All eyes on Cannes for MIPIM

This coming week, all eyes will fall on Cannes in France, usually known for the famous film festival, but this month hosting one of the industries biggest trade fairs, MIPIM. The fair combines keynote speeches with interesting panels and awards and is well known as a mirror to the world's property markets and trends. It offers insights of profitable strategies, real estate investments worth taking a gamble on, and is an incredible networking event, with a lot of business deals starting here.



From the 16th - 19th March, the world's largest property fair will also invite a new member - the country of Turkey. With Istanbul proudly bearing the flag of European City of Culture, Turkey is also the only country in the top ten touristic destinations to have reported positive increases in visitors, too. However, Poland will be the guest speaker this year, and many are hoping to learn important lessons from the country and its infrastructures (it's preparing a bid for the Euro 2012 Football Cup).

Even considering the financial downturn of last year, 2009 statistics boast almost 18,000 Real estate professionals, over 1800 exhibiting companies, and this year's looks to be a kick in the right direction, too.

For matters closer to home, check out Modus Vivendi Barcelona Real Estate Agency for your needs.

Barcelona Parks And Gardens - Cuitadella Park

Continuing on from the first post in this series, let's take another look at a Barcelona park. La Cuitadella is known as the "garden of Barcelona" and is the oldest public green space in the city. Stretching over 70 acres, the park houses the city zoo, small boating lakes, museums, walkways and an ornamental fountain designed by Reus-bron architect, Antonin Gaudi, who also designed Park Güell.



The park is particularly popular on weekends, with many young families taking their children to play in the infants parks, wander the paths, and shade in the vegetation. It's also a popular spot for cyclists, joggers and rollerbladers, with one side of the park offering symetrical, parallel lines of walkways in contrast to the curves around the boating lake on the opposite side. On Sundays, the park has a bohemian feel with many local artists and bongo players descending to make music, or random groups of friends with guitars and immigrant families having picnics and the like.



With such a large green space for the locals to enjoy, it's no surprise that the area around La Cuitadella is a sought after area. The park shares borers with a few neighbourhoods, with the old town areas of Barceloneta and Borne on one side, the Olympic Village and Sant Marti on the opposite, and even part of Eixample Dret at the top, looking down on a map. Each area has a range of different housing available, from brand new buidlings to hundred-year old fincas, so it's likely that you'll be able to find something within your tatses.

A great way to find out about properties in the area is to contact a Barcelona Real Estate Agency such as Modus Vivendi, who have a wide selection of properties for sale and also a protfolio of Barcelona properties for rent.

Barcelona Neighbourhoods: Poble Sec

The area between the old town neighbourhood of El Raval and Montjüic Mountain is known as Poble Sec. This stretches from the seafront up to Plaça Espanya, and much of the neighbourhood is on a gradient. Poble Sec literally translates as "the dry village" and takes it's name as it was not until 1894 that the immigrant workers were blessed with the neighbourhood's first water fountain - which is still standing in Calle Margarit.



Poble Sec, like smaller neighbourhoods such as Gracia, retains that small town feel, with many local shops and commerces which have been around for years. There is a significant immigrant population in the area, like the majority of Barcelona's neighbourhoods, and the Dominican Republic has a high representation here, bringing colour and life to the area, as well as different eateries and shops catering for a Latin flavour. However, the area also has many Catalan residents who have lived here for generations. Expect a relaxed feel in this neighbourhood. This neighbourhood also celebrates a great local festival in July, when streets are closed and long tables are brought out for meals of traditional Catalan dishes and music.

One advantage of this area is the access to green spaces - none more closer than Montjüic. However, the neighbourhood itself also has two or three parks, and even leafy plaças to relax in. Some streets are on a fairly steep gradient, as mentioned above, which also favours the learner drivers of the city - a heavy presence is a common sight.

Are you looking for a property in Barcelona? Modus Vivendi Real Estate Agency can help find you the ideal place for you, and they also have a selection of Barcelona properties for rent.

Real Estate Offers in Madrid - Outlet Prices

This week saw a Winter Real Estate conference finish in Madrid, Spain's Capital. The theme this year was Outlet Residential, with incredible prices almost like tht of an auction going for a song. According to sources, the fair closed with a positive attendnce and many expositors were very happy with the results of their efforts over the three day period.

