ver 20 · Another great attraction in the Raval is the Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria, or...

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O ver 20 years ago I flew into sunny, cosmopolitan Barcelona, thinking

what a great place this would be to live, but not for a minute at the time believing that would ever be possible.

Just four years later I had moved to within 20 minutes of Barcelona’s pulsing heart. My daughter was born right there, a stone’s throw from La Pedrera, Guadi’s famous wave-fronted Modernista building.

What immediately intrigued me about Barcelona back in 1998 was how quickly and easily you could explore the

city—Spain’s second biggest—because of its compact, well-laid-out design, yet there was so much to do and see. Today, it’s even easier to explore and there’s just as much if not more on offer. Fantastic art and architecture from pre-Roman to Modernista and current times is everywhere. There are galleries, monuments, theaters, restaurants,shopping—all the usual stuff of cities—yet there are also lots of parks and pretty plazas (plaças in Catalan, the language of this region), great beaches, and easy access to the beautiful Costa Brava to the north and the Costa Dorada to the south.

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Viure Lliure In Beautiful BarcelonaLucy Culpepper

© Turisme de Barcelona

Copyright © 2021 Live and Invest Overseas • www.liveandinvestoverseas.com

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

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Viure Lliure In Beautiful Barcelona

Barcelona is the economic, cultural, and administrative capital of Catalonia, situated in the northeast of Spain, on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The city covers a small area but has a large population; 100 square kilometers with about 1.6 million people in the city center and another 4 million in the suburbs.

Back in 1998, what struck me most about the city was its great vibe and energy, which continue today despite Spain’s economic woes. People live, work, and shop in most of the city neighborhoods and districts, so each has its own community spirit, and some even have their own fiestas.

Catalonia is perfectly situated to explore Spain, France, and Andorra

More than 150 nationalities live in Barcelona, a reflection of the Catalan peoples’ open and receptive character that foreigners find so attractive. And it’s almost certainly a reason that many gay people call Barcelona home, in fact half of the beautiful Eixample district is called “Gay Eixample” (more on this later).

Viure Lliure… Live Free!

A few years ago was the 300-year anniversary of the events that took place in the city on September 11, 1714. It is an anniversary that has a strong influence on modern-day Barcelona and the Catalan people.

After a 13-month siege, the city fell to the French-Castilian troops. Catalonia lost its national governing bodies and the new Bourbon government demolished part of the La Ribera district to build a massive military citadel to look over the people and remind them who was in power. Despite this the Catalan spirit fought back and has continued to do so through the centuries, forming the strong nationalism that exists today. Many Catalans want to be a separate country from the rest of Spain, hence “Viure Lliure” or live free in Catalan.

El Born Centre Cultural, or El Born CC, is located in La Ribera exactly where the only houses that were not destroyed by the

Barcelona´s Olympic Village Beach

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New architecture allowing the old to keek through—an illustration of Barcelona’s accepting nature

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visitors can walk though without paying for the basic entrance and even stop for a drink and tapas at the bar inside.

Barcelona welcomes a huge number of tourists throughout the year and 80% of whom were foreigners. This means a strong short-term rental market in the city providing for all those visitors, the majority of whom came from France, followed by the UK, and the USA. (The short-term rental market is now controlled and restricted by the local government. More on this later.)

Following the 1992 Olympic Games, Barcelona’s housing market developed hugely. That run came to a dramatic halt in 2008, the year that marked the start of the property crisis that impacted the lower and middle ends of this market severely. These markets rebounded. For the past two years, prices of secondhand properties have increased by 1.5% year-on-year, and the current per-square-meter average value is 3,192 euros, according to Idealista.com.

construction of the Citadel were left intact. It is a fascinating

place to visit. It has been described as "Epic, exciting, thought-provoking, memorable, unique, open, inclusive, dynamic, integrated, popular and creative,” all are true and what is so unique about this place is that, unlike other museum exhibitions, this forms part of the modern landscape of Barcelona, locals and

El Born CC—the focus of the 300-year anniversary and celebrations

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The remains of the 1714 village inside El Born CC

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rViure lliure, a slogan you’ll see all round Barcelona

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Add to those four, I’d add the Eixample (pronounced ‘eye-sham-pla’), Gràcia, on the northern side of the Ciutat Vella, Poublenou in the Sant Marti district, and, for those on a bigger budget, there’s Reina Elisenda in the Zona Alta on the northwest side of the city. Each has its very own flavor, character, advantages, and disadvantages.

The Barri Gòtic’s Pont dels Sospirs…you’ll be mesmerized, but watch your belongings

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The ’92 Games also had a tremendously positive impact on the city’s infrastructure. There’s an inexpensive five-line Metro, an airport just outside the city center, plentiful buses, which typically run until 4am, and a well-planned bicycle rental scheme, called ‘Bicing’—all of which make it easy to move around.

The city has 10 districts, but the areas in greatest demand among visitors, property investors, and expats is the oldest part, the Ciutat Vella, which is divided into four districts: La Ribera, also known as El Borne (or, locally, Born), to the north; Barrio Gótico, which is in the central Gothic quarter; El Raval to the south; and the seaside suburb of Barceloneta.

A busy scene on the beach paseo at Barceloneta

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Heading towards the La Ribera-Born district

In this OHR I take you on a tour of those eight districts. You’ll find out what you need to know to buy or rent property, obtain residency, file taxes, get healthcare, set up utilities, and travel to and within the city. Finally, I suggest some properties that are currently on the market for €80,000 (less than US$100k), €200,000, and more. By the end of this OHR I hope you feel you have all the essential information to inspire you to visit Barcelona and maybe settle in this Old World, cosmopolitan capital of Catalonia.

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massive transformation over the past 10 years from run down to chic and desirable. It is now considered the “in place” for foreigners with decent budgets. The recently opened Born Cultural Center (see above) forms a new heart to the area. It is also home to the Picasso Museum and the awe-inspiring Santa Maria del Mar church.

Many of the buildings have their original historic facades concealing cleverly modernized apartments, or are home to gorgeous unique boutique stores showcasing local designers’ work. It’s a place to wonder for hours along the winding streets, each turn revealing something completely different. When looking at property in the Born, be sure to return at nighttime—this is an area with lots of bars and restaurants and, because the streets are packed in, it can be very noisy.

