The Most Expensive Houses in Spain

According to a an article today in the online newspaper ABC, Europa Press published a study from Pisos.com (confused yet?) about the most expensive second-hand properties on sale at the moment. The results are pretty staggering in my opinion! Sitges, the seaside town close to Barcelona tops the list with a house on the market a massive 10 million Euros! We're talking about a plot of 2000m2 and the house itself is 400m2, with outdoor gardens a swimming pool, 5 double bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. It's also up for rent at a cool 15,000 Euros a month.



Now, nobody for a minute is suggesting that Sitges is not a playground for the rich and famous around Barcelona. The small town feel is an ideal getaway from the bustling streets of Barcelona, and many of the FC Barcelona football players have houses here, but what surprises me is the apparent quality on show. If you have a look at the images on show, you'll see a pretty 80's style looking house in my opinion, with a poorly kept garden, and save some amazing views from the balcony windows (what more would you want for your 10 million?) nothing really leaps out to shout quality - take the kitchen for example?!

The second most expensive house is located in Marbella, and is on the market for 9 Million Euros. Again, there is nothing here which screams luxury from the images online, and with 8 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, this is a huge mother of a house RIGHT on the beach itself. To me, though, it looks like it needs a lot of work doing to it, especially taking out the pink 80s jacuzzi overlooking the beachfront!

Third on the list is a chalet located in Palma de Mallorca, and is going for a snip at 8,800000 Euros. With 3 bedrooms and a baffling 9 bathrooms, this is a huge property, too, with 1000m2.



Considering the amount of properties out there at the moment, both new and used, I'm sure there can be plenty of bargains to be had. These three properties seem well over-priced to me, and although the images on the sites are doing it no favours, consider this one published in the New york Times last year at only 1,45 Million Euros. I say only in comparison to the other three mentioned here above!

Are you looking to invest in Barcelona? Luxury Barcelona Real Estate Agents, Modus Vivendi, have an outstanding selection of properties for sale in Barcelona as well as an ample portfolio of long term rentals in Barcelona, too.

The Pros and Cons of living high and low in barcelona

When deciding on an apartment to move into in Barcelona, there are various things to take into consideration: how close the apartment will be to your work, shops, public transport, parks, the beach, etc. etc. All of these things can have a massive effect on your decision making, but there's another aspect which can lead to happiness and harmony within your new apartment, or dispair and disaster - height.



You may have found the ideal neighbourhood in Barcelona, and have your heart set on living in the old town, for example. All good, except for the fact that you can't find anything within your budget that isn't an old converted shop, or a backward facing bat-cave with no daylight. Here are a few tips to get you started when thinking about any typical apartment block within the city:

As mentioned, bajos/locales are the ground floor properties usually destined towards shops or cafes, etc. They are often noisy, with little to separate the actual building from the street, and are rarely triple-glazed or insulated to the max, meaning traffic noise and people noise can be a problem. There is no garden or patio - the street is literally behind the front window/door, which offer the added risk of flooding when there is heavy rain, etc. especially if the actual apartment is a step down, which is often the case. Lower floors tend to have poor natural light, so dependence on artificial light is a must, almost all day and will hike your electricity bill up, too.

On the flip side, many ground level apartments have have terraces, meaning you can maximise your use of the sunshine before you go to work/when you come back, and why stay indoors if you have a terrace?! You have easier access to the street (almost direct), and have no dependance on lift/elevator, for example. You'll also likely only have one neighbour - those people above you, meaning that noise levels from people within the building will be at a minimum, and you won't annoy anyone else apart from them, either!

Moving up a few floors to the middle height of a building can sometimes solve those natural light problems, although most apartments will only receive light during certain parts of the day - when the sun hits the street. Looking for an apartment which faces the sea is a great benefit in this respect. A possible downside is that you will likely have neighbours on all sides - be it within your own building or those adjoining buildings in the same street as you. Again, noise levels can be a tricky subject, if the neighbours are not within your own community.