Given the huge amount of new properties literally collecting dust around Spain, the aim of the fair was to offer fantastic discounts on new properties, the great majority being apartments, with discounts of up to 40% on over four thousand individual properties. Accordning to news reports, some expositors were closing up to 15 deals a day, which is an amazing number of operations considering the current climate. Many who were interviewed said that they were begnning to see signs of the recession leaving the sector, although it has to be noted that there is a lo9ng way to go. All in all, good signs for the market, for the sector, and overall for the Spanish public. Let's hope this has a knock on effect around the rest of the country.

If you're looking for Barcelona Real Estate Agents to help with a property search, look no further than Modus Vivendi. Their Spanish Real Estate guidelines are a must-read for anyone new to the process. They also have a fantastic portfolio of Barcelona properties for rent.

Barcelona Parks And Gardens - Park Güell

This is the start of a series which will look at the parks and gardens in Barcelona, for those people looking to buy or rent near the green spaces the city has to offer. Many people moving to Barcelona will be accustomed to having the luxury of green spaces all around them, and sometimes moving to a metropolis such as Barcelona, can be a shock to the system.



Where better to start that Park Güell. This magnificent park stretches over 17,000 hectares and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Commissioned by Count Eusebi Güell and built between 1900 and 1914, its unique design and charecteristics are work of the famous Catalan architect Antonin Gaudi, who is responsible for many of the city's main attractions and buildings. The original idea of Güell was to recreate the style of English gardens he was so impressed by and for that reason the park retains the English spelling (often misrepresented as "parc" or "parque"). Güell's idea was to create an exclusive neighbourhood within Barcelona for the wealthy away from Sarria. Unfortunately the idea wasn't a roaring success with only a few plots of land sold. The park was opened as a public park in 1922, and is one of the favourite destinations for tourists and Barcelonans alike.

Built slightly on a gradient, the entrance is the most ornate with a central plaça, winding steps and two fairytale houses at its entrance. The rest of the park is a mix of stone and marble pillars, fountans and Gaudi's trademark broken tile mosaic work known as "trencadís". In 2010, the local council plans to introduce an entrance fee to the park, to help cover costs of maintenance, litter collection and graffiti. Local residents will be exepmt from this fee, and details have yet to be finalised, but the plan is definitely in advanced dsicussions.



Living around Park Güell can be a challenge. The local neighbourhoods of Gracia, Carmel and Horta surround the park, and many of the streets immediately adjacent to the park have small housing on fairly steep gradients. Many streets are pedestrian and narrow, and although some streets have outdoor escalators this is not the case for each one. The metro stations are a little walk away from the main park area, but nothing to make living near the park too difficult, with many bus routes, too.

Would you like to live near a Barcelona park or garden? What better way to search for Barcelona properties for rent or to buy than contacting a Barcelona Real Estate agency? Modus Vivendi can help find your dream home for you.

Understanding Real Estate Surveys

If you're about to buy a property in Spain, then you'll likely be arranging a mortgage/home loan for the new place. Any operation from a bank or caja is likely to insist on a survey being carried out on the property, in order to corroborate the value of the loan being offered by the bank - i.e. so they know the place you're buying is at least worth what they're willing to lend you.


This survey - known as "una tasación" in Spanish - is almost always paid for by the buyer of the property, and is taken as part of the costs involved in arranging a new mortgage. The financial entity that is financing the loan will either have their own branch of surveyors, or use a third party company who has ties with them. The actual surveyors themselves are usually architects with official and the price of these surveys range from around 200 - 400 Euros.

So What does the Actual Process Involve?

Well, from your part pretty much nothing. You'll have to let the surveyor into your home so they can measure (usually with a laser contraption) and they may take some photos. They then prepare a report, which gives the real market value of your property. The way this is calculated is a little more complicated and can include some or all of the following criteria.

Firstly, the surveyor looks at other property sales within an 800m radius of the property and then takes an average floor price. The minimum requirement of properties to consider is four - usually no problem in a city like Barcelona. If this is not possible, they take the last known floor price and compare that to the floor price of a new building, subtracting the normal devaluation of a second hand building.