Barri Gòtic The Gothic Quarter (sometimes called its Spanish name Barrio Gotico) is probably Barcelona’s most touristy area. Historically, it was where the wealthy lived. However, when the Eixample was built in the 19th Century, the wealth moved out and the area went downhill. Over the last 10 years, this area has become very popular and has undergone a huge revival, with the chic and trendy moving back in. It is an area of narrow streets, small apartments, and lots of tourists and, as well, all that intriguing ancient history. The famous pedestrianized La Rambla forms the backbone of the area, with beautiful ancient buildings flowing off of it as it heads towards the sea. Much of this area is very difficult to access by car and most buildings do not have elevators, so it would not be a district to consider if you have a walking disability.The 14th Century Santa Maria del Mar, built in just 55 years

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The districts of Central Barcelona

A cafe in the Born—you can’t get much more authentic than this

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The Ciutat Vella

This is where the main phalanx of tourist head to, and for very good reason. There is so much to see and do that hundreds of pages have been written about the city and its attractions.

La Ribera-Born

The Born, originally built as an extension of the Old Town where the city’s richest families lived, has undergone a

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boutique art galleries and jewelry shops, you’ll find intriguing, colorful tiles that tell the story of the inhabitants of the area in a comic-strip type layout.

It’s also in the Gothic area, just to the north-west of the Cathedral that you find the Jewish center of Barcelona’s history. Known as the Call, this is where Jews first settled as early as the 9th Century and remained until 1394. Up until the 14th Century, Barcelona had been a center of Judaism in Europe, but in 1391, James II of Aragon passed a law forbidding Jews to live in Spain. They were to convert, emigrate, or leave. Those that remained but refused to convert were massacred on August 5 in what is now referred to as the pogrom 5151.

It would take a lifetime to see every nock and cranny that the Gothic Quarter has to offer. A hidden delight that only a really good guide will take you to is the Plaça de la Vila de Madrid, a square that contains the most important burial site from the Roman city of Barcino. The graves were discovered when excavators moved in to dig out an underground car park (digging was halted and never resumed). Another hidden treat is the Temple of Augustus, built more than 2,000 years ago, which sits inside a medieval courtyard.

And here too, you’ll find the highest point of the old town, Mont Taber at 16.9 meters—not very high at all!

Along the carrer de Petritxol, one of the best places in the world to come and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate, as well as

A typical Gothic Quarter mansion now housing an art collection, including Patron Saint Jordi slaying his dragon

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Come revive yourself with chocolate in the Carrer de Petritxol©

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The Roman pillars of the Temple of Augustus in the heart of the Medieval Gothic Quarter

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The ancient streets of the Call

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built—the Barcelo—and there are streets where more affluent expats have moved in (locals are not keen yet).

There’s also the very pretty Plaça Sant Agustí with its eponymous hotel built in 1720—one of the first hotels to open in Barcelona.

Another great attraction in the Raval is the Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria, or better known as La Boqueria, an eclectic mix of the most beautiful food items you’re ever likely to see. It’s a bit like walking into a painting full of food with boutique-style food shopping, where chefs come to buy their ingredients, foodies slather at all the possibilities, tourists take photos, and everyday Barcelonans shop in the outer reaches where prices are more terrestrial.

El Raval

The centrally located, gritty Raval is the area for the pioneer investor. This would not be a place that most realtors would recommend for expat retirees. Over the centuries it has been the district that new, low-paid immigrants have headed to. About half of the inhabitants are immigrants from India, Pakistan, South America, and northern Africa. Many of them run tiny little money exchange, mobile phone, and mini-market stores packed with goods.

Petty crime is rife here, prostitution is common-place, and some properties are expected to be labelled afectada by the government in the near future. This means that the government could issue a compulsory purchase order to knock down the buildings, as they did when they created the La Rambla de Raval. So obviously, a good attorney would be needed before buying a Raval property (see the “Rolodex” for a suggested attorney).

This was a gypsy area and you can still hear gypsy/Cuban music, the Rumba Catalana, being played in some parts.

Local info suggests El Raval will become the next La Rivera i.e. chic, creative, and eventually expensive. There are signsof it happening in some streets, specifically the top corner ofthe Raval between the Ramblas and the Museum of ModernArt (MACBA) and above calle Hospital. A luxury hotel has been

A street in the Raval—it’s all about choosing the right location

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The ultra-modern Hotel Barcelo in the Raval

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Placa Sant Agusti and its pretty hotel

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http://www.overseasretirementletter.com/issues/1407/orl-70-rolodex.html

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Attractive as it is to live slap bang in the middle of the city, the downsides of the Ciutat Vella are that the streets are narrow, meaning that the properties along them have low levels of natural light. It is also hard to fit a car down some of the roads and virtually impossible to park—I wouldn’t own a car if I lived there, instead I would depend on the excellent public transport. Many of the properties are old and often unkempt with no lifts up to higher floors, and it is noisy at all hours of the day and night.

Barceloneta

This is where all the fishermen used to live. It is one of the smallest barrios in Barcelona, with around 16,000 inhabitants. The streets are narrow and the buildings small (apartments here tend to be very small, on average 30–40 square meters and largely not modernized), and in many cases not at all fancy. However, because of the beach, the easy walk to see the sites, and great sports facilities, it is fast becoming popular with buy-to-rent investors seeking the tourist trade, and with young people. It is in the process of finding equilibrium and will undoubtedly see some changes over the next few years.

Recently, a new wave of hip bars, restaurants, cafes, and surf shops has sprung up alongside the traditional seafood restaurants and tapas bars. Today, apartment buildings that look a little drab from the outside command a weekly high-season rate from €500.

Pinotxo Bar: where the world-famous Catalan chef Ferran Adria comes to eat tapas

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Though it appears, at least in the high season, to be all tourists, there is a mix of traditional and tourist rentals with some local services such as a stylistic-looking Caprabo supermarket.

You can view the center of the Eixample and Barceloneta Beach in this video.

The Eixample

The Eixample (the Ensanche in Spanish) district was purpose-built in the 19th Century and designed in a grid-like formation by the visionary architect, Ildefons Cerdà. His plans gave every consideration to space, light, ventilation, and well-being of the inhabitants. You can see that in the wide roads and large buildings. His intention was to design every block of apartments with a large central patio (known in Spanish as a patio de manzana), so that homes had light to the front and back. At the intersection of each pair of roads the corners of the blocks are cut to form mini-plazas—delightful spaces to sit and enjoy the views, of which there are many if you’re a fan of ornate, spectacular architecture.

Barceloneta—looking back from the beach

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The stylish supermercado in Barceloneta

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http://youtu.be/nn_2HdqfURY

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beautified it; you’ll find more bars and restaurants here than on the right side.

The Eixampla is where wealthy slightly older locals and families live and some foreigners, who have discovered the joys of the district. It lacks the intensity, and therefore, perhaps, the community of the other older barrios but L’Eixample is well connected to all of Barcelona with a number of metro lines crossing through it.

