit, it is thus essential to ensure all aspects of the future purchase are addressed in writting within the offer document.

Step 2. Flat Hunting

Picture on hand, we do all the groundwork, from sharing your search with our extensive network to monitoring proporties published online and going through pre-visit, we hunt on your behalf for your dream property. Upon identifying and visiting properties that match your requirements, a visit report with pictures & video will be sent to you together with an assessment of the property real value based on real estate prices in Barcelona, state of maintenance of the property and specifics of the building. Renovation estimated budget and rental value can as well be provided upon demand to have a full potential return on investment estimate. Visits of selected apartments are then  organized to fit your schedule.

STEP 3. NEGOTIATION

Once we found the gem you were looking for, we will assist you to make an offer in writing. This first step is essential as it not only states the amount you are offering for the property but as well the timeline within which you wish to complete the transaction and any conditions to be met by each side to move forward.

 

At Barcelona Flat Hunter, client interest comes first. As such, prior making an offer, all aspects of the property will be cross checked to ensure that what was announced is correct and that there are no unpleasant surprises further down the road*.

Some of the verifications we carry out on your behalf:

1 – Property registry to check the specific of the property, the owner identity & its legal capacity and whether there are any limitations or debts on the property

2 – Land registry to ensure it is in adequation with the specifics of the property

3 – Urban planning to check that the property is not affected by any restrictions & is in adequation with the current  municipal urban plan

3 – Habitability Certificates & energetic certificate

4 – Community of owners’ dynamic, decisions when it comes to any upcoming repairs or upgrades in the building & financial state

5 – Touristic appartment(s) (with licence) operating in the building

6 – Technical Building Inspection passed or not & with or without aptitud certificate obtained. Any pending issue will be reviewed.

 

The price negotation is as well an esencial part of this step. For any given property we will assess the real value of the property, collect background information to best understand the circumstances of the sale (reason & origin of the property, time on the market, inicial published price…) and then determine a strategy to secure the property at the best acceptable price.

 

*Whenever any of the above points cannot be checked prior to signing the offer, Barcelona Flat Hunter will condition your offer to these points to ensure your interest are protected at all time.

STEP 4. Earnest Money Agreement / "Contrato de Arras"

The seller has accepted your offer and all checks have been conducted, as such both sides are now ready to sign the earnest money agreement also usually referred to as “Contrato de Arras”. This legally binding contract is essential as it states all the specifics of the sale & purchase as well as conditions to be met for the purchase to take place (that would allow the buyer to pull out without loosing his deposit). A deposit of a minimum of 10% of the property value is required and you can either be present for the signature or mandate us or another person of your choice as your representative to sign on your behalf (in such case a power of attorney would need to be done in Barcelona during your first visit). The terms of this agreement will be carefully drafted and a courtesy translation to English will be provided for your reference.

GOOD TO KNOW >>> In Spain, under the earnest money agreement (referred to as “Contrato de Arras”), in the event of the buyer backing out of the agreement with no justified reasons (keeping in mind that these have to be specified in the agreement), the full amount of the deposit will be lost. If it is the seller who changed his mind, he must pay the buyer twice the amount of the deposit that was paid when the Arras was signed. Both sides’ interests are thus protected.

STEP 5. Formalities

The moment the arras contract is signed and if you have not already done so, the following steps will need to take place right away:

1– A spanish bank account will need to be opened

2– The NIE (ID number for foreigners) requested

3– Should you be requesting a loan the assessment of the property value (called “tasación”) will need to be requested. This report will then be sent to the selected bank to move forward with the financing process. Do keep in mind that in Spain, banks lend money based on the lowest amount between the purchase price and the assessed price.

Barcelona Flat Hunter will be able to assist you for all three and ease this part of the process too.

 

Once the bank account open, you will need to transfer the amount needed for the purchase to this account. On signature day the payment to the seller will be either done by certified bank checks or transfer.

Barcelona Flat Hunter will as well ensure that the notary of your choice receives all requested documents from the seller side prior to the day of the signature. These very same documents will be explained to you so that everything is clear prior to the signature day.