Other factors are taken into consideration, such as the proximity of public transport, motorways, local commerce and schooling, etc. The building itself plays a big part, too, with communal spaces such as patios, garages and storage spaces (trasteros) being included in the price reflection.

Unfortunately, you cannot influence the surveyor the survey and its outcome. It has been known in the past for surveyors to receive a fat envelope to over-price the survey, and this way buyers who are struggling to make the budget of the price plus the usual 10% banks fees, have no problem. This is a little more difficult to find nowadays, however, and you usually have to rely on the results from the survey.

One way to find out if a property is valued correctly at the point of enquiry, is to let the professionals find one for you. A Barcelona Real Estate Agency such as Modus Vivendi are the perfect people to ask about a property, and if it's on the market at the right price. This can save you a great deal of time (and money) for over-valued properties where they have much more of an inkling that the surveyor is going to value the property lower. They also have a clear and concise list of guidelines for buying a property in Spain.

Sunny Spain Remains Top Choice for UK Investors

For many people, the dream of a place in the sun is often just that - a dream, although for the fortunate few who are able to realise that dream, it seems the Spain maintains itself as top of the list in a recent survey, especially for those living in thr UK.

Given the terrible weather experienced this year so far in the whole of the UK, it's no surprise that many people are looking for a second home in warmer climates. According to the survey, the Spanish lifestyle beat near rivals France, Portugal, Turkey and Bulgaria as preferred destination for investors looking for their home away from home. The study cites the possibility of tumbling real estate prices as a possible reason for the ranking as number one, in comparison to its sunny neighbouring countries.

This is perhaps an interesting find - while it's true that in the past the peseta and even the introduction of the Euro, made Spain a relatively cheap destination for other european countries with stronger currencies such as Germany and the UK, the current exchange rate of the GBPound against the Euro is almost equal.



Within Spain, it's likely that the favoured destinations will be the Spanish "costas" and the islands in the Mediterranean, assuming you can afford the prices. However, it's important to remember that Barcelona was also voted 5th best city in the world in 2009. There are many great real estate opportunities in Barcelona, and the best way to discover the gems is to contact a Barcelona Real Estate Agency such as Modus Vivendi. With over 5 years experience in Barcelona and the surrounding area, they also offer some secure and transparent guidelines to buying a property in Spain so rest assured you'll be in good hands.

Great Ideas for Decorating Your New Home in Barcelona

So you've found your dream home in Barcelona? Maybe it's a brand new building with apartments "a estrenar", or maybe you've decided to go for an older, second hand property and to do it up yourself, bit by bit. Either way, there can be some big decisions involved, and if it's a brand new but bare apartment - or an older property where nothing matches, it can be difficult if you dive in with both feet, and often things end up getting left half-finished while you move on to another job (we've all done it!).

So this month in Barcelona, Expohogar comes to the rescue! Forget IKEA and Habitat - this is the place for all of the cutting edge technology and decorations to spruce up your home or make it the most modern apartment in your block! In it's 42nd edition and still going strong, the ExpoHogar (home exposition, literally translated) is taking place at the Fira de Barcelona at Plaça Espanya, at the foot of Montjüic, from the 22nd to 25th January. Expect to see the new trends for 2010 from anything as small as knives and forks through lamps and prints all the way to the coolest garden furniture for this coming summer. The exposition showcases goods and designs from all over northern Spain and even from France, and despite the current financial downturn is expected to fare well yet again this year!

Are you having trouble deciding on whether to get a new place or refurbish an old classic with character? Modus Vivendi Barcelona Real Estate Agency has over 8 years experience, and also offer some secure and transparent guidelines to buying a property in Spain. Don't make any mistakes with your monay, give them a call or visit their website at www.mvbarcelona.com

Council Cencus Reveals High Numbers of "Macro Pisos" in Barcelona

Barcelona Council has released some interesting figures about the ownership of properties within the high rises of Barcelona. The local newspaper 20minutos, reported the news story which revealed that more than 27,000 properties in the Catalan Capital have less than 30m2. The council census includes 73 different neighbourhoods and a total of 805,739 individual properties. The average occupancy of a Barcelona apartment is the surprisingly low figure of 3.



