The sun is shining every day in Barcelona!

27. 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 South East Asia and the Middle East. New build properties are currently most sought after but due to the lack of construction in the last few years demand for the best properties is currently outstripping supply.

Prices have fallen by up to 40% in some areas of the city but, in the last 12 months, these prices have stabilized. Some recent figures suggest that, in some of the most desirable areas of the city such as Eixample and the beachfront, prices for the best properties are starting to creep up again. The key change in the Barcelona Residential market during 2015 will be the return of quality new build residential developments which have not been seen on the market for several years and where demand currently outstrips supply.

BARCELONA PRIME PROPERTY RENTAL MARKET Beachfront rental properties saw the greatest climb in average rentals in 2014, ending the third quarter on €22 per square meter, up from €20 per square meter in 2013. Ciutat Vella also increased by €1 to end the third quarter on an average of €19 per square meter. Zona Alta and Eixample both fell significantly; both districts averaged €16 per square meter at the end of Q3 2014, which may be affected by reductions in demand following the summer months. Calculations of gross rental yields for prime market properties were 4.32% in Ciutat Vella and 4.56% in Eixample.

TOURISM AND FOREIGN INVESTMENT The countries of origin of international buyers of Barcelona prime residential properties have been evolving over the past two years. While UK and Northern European buyers from Germany and France continue to purchase prime properties, interest from other key non European markets has fluctuated each quarter in 2014. The number of purchases by Russian clients has slowed, while the number of transactions with Middle East, Asian and US clients have increased again. The Middle East, China, Australia and Switzerland remain particularly strong new growth markets, with Middle East buyers accounting for 12.5% of all purchases in 2014. 

                                                                                              [Article written by Pablo Ruiz - Urban Oasis Business Partner]