Finally the high floors, attics and the like, generally tend to be smaller than the apartments within the same block, but with a terrace or big blacony to compensate. You obviously are heavily reliant on the building's lift/elevator, and in some places the narrow staircases can be a royal pain in the backside. However, the pros in these situations generally outweigh the cons - the vantage and views you will have for such evenings as Sant Joan, Barça games, La Merce, New Year, etc.), and the bake of natural light you'll receive almost all day will surely compensate!


If you're looking for an attic to rent, or an apartment within Barcelona and the surrounding area, then Luxury Barcelona Real Estate Agency Modus Vivendi have a selection of the best properties for sale in Barcelona as well as an ample portfolio of long term rentals in Barcelona.

Spanish Real Estate Terms For Out of Town

We've previously tackled a few terms you need to jot down in your diary/iPhone with regards to looking for a property within the city of Barcelona, but what about if you're sick of city life and are moving to the Mediterranean coast for something a little different. With such a lush countryside, inland Catalonia has much to offer, and those people who are used to commuting 45 minutes to an hour to get to work may find the benefits of living out of the hustle and bustle of the city outweigh the proximity to work, for example.

Any property which is not attached to another, and is spread over more than one floor is generally labelled a "casa" or as we all know it a house. Houses are usually detached and it's rare to find a semi-detached house as you would find in the UK, for example. Semi-detached properties are often on more than one floor, and include a subterranean garage and often a rooftop terrace, too.



The literal translation of "Torre" is Tower, although this can refer to any property within a plot of land and does not necessarily refer to the height of the property. A "casa" within it's own plot of land can equally be referred to as a "Torre" with maybe a slight inkling towards rural properties in this sense of the word.

Elaborating on the idea of plots of land, this would be known as either a "Terreno" or a "Parcela". The main difference between these two barren pieces of land ready for construction is that a "parcela" refers to a plot of land within an urbanisation which has been divided into separate individual plots, each representing an order. Some of these urbanisation's may be without proper roads and road markings or street lamps, but can be a real steal if bought as an investment. On the other hand, a "terreno" suggests a much more ample terrain, which has many possibilities for construction, although planning permission is likely required before any work can commence.

A "Masia" is one surely reserved for those with a big wallet, and refers to an old farmhouse or vineyard with a construction fit for living. Masias usually come with a hectare or two to manage and are few and far between, being very desired properties in the immediate Barcelona region. Areas such as the Penedes - famous for it's cava production - are very sought after areas for those looking to purchase a Masia.

Mention a "Chalé" or "chalet" and you'd be forgiven for thinking of springs Alpine mountains and Wooden Swiss huts, but in Spain you'll be talking about a small house with a small division between the adjoining dwelling and of similar dimensions to a studio apartment. Chalets are often in seaside towns, and many Spanish residents have chalets as holiday homes.

For an outstanding valuation on Luxury Barcelona Real Estate property, don't doubt in contacting Modus Vivendi, who have an outstanding selection of properties for sale in Barcelona as well as an ample portfolio of long term rentals in Barcelona, too.

60% rents in Catalonia illegal

A recent report on rentals in Spain found that Catalonia is above average in terms of illegal rentals. A massive 60% of rentals in Catalonia are not declared for taxes, costing the treasury an estimated 740 million Euros in tax losses. The figure - over half of all rentals in the northern peninsula - relates to a figure of 288,166 individual rentals.



The report implies that in Spain overall, there are almost half a million residential leases that are not declared in the annual tax returns, or "declaraciones de la renta", although amazingly, this figure has been reduced by 4.5% compared to last year.

Although various sources have come out to flatten the statistics, the figure is still alarmingly high, and many home owners may not know exactly what they are getting themselves in for. Illegal squatting in Spain as a whole is a huge problem, and in Barcelona recently there have been many cases of people returning from a short break to find their property "occupied" by people unknown to them, with locks changed, and bills still being paid under the owner's name. The current judicial system seems not to favour the home owner at all in these instances, and by all accounts it is a lengthy process to rid your home from unwanted intruders.

Insisting on a legally binding contract for any rental - on both the landlord and person letting a property is always the safest way to guard against anything unsavory happening. Dealing with an established estate agency can also help with any legalities.

Barcelona Real Estate Agents Modus Vivendi have a fantastic portfolio of apartments and Loft Rentals in Barcelona. Don't hesitate to contact them for your rental needs.