Perhaps the biggest surprise is the number of small properties in the city. The Old Town neighbourhoods of Raval, Borne and Poble Sec had the highest concentration of these often dubbed "macro-pisos". The minimum requirement in Madrid for the issue of the civil licence of living quarters - known as a "cedula de habitabilidad" - is 30m2, and funnily enough, in Barcelona it's an incredible 20m2.

What also seems to surprise is the gulf between some of the properties in such a relatively small city. You can pass from the fairly squashed 20-30m2 in the Raval or Borne to almost 2000 properties which have OVER 250m2 - no surprise to hear that these lie in the Eixample Dreta and the uptown neighbourhood of Pedralbes.

The statistics also shed light on the number of foreign owners in the city with more than 15,400 properties registered to foreign owners - not to mention the number of rentals within the city - being a considerably high number. Again, it's no surprise to discover that the majority of those are located in the Old Town, a hub of immigration, where the highest concentration of old buildings are found. More than 84,000 buildings were built before 1901.

Are you looking to invest in proprty in Barcelona? Or are you thinking of moving here? Modus Vivendi is a Barcelona Real Estate Agency with over 8 years experience, and always on hand to find a solution to your needs - large or small. They also offer some secure and transparent guidelines to buying a property in Spain.

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.

Spanish Selling Fraud - Danger for Holiday Homes

A real nighmare of a case sprung up this month in Madrid with regards to holiday homes. Spain is such a popular destination for second homes - indeed many of the residents of cities within the country itself have holiday homes within the mainland or on the islands of Spanish territory - why go elsewhere when you have fun, sun and don't have to bother learning another language?!



However, imagine the surprise for the Spanish family who arrived to their holiday home to not only to be greeted by another family occupying their home, but one who had paid good money to be there, too! This is straight out of a nightmare but was the harsh reality for an unlucky family who had fallen victim to identity theft.

It seems that modern day scammers need only a smart car and a sharp suit to dupe unwilling proprty owners into parting with a lot more than just a one-month rent. It has been revealed that in Madrid in this case, organised gangs of theives are prowling holiday residences in search of an annual rent. Once these "professionals" are granted a rental agreement, they use personal details revealed in the rental contract to falsify identification papers and cards, then advertise the property as well below the asking price and make a sale.

As in the majority of countires, any sale must be authorised by a notarty but many notaries simply jot down the identification numbers presented on an identity card, rather than verify the credability of the actual document. This means that in this case in Madrid - by no means an isolated incident - the theives were able to make off with a substantial amount of profit for a few weeks work. Worth the gamble of being caught, you ask? Well, considering the property prices in Madrid versus a monthly rent, I'd say yes.

So what happened to the righful owner, I hear you cry?! Well, beleive it or not, a judge ruled that the "new" owners were not at fault for the fraud, and as the property had entered into the civil property registry, this is "untoucheable". The case was without resolve at the time of writing, but alarm bells ring for those home owners looking to invest in propertes which may not be occupied during long periods of a year.

Luxury Barcelona Real Estate Agency, Modus Vivendi have an outstanding selection of the best properties for sale in Barcelona as well as an ample portfolio of long term rentals in Barcelona.

Spanish Real Estate Glossary - The Legal Stuff

OK, so you've found your dream home, and are ready to take the leap and commit yourself to a new home in the sun - either that, or a hefty mortgage for the next 30 years! After mulling over the various ways a property can be described, it's time for the formal part of the dealings to commence, so here's where you might need another few tips on widening your vocabulary.



Any property up for sale must be "libre de cargas" which literally means "free of charges" but can imply an unencumbered property or that which has no outstanding debts from the seller. A notary will always draw attention to this point, having checked over the deeds to previous sales of a property or the deeds of a new dwelling.

Often, a rental or indeed a purchase of a property will require an "aval bancario" which can mean two different things.In the case of a rental property, this means that the renter can deposit a said amount (which is usually one month's rent, but can be more) into a bank account which cannot be touched for the duration of the rental period. This acts as a safeguard to any landlord who may have invested a fair amount of money on a new property to ensure deadlines are met, but can equally be used by any owner as a legal practice.