STEP 6. Deed Signature

All original support documents provided by the seller will be handed over to the notary and on your side upon presenting the original ID & NIE and the certified bank cheques/transfer order you will be all set. Once the “escritura” signed, the seller will hand over the key of the property to you and the notary will prepare a copy of the signed agreement called “copia simple”. The original signed contract will be kept by the notary who will then carry forward through the “gestoria” all remaining steps (taxes, registry) upon receiving a provision of funds from your side (approx 11% of the amount of the purchase).

STEP 7. Post Purchase Support

The support from Barcelona Flat Hunter includes a post signature assistance that includes ensuring all utilities contracts are changed to your name & payments set to your account and your details provided to the building management company.

Wish to take a few steps further? Barcelona Flat Hunter can as well be your eyes on the ground for the renovation/decoration of your newly purchased property and assist with the furnishing/home staging as well as rent it out when you are away.

Validate your real estate project feasibility and get a free consultation with one of our experts

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Barcelona, Spain: Top Investment Destination For Chinese Real Estate Buyers

Barcelona, Spain: Top Investment Destination For Chinese Real Estate Buyers

Published: 12 March of 2020

Spain is now the 7th main investment destination worldwide for Chinese real estate buyers after US, Australia, Canada, UK, Thailand and New Zealand according to Juwei website and Barcelona continues to be the number one city in Spain where Chinese are purchasing real estate.

It is amid this growing interest that Barcelona Flat Hunter attended the LPS exhibition in Guangzhou, South China’s leading invitation-only high profile luxury real estate exhibition.

CHINESE INVESTORS’ INTEREST IN BARCELONA REAL ESTATE HAS NEVER BEEN STRONGER.

When it comes to availability and cost of real estate, KPMG ranks Barcelona as the 5th most attractive city worldwide (and 1st in Europe), and this did not go unnoticed by Chinese buyers, eager to secure “bargain deals”.

The very attractive “Golden visa” scheme that allows non EU citizens who invest 500.000 euros or more in real estate in Spain to obtain a residency permit for them and their family (and with it a visa free access to all 26 Schengen countries) is as well of huge added value for investors looking at securing a residency outside of China.

Add to this, the city vibrant lifestyle, pleasant climate, high-level universities & quality healthcare and potential investors find the perfect mix, even more so if they are looking to move abroad with their family.

The combination of all above elements translates into a strong increase of property purchased by Chinese buyers in Barcelona. 

In 2015, out of the 1805 properties purchased by foreign buyers in the province of Barcelona, 449 were sold to Chinese clients.

2016 will most likely set a new record as more and more Chinese clients are taking advantage of the Golden Visa scheme who was simplified late 2015, making it the most attractive plan currently available in Europe.

EVENT REVIEW: LPS GUANGZHOU, SEPTEMBER 2016

Strong of its team’s experience working and liaising with Chinese clients, Barcelona Flat Hunter attended the LPS Guangzhou – South China’s leading invitation-only luxury real estate exhibition in late September 2016.

During three days, our team got the chance to interact with some of the 6,000 highly targeted VIPs who attended the exhibition. This was an opportunity to introduce a concept still very new to Chinese Buyers: the buyer agent approach, whereas the agent does not sell properties but instead search within the entire market for the one that fits all his client’s requirements. From there, it remains by his side to ensure his interests are protected at all times.

This tailored & service oriented approach is setting Barcelona Flat Hunter apart from traditional real estate agencies.

Barcelona Flat Hunter’s Golden Visa services were as well presented during the fair and at a conference dedicated to real estate investment in Europe.

The Golden Visas being one of the main motivation behind Chinese buyers purchasing properties in Spain, our legal services in both English and Chinese throughout the procedure raised a lot of interest and were perceived as very complimentary to our real estate activity.

By attending the LPS Guangzhou, Barcelona Flat Hunter demonstrated once more not only its commitment to the Chinese clientele but as well the company clear will to continue offering them the most adequate tailored-services.

Starting 2017, full travel services will be made available upon request to our clients, including chauffeur and Chinese speaking guide, easing even more any prospective visit to Barcelona.