Gràcia

Gràcia was a small town on its own, but its boundaries and Barcelona’s have slowly merged so that it now forms a district on the northern side of the Ciutat Vella. Many of the streets are narrow but there are also pretty, quiet plaças to sit and enjoy the community feel.

Many large homes here were commissioned by wealthy families returning from making their fortunes in Cuba. It remains one of the most desirable and exclusive districts of the city with many fine Modernista buildings, including the beautiful but complex Illa de la Discòrdia or Block of Discord where buildings by Barcelona’s four great architects—Domènech i Montaner, Puig i Cadafalch, Enric Sagnier, and Gaudí—vie for attention. This is an area of wide boulevards, great shopping (along Passieg de Gràcia, the 5th Avenue of Barcelona), and a refined ambience—despite the hordes of tourists.

The Eixample is divided into the Right and the Left. The Left Eixample includes the Gay Eixample, an area that was in decline before the gay community stepped inand

The Eixample’s layout is even on the district’s bus seat

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The metro at Passeig de Gràcia

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Gaudí’s Casa Batllo and Puig i Cadafalch’s Casa Ametller (left)

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Plaça de l’Or—one of Gràcia’s pretty community places

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The area is popular with young people and creative and “progressive” types and is strongly Catalan, as you’ll notice from all the Catalan flags draped over balconies. Perhaps most famed for Gaudí’s Park Güell and the fantastic summer festival—Festa Major de Gràcia—here too you’ll find some of the city’s best tapas bars, quirky shops, and the Verdi cinema showing VO movies. Gràcia properties range from large, sunny apartments, to cramped ones squeezed into the narrow maze of streets.

Sant Martí

This area includes Poblenou, the area that backs onto Barcelona’s best beaches. It’s the area that until very recently had its “back to the beach,” and for good reason: the “beaches” were unpleasant, dirty industrial areas. Up until the end of the last century, only fishermen, factory workers, and local tradesmen (many working in the local car industry) lived here; it was gritty but it had a community. That community feeling is still apparent and you can sense it as you walk down the Rambla de Poblenou—take a look at the video of the rambla here. During the day this is a bustling, busy, business district; at night it quietens down, the business people and cars clear out and it returns to being a residential district.

It was the announcement that the 1992 Olympics would be held in Barcelona that changed this area forever and for the better. The area along the seafront was developed into the Villa Olympica to house all the visiting athletes. The Icaria

Gràcia displays its Catalan heart on its balconies

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shopping-movie complex was built and the new Olympic Port was opened. The whole area was cleaned up and the beaches transformed from dirty to blue-flag status (the height of European cleanliness). You can see the beaches in this video. This is where you’ll find the nudist and gay beach.

After the Olympics, the local government’s beautification plans continued on, with the development of the Diagonal Mar residential complex and Parc de Diagonal Mar in 1999 and the Forum in 2004, at the end of the seafront paseo. The Forum was a huge project that housed the Universal Forum of Cultures, an international expo that showcased Barcelona’s most modern architecture by Enric Miralles, Jaques Herzog, and Pierre de Meuron.

If you like ultra-modern, slightly sterile, but immaculate living quarters near the beach, then head for the Forum district of Sant Martí. Property prices at Diagonal Mar are high: a two-bed, two-bath apartment currently listed with Engel & Volkers

The Rambla de Poblenou—pleasant, low-key, local living

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The seafront looking towards Frank Gehry’s fish sculpture built for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics

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La Zona Alta

Out away from all the hubbub and tourists is the Pedralbes district in the Zona Alta. Located on the northwest side of the city, this is recognized as Barcelona’s most prestigious area and one of the biggest. It is a place of large mansions, elegant apartment blocks, and the leading international schools (such as Benjamin Franklin International School).

There’s a quiet, residential feel here, almost as if you are in another city when you compare it to the Gothic Quarter.

is €580,000. Some people call this Pedralbes-on-Sea (after the wealthy inland district of Pedralbes), simply because of the wealth. But it won’t attract the same make up of residents until it has more local conveniences and private schools.

Set slightly back from the beach but still in Sant Marti is the @22 “Innovation” district. This area combines old, red-brick buildings—some of which have been redeveloped and some that look like the abandoned car-manufacturing buildings that they are —and an incredible technology park. @22 was launched at the time of the great dot.com revolution, offering incredible free or low cost online training to aspiring entrepreneurs and a location for the hottest technology companies. Of course, when the dot.com bubble burst the area suffered but it is slowly resurfacing and could still be the great technology hub of Europe that the local government had hoped for.

The modern shopping area at Diagonal Glories

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The old and the new in district @22

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Museu Blau by Herzog & de Meuron at Parc del Forum

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Looking towards Parc de Diagonal Mar and the Forum

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http://www.bfischool.org/

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However, it’s easy to get to the city center, and because it’s located right next to Barcelona’s ring road—the Ronda de Dalt—it’s just a ramp away from the main freeway to the north and south of Catalonia. This is a hilly part of Barcelona, not great for ‘Bicing’ up to but fun to whizz back down to the center after a day admiring the great city views and exploring the rose garden at Parc de Cervantes.

The area I Iike the most up here is Reina Elisenda in the center of the Sarrià district. It has its own church, Modernista buildings, small shops, an outdoor market, cobbled streets, a park, and community spirit. This is where the impressive U.S. Consulate is housed in what appears to be a mini-palace. From this area it’s just 15 minutes back to Gràcia on the metro and a further 10 to 15 minutes to the Ciutat Vella.

A quiet residential street in Pedralbes

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In the Zona Alta looking towards the Tibidabo attraction park built in 1901

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So, that’s the eight districts of Barcelona that I recommend you focus on. Now let’s look at everything that you’ll need to know if you choose live here full- or part-time.

A Seasonal, Pleasant Climate

Barcelona has four seasons, none of them with extreme temperatures. Overall it is a pleasant climate allowing outdoor living and dining for most of the year (though you’ll see locals wrapping up in winter clothes as soon as the children go back to school in September). It does not suffer the humidity of the Tropics but come July and August, if you live in the city center, you will want to have air conditioning unless you have an upper-level apartment with windows on both frontages, which allow the sea breeze to blow through. You will never, or very rarely, find yourself shoveling snow. Rainfall, which is occasionally heavy, averages 1,000 mm a year—enough to keep the city parks green and lush.

ºC ºFJanuary 9.1 48.38

February 7.7 45.38

March 11.2 52.16

April 13.5 56.3

May 14.6 58.28

June 19.5 67.10

July 25.6 78.08

August 24.9 76.82

September 22 71.6

October 19.5 67.10

November 12.2 53.96

December 10.1 50.18

Data source: The Fabra Observatory 2013

I think the best time to visit is the end of September, October, and November. The crowds have gone, children are back in school, and the sea is still warm enough to swim in—at least in September and October (though I swam in the sea in December one year).