In a property sale, the term means something altogether different. An aval in a sale means that a person or persons, literally "vouches" for you in that you will make any repayments on a mortgage and has to offer either a cash sum , or another fully unencumbered property or part of said property as a guarantee in case payments are missed. This typically happens with first time buyers, and is standard practice if a first time buyer (or often second, or third) has little or no down payment towards their desired property purchase.

As mentioned, a "deposito" refers tom a down-payment that a potential buyer has to offer in exchange for a home loan/mortgage on a property.

When you hear the word "arras" this refers to an amount of money which is given to an owner of a property from an individual or group who has the intention of buying a property as an initial commitment for the sale. This is typically a percentage of the total price of the property and is used as a measure of trust, severity and commitment towards the sale of a property. Once "arras" are given, a property is taken off the market and each party establishes a given time to which the sale must materialise - to the contrary, the seller is legally entitles to retain the amount given in arras. This is a serious part of any sale and must not be taken lightly. Both parties sign a "contrato de arras" which is a legally binding document.



The "fecha de firma" of the "date of the signing" is the date programmed for the signing over of the deeds as a legal procedure and is when the potential buyer becomes the new owner. This date is usually set in the "contrato de arras" (see above) and cannot be exceeded without penalty. If both parties agree, this date can be extended without penalty.


Finally, on the day you will receive the keys to your new home, you will stand before a notary or "Notario" who will (very quickly) review the past deeds to a property (known as the "escrituras", share details of the general "compra-venta" (sale of a property) and then detail separately, the conditions of any home loan/mortgage which is to be initiated by an accompanying financial entity. This process can take place either in the notary's offices or the offices of the bank/building society ("caja") depending on each preference/proximity. After a week or two, and after application of the deeds within the property registry "registro de propiedad" is complete, the buyer and seller can collect a "copia simple" (draft copy) of the deeds which are often necessary to begin life in a new property such as signing up for utility bills, etc., accrediting change of address, etc.

It is very important to have documentation on the day of a signing over of deeds, and often is better to have local documentation if possible. For example, in Spain a national identification document (DNI, or NIE for foreigners) is proof of identification. Be aware that although a Passport is also a widely accepted form of identification, the document does not necessarily retain the same serial number upon renewal, which may present problems of identification within documents later in life. NIE or DNI is always the same for a person for the duration of their life under Spanish law, meaning this is easily the preferred option, if at all possible.


If you don't fancy your chances against such possible complications, and would rather a proessional take care of things fro you, then contact Luxury Barcelona Real Estate Agency, Modus Vivendi, who have an outstanding selection of the best properties for sale in Barcelona as well as an ample portfolio of long term rentals in Barcelona. Their professional service will ensure you are always in the know about the process of buying or selling, and will not have the wool pulled over your eyes.

Spanish Real Estate Terms You Need to Know

Moving to a new country and a new city is a great experience. Nerves and excitement often come in equal packages, and it's completely normal to worry about such things as housing - especially if it's up to you to find the place you're going to be staying in for the foreseeable future. The language barrier can often pose a problem when you start your search for a new home, and sometimes a Spanish-English dictionary will be of little use when embarking on the Real Estate world in Barcelona.

Coupled with the fact that the city is the capital of Catalonia - so therefore has two official languages; Catalan and Castillian Spanish - many Real Estate terms have nothing to do with the literal meaning of the word you might find in a dictionary. Here's a little list to help you decipher those all-important terms within the city centre itself.



First up is a simple one. Moving into the metropolis that is Barcelona, it's likely you'll be staying in an apartment or a flat. This is translated into "Apartamento" or "Piso" - no major issues there. Apartments are found in blocks which can vary in size and age - old town properties can bare little resemblance to brand new properties, with installations and communal areas such as stairwells in need of repair. However, history is on your side, and an authentic apartment in an old town block oozes character and charm, whereas new blocks can be bare and empty. Apartments can vary in size and "Studios" are those on the smaller size, often with one bedroom, sometimes in open plan and rarely reaching above 35m2.

