Barcelona Weekend Break

Buying a house in Barcelona or Spain

If you are considering Barcelona, or any other part of Spain, for something a bit more extended than a weekend break – particularly buying a house there – here are a few considerations.

Barcelona and Spain

There are many reasons for choosing Barcelona and Spain as the destination in which to buy your dream home. With high levels of British people relocating to Spain annually, it is not surprising that the country’s appeal has resulted in it being the European nation with the greatest number of 1st world immigrants.

Spain is the third most popular tourist destination in the world and it is easy to see why. Spain offers a huge range of sporting and associated activities including golf, water based activities, health clubs and gyms. When you then add to this Spain’s year long warm climate and the laid back and relaxed approach its people have to life, you get the perfect mix of sun and high quality lifestyle.

For these reasons Spain is one of the favourite relocation destinations for UK expatriates and it remains the number one location for an overseas second home.

Other positive features of buying property in Spain that you may wish to consider include, real estate investment opportunities, property rental rates, great cuisine, cultural heritage and many of Europe’s best beaches.

Spain is also an easy country for most Brits to adapt to and settle in to as many southern Spaniards speak and write good English. Like Britain and Ireland it is also a country with a long and proud history.

Spain is of course a member of the EU and its currency is the euro.

Extend your weekend break to full time Spanish living

The past 30 years have seen Britain’s love affair with Spain blossom. This began when cheap package holidays gave us a taste for the sun and the sea and continued as we discovered Spain’s laid back lifestyle – a lifestyle that many of us aspire to.

Today, thousands of British and Irish nationals immigrate to Spain every year with many more buying a holiday home or investment property in the country.

The pace of life in Spain is much slower than in most northern European countries and this simply adds to Spain’s appeal. Spain offers an escape from many of the negative features that seem to have become a part of life in twenty first century Britain. It also offers the chance to experience a new and different culture.

Indeed, thousands of European Expats are now relocating and working in Spain on the Southern coast and in Gibraltar. For this reason these areas are rapidly becoming less of what one would call tourist resorts and much more like places to consider when contemplating setting up a new life.

Spain’s economy

Economic growth in Spain is higher than the European average and it is forecast to continue. Great news if you are thinking about buying property in Spain.

Furthermore, being among the first wave of countries to join the EMU, Spain remains the largest beneficiary of EU structural and cohesion funds.

These benefits (which will continue until at least 2013) have allowed the Spanish Government to embark on many infrastructure projects providing overseas companies with the chance to cooperate with Spanish firms. These deals frequently throw up job opportunities for British and Irish citizens wishing to sample life on one of the many Costas.

With an economy massively boosted by tourism, you can also expect good returns on any house bought for holiday rental – particularly in locations like Barcelona. You will also see occupation rates continue through the full 4 seasons without the revenue drop off experienced in more northerly resorts.

Spain’s location

Spain is located to the south west corner of Europe. It is bordered by Portugal to the west, France and Andorra to the south east, and Gibraltar and Morocco to the south. Spain is also linguistically and historically a gateway to Latin America and many Spaniards choose, at some point, to work in these New World countries.

Barcelona and property

Barcelona has the added advantage of being much more of a “Spanish” vacation and property buying destination than many of the more southerly Costas.

This is perfect if you really want to experience the Spanish culture and lifestyle. It also has the benefit of making a property, bought for rental and investment, appeal to both the Spanish and British holiday rental markets.