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Meet An Expat—Sandra Burela And Barcelona Charms

LC: Where are you from Sandra?SB: I grew up in Barcelona but was born in Bolivia and spent my early childhood in California.

What brought your family to the city?We arrived here in 1971, when I was 6 years old. It was one of those strange twists of life; my family came on holiday to visit relatives and due to a bunch of circumstances we just stayed.

You speak Spanish, Catalan, and English fluently? How come?I am lucky to have a diverse background: I inherited my adventurous and open-minded genes from my North American mom and a Latin taste for life from my Bolivian dad but I grew up immersed in Catalan culture, speaking Spanish with my dad, Catalan with my friends, and English with my mom.

I’ve known you now for over 10 years and if I didn’t know your family’s background I’d say you were 100% Catalan because you are so in tune with the city. Why do you think that is?

I developed a great interest in history and that has made me passionately in love with the city of Barcelona.

You’ve worked in many areas from teaching to sales, marketing, and event organizing. Now you’ve started a walking tour company in the city (which, incidentally, is a great business idea for expats in any city). What made you decide to do that?

I kept hearing people say, “Do what you love,” and because I really enjoy meeting new people and showing them around Barcelona, I decided to do that in a useful and professional way and so formed my tour company Barcelona Charms.

What kind of people do you show around the city?It started with tourist-type tours visiting Gaudí’s Modernist sites and the Gothic quarter but has evolved to include tours adapted for specific interests.

Could you give me an example of that?

I recently toured with a couple who wanted to explore, in detail, the Jewish sector of the city. We covered the history of Judaism in Barcelona and the present Jewish community. Then there’s the general tourist, who may have been to the city before but now wants to see the “hidden” Barcelona—the parts only locals know about. And the other type of client is someone who wants to come and live here but isn’t sure which area is the best for them. I tell them the “behind the scenes” information and take them to specific districts and streets that I think would interest them based on criteria they’ve shared with me. So it could be Poblenou or it might be Reina Elisenda…it depends on budget and whether they want to be in the heart of the city or looking in from the outer districts.

Whatever you want to learn about Barcelona ask Sandra—she’s a bottomless pit of information and resources. See the “Rolodex” for contact information.


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Torre Agbar at the gateway to the @22 district

Healthcare

Barcelona has an enviable reputation for healthcare. There are well-trained doctors galore and many English-speaking ones from several different countries. Consultants in every specialty can be found throughout the city but the Sarrià area close to the University of Barcelona has a particularly high number of practitioners.

In general, non-EU retirees will not be able to access the Spanish healthcare system and will have to take out private insurance. A popular company with expats is Sanitas

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Residency In Spain

Long-Term Living In Spain

Read all about visas, residency, and

citizenship options in Spain here.

http://www.sanitas.es/

https://www.liveandinvestoverseas.com/country-hub/europe/spain/spain-visa-and-residency-information/

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You will be issued with a social security number which will entitle you to healthcare, sickness, unemployment benefits, as well as government pensions. It also means you will be exposed to more Spanish taxes (read more about that below).

Many people who are eligible for state healthcare, both expats and locals, combine social medicine with private insurance. It is acceptable and very common to use them in tandem.

The Consulate General of the United States Barcelona provides a Medical List, which includes practitioners and pharmacists who speak English.

Private dental services are also excellent in Spain, whereas state dental care is very basic. If your private insurance package does not include dental work and you chose to pay-as-you-go, typical charges are: cleaning €60, filling €60, extraction €60, a crown €380, special deep cleaning (4 quadrants, 4 visits) €320, and a root canal €160.

Bon Dia, Buenos Días…

Spain has a particularly diverse set of native languages including Castellano (or Spanish to you and me, but not Español, which is its close relation in Latin America), Euskara, Catalan, and Galician.

In Barcelona you can take your pick: Catalan or Castellano, or both. If you learn Catalan you’ll be right in there with the locals, and if you send your children to a local school you’ll understand the language they are being taught in (at university too). If you speak Spanish, you’ll do fine but be prepared to

(part of BUPA). Note that your zip code in Spain will affect the monthly dues as will your age. If you choose to pay-as-you-go a typical fee for a family doctor is about €60 rising to €80 for an initial consultation with a specialist. Having said that, you won’t be granted a residency visa if you can’t show proof of health insurance cover.

A special government pay-in-scheme—the convenio especial—has been launched in parts of Spain for residents who do not qualify for Spanish healthcare. At the moment that scheme is only available in Valencia, Murcia, Galicia, and Castilla y Leon but not in Catalonia. When it is launched in Catalonia applicants, who must have been resident for 12 months, will pay a basic monthly fee of €60 for under-65s and €157 for those over 65. The scheme does not cover prescription costs. I recommend you check the British government ‘Healthcare in Spain’ website which states that it will provide updates as other regions come on line (remember though that everything else on the site regarding healthcare in Spain is applicable to British expats only).

For minor problems, take advantage of Catalonia’s excellent farmàcias (pharmacies) where highly trained pharmacists will provide advice, as well as recommend remedies—some of which would require prescriptions back home. Catalonia is also very pro alternative healthcare and particularly homeopathic care.

If you move to Spain as an employee or are self-employed the situation is different: you will pay social security contributions to the General Social Security Fund (Dirección General de la Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social - TGSS).

The private Hospital Teknon—a favorite of expats

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For now, the flag of Spain, Catalunya, and patron Sant Jordi fly together

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https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-in-spain

https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-in-spain

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get answers back from some people in Catalan. It’s actually quite easy to read Catalan, if you already speak Spanish, and from there you’ll soon learn to understand it (though I never did get much beyond saying hello/goodbye in Catalan, even though my Spanish is at conversation level and my children attended local schools). In the tourist areas you’ll find people speak English; however, outside of them it’s a bit of a lottery, so learning the lingo is important. Of course if you learn Catalan only you’ll find it hard outside of Catalonia where everyone else speaks Spanish.

The Cost Of Living

Barcelona is not a cheap city compared to Latin America or Southeast Asia. However, if your focus is on retiring to a multi-cultural, dynamic, coastal European city with easy access to great beaches, France, and indeed the rest of Europe then I believe Barcelona is one of the best cities in the world to retire in.

Here’s a budget for a couple living in the Ciutat Vella.