If you see a "Duplex" advertised, this refers to a property which has one entrance, but is distributed over two floors - more often than not by an internal staircase. Many upper floors in apartment blocks are constructed with higher ceilings than those floors which prop them up, meaning it's easy to add another level - be it for a bedroom, a living room or simply an "internal balcony". The difference between a two-storey property and a duplex is basically that it occupies the same floor space as an apartment, whereas a two storey property allows for the construction of the staircase.

Spanish "Lofts" are contrary to the English translation and are not a space directly below the roof of a house with sloping walls! Quite the opposite. Lending itself from 1950s New York a "loft" is a very open space with large windows, very few partitions and generally very little has been done to a somewhat industrial construction (such as a warehouse) to make it hospitable. Think old factories and warehouses converted into large, open dwellings, with ceiling to floor windows. The term is abused slightly in Barcelona to refer to any space which has few partitions - and on any level within a block, so that's something to be aware of.

"Local" refers to the space on the ground floor of a building which is typically destined for commerce - be it a shop, restaurant, bar or cafe. It's the street-level front to the building - most typically having one either side of the apartment block's main entrance. Locales are usually large, open spaces, but often have difficulty in obtaining a legal living permit, known as a "cedula de habitabilidad" - given the fact that they are destined towards retail or hospitality. If you fancy looking for one of these properties, ensure you ask for an up to date permit.

Finally, we come to "Bajos" which literally translates as Ground Floor, but can differ from a "Local" as there can be many bajos within an apartment block - some interior some exterior - whereas locales generally occupy either half or whole of the ground floor of an apartment block. Bajos are also usually accessed from the same main apartment building door, rather than an exclusive entrance, as locales are. Bajos tend to be a little darker in terms of natural sunlight given the proximity of buildings within the city centre, but can often make up for this deficit with fantastic terraces which stretch the same length and breadth of the living space itself.

If you're having trouble deciding on your favourite type of living space, or fancy checking out a few of each, then contact Luxury Barcelona Real Estate Agency, Modus Vivendi, who have an outstanding selection of the best properties for sale in Barcelona as well as an ample portfolio of long term rentals in Barcelona.

Success at Barcelona Meeting Point 2009

Last weekend saw the closing of the Barcelona Meeting Point Real Estate Event, and the organisers have praised attendances and labelled it a success. Enrique LaCalle, the event organiser and president, announced that over 150,000 people attended the event, which - perhaps surprisingly - is 20,000 more than last year. Meeting Point showcases many public and private companies in the construction sector, and LaCalle also added that negotiations between businesses and the public are expected to reach a value of around 2100 million Euros.



Attendances were high for both the professional and public parts of the event, with many people eager to hunt for a bargain. The Real Estate Process has changed dramatically in the past few years, with the market swaying over in the buyer's favour. Such was demand around 4 years ago, that apartments were snapped up by everyone and no reservations could be made, for example. Nowadays, both the buyers and sellers know that there is no queue of people after one property with the market being saturated with both brand new properties as well as those which come up for sale and are occupied previously. It's certainly a great time to be looking for a property in Barcelona.

Barcelona Real Estate agency Modus Vivendi have a selection of Properties for sale in their portfolio, and also offerLong Term rentals in Barcelona too.

Average Rental Prices in Barcelona 2009

This week, the Institut Catala del Sol released figures regarding the average rental prices in Barcelona's various neighbourhoods. The good news is that the rental prices have fallen again, compared to the first quarter of 2009.



Average rental prices in the city are now at 1034 Euros per calendar month. Each neighbourhood represents a different price bracket, and it may come as no surprise that the high-end neighbourhood of Sarria leads the way, with an average rental setting you back 1259 Euros. There is little difference between the rest of the neighbourhoods close to Sarria, with Les Corts following with an average rental of 1270 Euros.

If you want to save yourself a hundred Euros a month, then skip down to Eixample, where the average price is 1170 Euros. The small-town feel of Gracia has no small town price tag, with average monthly rentals here 1018 Euros.

Moving to either side of the city will save you a little amount, with Horta, Sants-Montjüic and Nou Barris being the cheapest rentals - 917 Euros, 935 Euros and 855 Euros respectively. It's worth noting that these average prices are purely for rentals, and anyone moving to Barcelona also needs to consider any utility bills, or communal charges that a building may have. Such buildings with a porter/caretaker can add a hefty sum onto any rental, too, so it's always worth checking the extras that might influence your decision in looking.