Apartment Rental—Monthly Cost Per Couple (€/euros)

Rent €800) Unfurnished, mid- range, two bedroom (85 square meters)

Community charge €10-60 Very variable; depends on size and type of property

Gas, electricity, water €140

Household help €96 Based on 2 hours per week at €12 per hour

Phone, Internet, cable TV From €42Cost includes Internet, phone calls, a new phone, and online TV (See Movistar.es for details). Higher bundle prices e.g. €60 includes cell phone calls.

Transport – monthly bus/metro €10.30

Single bus/metro ticket: €2.15 10-ride ticket: €10.30 (can be usedby more than one person)30km train ride: €4Taxi: minimum €7. An average ride:5km / 10 minutes= €10 approx.

Gym membership From €40 Lots of deals available

Groceries €170

Based on a weekly shop of: milk, bread, rice, eggs, cheese, chicken, ham, apples, oranges, tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce, broccoli, onions, water, wine (1 bottle), beer (5 bottles)

Doctor visit €40-100 Private

Entertainment From €120 Based on movie ticket: €8; theater ticket: €20-€60; evening meal out: €20-€30; and museum entrance: €5 – €20

TOTAL From €1,468 Approx. US$2,000

Eating out costs vary enormously. As with most top-class cities you can eat out at the very best and have your bill run into hundreds of euros or go to a local-style tapas bar and have your fill for €12.

Here, though, are some typical eating-out costs:

A beer: domestic €2.50, imported €3; a Coke/Pepsi (0.33cl bottle): €1.66; a coffee (local café not Starbucks type): €1.50; tapas: from €4; lunch: 3-course with glass of wine from €10; and dinner: mid-range, 3-course from €20.

Lomo, chorizo, fuet...every type imaginable at the Boqueria

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The same variation goes for grocery shopping. If you buy all your fruit and veg at the gorgeous eye-candy-esque Boqueria market your monthly living costs will soar. But if you buy in supermarkets and local markets you’ll spend more or less the same as in the USA (as long as you don’t buy expensive imported brands).

Picture perfect fruit and veg at La Boqueria

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The Encants Vells Market where you can buy low-cost knick-knacks, furniture, and clothes

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Here is a sample of goods from my recent trawl around the Caprabo supermarket in the Barceloneta district.

Grocery ItemQuantity(metric)

Price In euros (€)

Butter 250 grams 1.25

Milk 1 liter 1.35

Orange juice, fresh 1 liter 1.25

Coca Cola 1.5 liters 1.00

Wine, local Penedès 750 ml. From 2.75

Ham, cured 250 grams 4.48

Chicken breasts 1.2 kg. 5.50

Entrecote 1 kg. 11.45

Bananas 1 kg. 1.19

Onions, yellow 1 kg. 1.20

Broccoli 1 kg. 1.60

Carrots 1 kg. 0.69

Ketchup, Heinz 250 grams 1.55

Peanut butter, local brand 340 grams 3.49

Bread, sliced white 1 loaf 1.99

Toothpaste, Colgate 75ml 2.95

Laundry soap, local brand 35 washes 6.99

The most delicious bread from Baluard Bakery in Barceloneta

Property—The Spanish Picture

The Spanish property market has been, is, and probably will continue to be very difficult to reliably comment on. Some sources say sales and prices are on the up, some say they are both still declining.

Mark Stücklin who writes for the Sunday Times says: “The reality is that the market is just bumbling along the bottom of the crisis. The apparent volatility is down to a series of fiscal measures, such as mortgage interest tax relief, coming to an end.”

Houses in Spain, as a whole, as all the studies suggest, are still getting cheaper, but the rate of the fall is slowing down and most of the lower and mid-range properties are at their August 2003 levels, 40% lower than the peak prices in 2007. That’s the picture for all of Spain.

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For more personal attention contact Engels & Volkers—they currently have about 350 rentals on their books ranging from mansions (€15,000 per month) to a one-bed, one-bath studio in the Gothic Quarter for €575—and Lucas Fox whose properties range from a designer apartment on Diagonal Mar for €11,000 per month to €1,200 for a fully furnished, three-bed apartment in the Zona Alta near the university and international schools.

Be aware, if you sign a rental contract for less than a year it is short-term (contrato de arrendamiento de temporada) and you

Barcelona’s more upmarket and desirable areas have already bottomed out, it’s mostly the areas outside of the eight districts outlined above that are still suffering with repossessions and falling or rock-bottom prices. They are not included here simply because I don’t think you would want to live there.

Rent First

The first thing you should do before buying is rent for a period of at least six months, and try to include some of the peak tourist season—July and August—during that time, just to get a feel for what the city is like when it’s stretched and at its busiest. Even before you commit to a long-term rental, stay a couple of weeks in a short-term rental so that you live a little like a local and wander the streets to find an area that you really click with.

Typical ‘For Rent’ signage to look out for

The tourist office—Barcelona Turisme—has an online listing of tourist apartments but it’s not searchable by area, so difficult to find a specific location. However, if you visit them at Passatge de la Concepció, 7-9 (Tel. 34 932 853 834) they should be able to help. Alternatively, contact Loving Apartments - Barcelona who have a very wide choice of short term rentals from budget (€18 per night) to luxury (€ you name it per night), and a very good search engine based on over 50 areas of the city. Their English-speaking staff will also try to help you with long-term rentals, though it is not their specialty.

The city has a good choice of property when it comes to long-term rentals. The two big property portals, Idealista.es and Kyero.com, are straightforward, to use; the former has a better search engine. A one-bed, one-bath apartment in good condition in the center will start at about €600 per month

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When you rent you’ll figure out that these odd things are for trash

and steadily rise to €11,000 per month for an eight-bed villa with a pool.

A neat and tidy, 2-bed rental in Barceloneta, set back a couple of streets from the beach, is €690 a month. Or a four-bed rental overlooking (literally) the marina/port area is €1,900 a month.

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A typical old-style, renovated property in Barceloneta

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http://www.engelvoelkers.com/search?startIndex=0&sortField=sortPrice&businessArea=&sortOrder=DESC&q=&facets=bsnssr%3Aresidential%3Bcntry%3Aspain%3Brgn%3Abarcelona%3Btyp%3Arent%3B&pageSize=10&language=en&view=LISTE

http://www.lucasfox.com/Search.html?locationId=939EF49950&classid=res_rent&pricesort=asc

http://www.lucasfox.com/Rent-property/Spain/barcelona/Barcelona-city/zona-alta/galvany/Apartment-Flat/LFR3168.html

http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/

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• Don’t sign anything unless you are presented with anofficial translation.

• Make sure the agent or developer is a member of aprofessional association. One that is recognized in theUK (one of Spain’s biggest markets) is the Associationof International Property Professionals (AIPP).

• If you buy a new-build or off-plan property make sure yourdeposit or stage payments are paid into an escrow accountto protect your money until the property is completed.

• Make sure your lawyer checks into any local laws that mayaffect the purchase of your property. The Valencia land-grabstory and the Coastal Law (ley de costas) resulted in manyexpats losing their homes. That said, buying a second handproperty in Barcelona is unlikely to be subject to any oddplanning laws.

• Avoid cash sales.

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The eyesore at the end of Ramblas de Poble Nou—this will be developed soon

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To rent or buy, a Rambla de Poblenou reformed apartment block

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Apartments for rent at Plaça Fossar de les Moreres, a memorial plaça in the Gothic Quarter

will have to move out when it ends (unless the owner wants to renegotiate). If it’s longer than one year, it is a long-term contract (arriendo de vivienda) and the owner is obliged to accept annual renewals up to a five-year period. Read “Leases and Rental Agreements” for more information. In most cases you will be required to pay a deposit of one month’s rent plus one month’s rent in advance.

Buying In Barcelona…First Things First

If you do decide to buy property in Spain you must first have an NIE number or Numero de Indentification de Extrajanero. A reputable realtor will help you with this process. AngloINFO Spain gives a detailed explanation of the NIE and the application process.

You should expect to pay, on average, up to 14% on top of the sales price of a property for sales tax and roughly 3% to 4% for town hall, registration, and notary fees.

You must do your due diligence before investing in any property opportunity in Spain. Take independent professional advice before investing in Spanish property and don’t rely on information given to you by developers or agents or those with vested interests. If you do not know what you are doing, do not invest in property in Spain.

Familiarize yourself with some key points to avoid making any costly mistakes:

• Always use an independent lawyer who specializes inproperty sales and speaks fluent English and Spanish.

http://www.aipp.org.uk/

http://barcelona.angloinfo.com/information/housing/renting-accommodation/lease-agreement/

http://barcelona.angloinfo.com/information/housing/renting-accommodation/lease-agreement/

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Letting Your Own Property

Short-term letting of private property is now controlled by Barcelona’s City Council, the Ajuntament, via their license scheme. The Ajuntament has completely suspended the issuance of holiday rental licenses to property owners in the Ciutat Vella, and it has delayed the issuance of licenses in the Eixample and Gràcia while it decides on new controls, which will be announced in the next four months.

The restrictions are partly in response to locals complaining that their local life was being adversely affected by noisy tourists—that could well be true in some areas where Northern Europeans head in their droves for stag and hen parties. But it is also in answer to politicians of various parties who have complained that there is insufficient housing available for residents of Barcelona.

So, if your plan is to live part-time in the city in one of the controlled areas and let your property out for the

The Spanish Registrars organization has a free guide to buying a property is Spain which can be downloaded from their site here.

And the British Foreign Office has an excellent review of the buying process including a buyer’s check list at ‘How to Buy a Property in Spain.’

Useful real estate sites include Idealista.es, Tecnocasa.es, and Lucas Fox and Engels Volker (for anything above €200,000). To get on-the-ground detail, Barcelona’s Town Hall publishes an interactive map of every zone. You can choose what you’re interested in, for example yoga studios in the Gràcia area, and up they come.

Getting A Spanish Mortgage

Due to the lasting effects of the global financial crisis, the majority of Spanish banks are far less willing to grant mortgages than during pre-crisis days. Spanish non-tax residents are being lent a maximum of 70% of whichever is lower of the valuation or the purchase price. Tax residents in Spain are being offered a maximum of 80%. If the property is bank-owned (repossessed) or is being sold by a developer with bank funding, then loans of up to 100% are possible. You may find it easier to source funds in your home country. As with all mortgages and loans proof of income will be required.

Buyers will need at least a 30% deposit and another 14% of the purchase price on top to cover fees. Foreign buyers who take out mortgages in Spain are typically charged more than double the interest rate given to locals. Spanish buyers can get rates of around 1.99 per cent for a tracker while expat buyers may pay between 4.5% and 5%.

The high-end apartment development at Parc de Diagonal, Sant Marti

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The Ajuntament in the Barri Gòtic

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Tourists need accommodation but vacation lettings are to be more controlled

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http://www.registradores.org/en/comprar_una_vivienda.jsp

https://www.gov.uk/how-to-buy-property-in-spain

https://www.gov.uk/how-to-buy-property-in-spain

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Wealth Tax

Spanish tax residents are subject to tax on their worldwide income, including bank interest arising anywhere in the world. Since 2014, each person is allowed assets of about €700,000 and a personal residence valued at €300,000. Above this you will be required to pay a tax equal to 0.2% to 2.5% of your total assets.

The wealth tax is complicated, varies from region to region, and comes and goes according to the level of prosperity of the country. I recommend you speak to a tax lawyer who is fully conversant with dual taxation to make sure you understand how it affects you before you become involved with Spain.

at 24%. For tax residents income earned from property rental is taxed at 19%. Several deductions are allowed but only for residents of the EU or Spain, not if you are a U.S. resident for tax purposes.

If you own a Spanish property that’s not your main residence and you do not rent it out, you will still be liable for a tax on the notional income that you might have earned if you had rented it out—calculated at 2% of the official value of the property.

Wealthy Romans were buried at Via Sepuchral Romana

Property Taxes

Any income from a property rental must be declared to the tax office, however small the amount.

For non-residents, net rental income (after deductions) is taxed

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remainder of the time, you may be able to do that but only if the property already has a license or if it is part of a block of apartments that is for tourist use only, called “apartamentos turisticos.”

Taxes—Know Before You Go

Spain has a complex tax system, with slightly different tax obligations in each autonomous community. It is also a country with one of the highest tax obligations in Europe, even higher than much maligned France!

Here are the general tax rules:

You are considered a tax resident if you spend more than 183 days in Spain during the Spanish tax year (the calendar year) or if your main professional activity is based in Spain. You can also be considered resident in Spain if your spouse and/or dependent minor children live in Spain. Spain has a double-taxation treaty with the USA and Canada, and most European countries.

Income tax

If you are a tax resident of Spain, income “derived from savings,” such as dividend income, interest income, purchased annuity income, and capital gains are taxed at the following rates:

Up to €6,000: 19% From €6,000 up to €50,000: 21% From €50,000 up to €200,000: 23%Any amounts over €200,000: 26%

Non-residents pay 19% tax on dividends. Catalonia’s non-savings income tax rates for tax-residents are noted in the following table.

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Barcelona’s town hall—the Ajuntament de Barcelona—also provides some information about taxes in English (mostly forms and when to pay).