In addition, it's also a great idea to contact a Barcelona Real Estate agent for ideas and suggestions. Modus Vivendi Real Estate has a selection of Long Term rentals in Barcelona, and will be happy to personally run through any requirements and questions you might have. You can contact them for a chat anytime.

Barcelona Neighbourhoods: Gracia

Long before Barcelona was the sprawling Metropolis that it is today, the area around the old Roman Citadel of Barcino had plenty of countryside. The oldest church in Barcelona, "Sant Pau del Camp" literally translates as Saint Paul of the Countryside. This church now lies in the old town district of El Raval - considered to be the city centre.



In this vein, many of the adjoining neighbourhoods were small towns themselves, and one such neighbourhood perhaps keeping it's small town feel is Gracia. Gracia lies just above Eixample - it was joined seamlessly to Barcelona with Ildefons Cerdà's expansion of Eixample itself. Barcelona's most popular boulevard, Passeig de Gracia, bears the name - as literally a passage to Gracia. Access to the city centre is fantastic, just a short stroll south, and you will arrive to Plaça Catalunya, the city's main square. Gracia also houses Casa Vicens - one of Antonin Gaudi's masterpieces often overlooked by travellers too caught up with two of the UNESCO World Heritage sites on nearby Paseeig de Gracia; Casa Mila and Casa Battlo.

Gracia is a fairly small neighbourhood, with many plaças dotted around the tiny streets. Buildings here are a far cry from the tall storey buildings in neighbouring Eixample, and are generally only two or three stories high. The neighbourhood has a high student population, and is a favourite spot for alternative Spanish nightlife, with Plaça del Sol full of bars and terraces. The area has plenty of shops and local commercial outlets, as well as supermarket chains, fast food restaurants and famous eateries, too, such as Moncho Neira's Botafumeiro - which used to have a Michelin Star.

Each Ausgust, the neighbourhood transforms itself in the week-long festival celebrations, with the narrow streets decorated to the maximum with fantastic models and murals which line the streets wide and high - it has the unofficial title of throwing the best neighbourhood party in Barcelona. Locals complain about the noise and sleepless nights, but that's all part of the fun at hosting the best party in the city!

Gracia residents, like many Barcelona neighbourhoods, are a mix of locals, immigrants, expats and foreign students who live in harmony with one another, giving the neighbourhood an international, yet local feel about it.

Are you looking to move into the Gracia neighbourhood? Luxury Barcelona Real Estate Agents Modus Vivendi can help. They have various properties for sale, and also Long Term Rentals in Barcelona, within all districts.

Barcelona Business Capital

Cushman and Wakefield have this week released their European Cities Monitor for 2009, detailing the leading business cities in Europe. This year, Barcelona has leapfrogged "the Capital of Europe", Brussels, to 4th position - moving up from 5th in 2008.



Compiled by over 500 executives and external agencies, the study takes into account several factors when ranking, and Barcelona receives a special mention for promoting and marketing itself - leading the list of cities as doing the most to improve. Companies were asked to consider a number of factors when deciding on the location of their business, such as ease of access to markets, customers or clients, Availability of qualified staff, quality of telecommunications, transport links, cost of office space, etc. etc.

Barcelona is a business capital. Chosen over many destinations for it's excellent transport links, the Fira de Barcelona hosts many important conferences and trade fairs throughout the year, such as the annual 3GSM Mobile Telephone Congress and the Barcelona Meeting Point Real Estate Conference.

The Barcelona CCIB (International Convention Centre) is one of the biggest Congress spaces in Europe. Many new companies are relocating their central offices to Barcelona's Zona Franca, or the new 22@ area across town in Poble Nou.

Perhaps most notable from the report's findings is that Barcelona is Number 1 for quality of life for employees in the whole of Europe for 2009.

Are you thinking about moving to Barcelona? Have your company suggested a relocation? Modus Vivendi Luxury Barcelona Real Estate Agency can help. They can provide a long or short term solution for accommodation in and around Barcelona, and have plenty of Long Term Rentals in Barcelona to browse.