Succession

Your country’s succession laws can override Spain’s law provided that your will is valid in Spain. From August 17, 2015 an individual will be able to elect, through his Will, if he wants the succession laws of his country of nationality to apply on his death.

Setting Up HomeUtilities

When renting a property you’ll find utilities (water, gas, and electricity) are nearly always already connected; they will just have to be transferred into your name, as a buyer or renter.

Capital gains tax—if you have lived in your property for more than three years and you are over 65 years, or reinvest the income from the sale in another property, there is no CGT.

Non-residents pay 21% on capital gains earned in Spain. They must also withhold 3% of the purchase price (not the gain) and pay that to the tax office. This is an “advance” on the payment of CGT; if the advance is higher than the CGT due, a repayment will be made, but if it is less, more tax will be due in Spain.

An annual property tax is also due each year and varies from region to region. You will pay between 1% and 2% of the value of your property per year. In addition there is another tax paid by non-residents simply for the right to own property in Spain and that is 3% per year of the value of your property.

Typical 80s-style Barceloneta property

And when you buy a property there is a transfer tax, ITP (Impuesto Transmisiones Patrimoniales), which in Catalonia is 10% of the value of the sale.

Every occupier of a residential property (the owner or renter) pays a local tax known as IBI (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles). This tax covers local services like garbage collection, policing etc. It’s paid by the person who is living in the property on January 1, and is based on the cadastral value of the property—the rate varies from 0.405% to 1.166% depending upon the region. Catalonia’s rate is 0.148%-- small-beer compared to all the other taxes.

The Tax Payers Calendar (in English) from the Spanish tax office—the Agencia Tributaria—includes information on the main national tax obligations.

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The natural gas headquarters designed by Enric Miralles

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Passed down through generations, La Colmena is one of the oldest cake shops in Barcelona

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Barcelona’s metro is fast, easy to navigate, and covers most of the city. Maps are available from tourist offices or any metro station.

The main hub for buses is Plaça Catalunya. Pick up a bus map at the underground tourist office there.

Though expansion is planned, for now the trams are of limited use to visitors, with the exception of the line that runs from the Parc de Ciutadella (where the zoo is currently located) to Diagonal-Mar via the Plaça de les Glòries.

It is worth checking that there is a phone jack and if it is “live”—if there isn’t one or if it’s not live, it will take some work to get it reconnected through Movistar (the national supplier of landlines, cell phone, and Internet services).

Spanish utility companies’ customer service is getting better but they are not a patch on customer service in the USA. Unless you are fluent in Spanish, this is the time you’ll need some help.

The AngloINFO Barcelona pages on ‘Setting up a home’ take you step-by-step through the process of setting up utilities, Internet, cell phones, TV, and recycling.

Getting To And About The City

El Prat airport (barcelona-airport.com) is about 15km from Barcelona city center. Airport buses (Aerobús) run to and from either terminal to a stop in front of the El Corte Inglés department store on Plaça Catalunya every 15 minutes or so—the journey takes around 40 minutes and a return ticket is €10.20 (valid 15 days).

Trains for the airport leave Passeig de Gràcia and Estació de Sants every 30 minutes, but note that if you’re flying to or from the new Terminal 1 you’ll need to catch a shuttle bus between the terminal and the airport train station.

A taxi between the airport and the center of Barcelona will take around 20 minutes, depending on traffic, and costs about €30.

A mobile recycling van in the Raval at Plaça Sant Agustí

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Elegant al fresco dining on the Passeig de Gràcia

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A very popular, inexpensive form of transport with locals and expats

If you’re planning on using public transport, invest in a T-Casual which is a pass costing €11.35 for 10 journeys and can be shared between two or more people. Validate your ticket at either the metro barrier or on the machine on board buses or trams. Single tickets for metro, bus, or tram are €2.40.

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http://barcelona.angloinfo.com/information/housing/setting-up-home

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With these, and the T-Casual, you can change, without further charge, between different modes of public transport during a 1hr 15-minute period.

Finding The Right Property

The average cost per meter of property in Barcelona’s districts, according to the realtor Lucas Fox’ latest intelligence, varies by about €2,000 depending on the district: El Raval is up to €2000; Eixample is €4000; the Born is €3.500; Barceloneta is €3,000; the Gothic Quarter is €3000; and Sarrià is about €4,000 per square meter.

Compare that to Paris, where the average cost per square meter for older apartments is €8,140, and Barcelona starts to look like a good deal for one of Europe’s greatest cities.

For most North Americans and British buyers the ideal is to have at least two bedrooms with two bathrooms. However,

Let’s Go Bicing

Bicing is the name of the bicycle-sharing scheme that runs throughout the city. It costs €50 per year to subscribe. The first 30 minutes of your journey are free after that the next two hours cost 0.74 per 30 minutes. After two hours you pay €50 per hour. The system is set up that way to stop people hogging bikes for whole days or more. When you take a bike off the rack, you have three minutes to figure out if all is working well, if it’s not you place it back on the rack and take another one and off you go. Bikes are available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, over the weekend and with some limits during the week. Find out more info here (in Spanish or Catalan).

The view down a typical Barceloneta street

that 2-bed/2-bath combo is quite hard to find even at a high budget. If your budget is limited to €80,000 (about US$100,000) and you want a 2-bed with room to upgrade from one to two baths you’ll have to look in El Raval (OK condition) and Poblenou in the Sant Martí district (reasonable-to-good condition). Remember that in El Raval you really have to know the area or visit it with a guide or well-informed realtor to be sure you’re looking at a safe and desirable location. Also note that many, if not most, apartments in the older parts of Barcelona do not have elevators. If nothing else you’ll get fitter climbing all those stairs!

I saw a not-very-exciting but nonetheless affordable 48-square-meter apartment, on Calle Sant Climent in the Raval with two balconies. It’s in need of a cosmetic refurb, is furnished (though you’d probably want to get rid of most of the furniture), and with air conditioning for €79,000.

In Poblenou, you’ll find more options in more modern buildings. For example a 55-square-meter apartment close to Diagonal and in walking distance of the beach, on the 3rd floor of a 1970s building, with a remodeled interior, and a balcony overlooking a park is listed at €70,000.

To get two good-sized double bedrooms in a search you may find you need to put in ‘three bedrooms’ as one of them will most-likely be as big as a cupboard but could be converted

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https://www.bicing.cat/es

http://www.idealista.com/inmueble/27512124/

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to a bathroom or dressing room. But to get a good-size three bed in a reasonable area you will have to search for a minimum price of €100,000, but more likely €140,000.

In calle Joaquin Costa, one of the up-and-coming streets of the Raval, a 3-bed, 1-bath corner apartment (55 square meters) with original shutters, beams, and ornate balconies, was on the market for €119,000.

Reformed apartments in the Raval

When I lifted the budget to between €150,000 to €200,000 the choices opened up a great deal.

In the attractive Calle Verdi area of Gràcia a three-bed, one-bath, 60-square-meter apartment is on the market for €167,000 (recently reduced by €2,900). The apartment faces out to the quiet, tree-lined road (quiet at most times but definitely not during the district’s La Mercè festival in September when every street corner has a band playing on it), and has an interior patio known as a ‘manzana.’

If looking at pokey one- or two-bed apartments in need of renovation is a turn off, be inspired by what can be done in the city. Go up a notch to €195,000, and you could buy a 4-bed, 1-bath apartment in Gràcia, in need of some re-working of thespace but quite livable right now.

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Quirky little antiquities store in Gràcia

A 2-bed, 43-square-meter apartment in the Raval that has been cleverly renovated (think IKEA inside pre-1950s) and is priced at €148,000. It includes some features that are worth looking for when searching for apartments: a balcony over the street and a balcony that opens over an interior ‘manzana’ patio. This will provide more light and air; some apartments seem to have neither. I can think of nothing worse than moving to Spain for the bright blue skies and sunshine, only to live in an apartment with no natural light.

Under €200,000 you’ll be lucky to find anything bigger than about 35 square meters in Barceloneta, and for that you’ll get two bedrooms and one bathroom. Why live in Barceloneta? To be by the sea! My best two-bed (33-square-meter) find on the market is an apartment overlooking the paseo and the beach in a classic Barceloneta building with a communal roof terrace; listed for €182,100 with Tecnocasa.

In the Barri Gòtic, Lucas Fox is marketing 11 attractive two-bedroom, one bath, 59-square-meter apartments. The properties have exposed brickwork, wooden beams, and high ceilings. Prices range from €225 to €295,000.

Go up again to between €300,000 and €400,000 and another world of property is yours.

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De Sant Juan) many of the buildings were built between the 1960s and 80s, when the quality of the build was much lower.

A 3-bed, 1-bath apartment on the fourth floor (no elevator!) of a classical 1885 building in the Eixample’s Quadrat d’Or in need of updating but with lots of original features is on the market for €380,000. But really the sky’s the limit in this part of town; palatial comes to mind in this 22-room, spectacular apartment priced at €8 million.

A reformed Barri Gòtic apartment listed by Lucas Fox

If old-style is just not your thing, an apartment in the Poblenou area, close to the city center and in walking distance of the beach is, I think, the best choice. An upmarket, 2-bed, 2-bath, 75-square-meter apartment with a small terrace (great viewto Torre Agbar), a garage, and storage is on the market withLucas Fox for €330,000.

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The gorgeous windows of Casa Lleó Morera in the Eixample

Originally, when the Eixample’s beautiful buildings were first lived in, the wealthy owners lived on the ground and first floor, leaving their servants to traipse up the stairs. Hence the ceilings of the lower-floor apartments are high, the windows are big and the apartments are large and airy. Today, now that elevators have been installed in many buildings, buyers are just as keen on the upper floors with their views, lower street-noise levels, and in some cases, roof terraces.

As I mentioned earlier, the city council is no longer giving out short-term rental licenses in the Barri Gòtic; however, there are properties that had them before the ban and are able to continue using them. If you are interested in part-time living and part-time letting in the Gothic Quarter take a look at this renovated, low-maintenance 2-bed, 1-bath apartment listed by Lucas Fox for €290,000, which has the license. It has previously been let for €100 per night and had an annual occupancy rate of 70%.

It’s not often that a renovated apartment comes on the market in the Santa Maria del Mar area of the fashionable Born area. Again two bedrooms and only one bath (59 square meters) but it’s a gem of a property with lots of light, some original

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Design Hub and Torre Agbar—a dream for students of modern architecture

Or if your intention is to live part-time and rent out part-time Lucas Fox has a cleverly renovated 2-bed, 1-bath apartment in Gràcia, with the all-important rental license, on the market for €320,000.

In the Eixample properties are generally well looked after with high ceilings, large windows, and elevators. These features, however, come with a higher price tag. Note though that outside of the main ‘Modernista’ streets (Calle Ausiàs Marc up to Avenida Diagonal and from Calle Muntaner across to Paseo

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Your starting price in Sarrià for a two-bed apartment is going to be about €220,000. The difference here is that you’ll get more apartment for your money. For example a two-bed, one-bath, light and airy apartment in Sarrià was on the market for €250,000. It has 66-square-meters, is furnished, lies on the fifth floor (with an elevator), and has a large patio.

This area is also home to some modern apartment blocks (for example along Calle Manel Girona), which have manicured gardens, 24-hour reception, swimming pools, laundry, parking. To get your foot in that market you need to invest upwards of €350,000.

So that’s the end of the tour of this beautiful city. Of course, as with all cities, it has its’ problems. I think the worst is petty crime of the pick-pocketing variety. You have to be on red alert in every tourist area, on the metro, and at the beach. Don’t carry valuables in backpacks, never sit at a café with your bag on the floor (put it on your knees), and don’t lower

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Time for a break in front of Santa Maria del Mar in the Born

features, attractive tiles, and a great location; on the market for €250,000 with Lucas Fox.

http://www.lucasfox.com/property-for-sale/Spain/barcelona/Barcelona-city/old-town/Born/Apartment-Flat/LFS4978.html

http://www.liveandinvestoverseas.com/cmd.php?ad=683099

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Overseas Retirement LetterOnline Resources

Barcelona Shopping Cart

Barcelona Rolodex

Barcelona video featuring the Eixampla,

Gràcia, Barceloneta, and Poublenou

your guard when you watch a “magician” on the Ramblas…you’ll walk away with far less than you bargained for. Some people say that Catalonia’s fight for independence turns some expats off and away. I think if you go in with your eyes wide open to the possibility of change, you’ll have no problems. Taxes may rise, or fall, but overall expats are unlikely to notice a great change.

I have a very special place in my heart for Barcelona. It’s a vibrant, colorful, proud, interesting place that’s got the benefit of the passion of the Spanish combined with the efficiency and organization of the Catalans. Call me biased, but I can’t think of anyone who would not enjoy themselves here; single, couple, or family there’s something for everyone.

Give me a ‘B, give me an ‘A’…

© L

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Culp

eppe

r

Budgets

Residency

FurtherResources

http://www.overseasretirementletter.com/issues/1407/orl-70-shopping-cart.html




https://www.liveandinvestoverseas.com/country-hub/europe/spain/spain-visa-and-residency-information/

https://www.liveandinvestoverseas.com/country-hub/spain/barcelona/

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