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Vinçon

Like moths to a flame Vinçon’s warm glow of red neon has been drawing shoppers since the late 1960’s.

Offering products from the classic to the quirky, Vinçon sits in a privileged position on Passeig de Gracia. A contemporary home design store and Barcelona institution of chic. Oozing cool in an age of internet shopping and Amazon deliveries. Vinçon remains box fresh.

Fernando Amat

Based in the former home and studio of Catalan artist Ramon Casas, it’s architectural structures and form create the perfect frame to highlight the products and furnishings, and a terrace overlooking La Pedrera forms the perfect backdrop.

Formerly a porcelain imports firm founded in 1934. Fernando Amat, architect, interior designer and co-owner, re-vitalised the store in the late 60’s. Amat, the second generation owner, turned the retail concept on it’s head, taking inspiration from Terence Conran’s London store. Instilling a philosophy in which the products themselves were the exhibits, and the store a relaxed public space to view and enjoy.

The Montjuïc Communications Tower

It’s over 20 years since Antonio Rebollo, the Paralympic archer, fired Barcelona into the 21^st Century. Setting in motion a chain of events that would propel the city to European and world exposure. Ultimately transforming the once industrial pre-Olympic city into the thriving cultural, creative melting pot we know today.

The year was 1992, Catalan way of life, and the life of Santiago Calatrava, was set to change forever. Calatrava, an up and coming Valenciano architect, won the commission for the Montjuïc Communications Tower, joining a select few architects and artists invited to re-draw the Barcelona landscape.

Looking at the issues and negativity that currently surround his work. It’s easy to forget that Calatrava was once the darling of Spanish and European structural architecture.

From a background in civil engineering, Calatrava rose to prominence with early projects of bridges and railway stations. His career defining moment came in the early nineties, creating the emblem of the games and a symbol of hope for a nation, catapulting him to worldwide prominence.

In Part 1 of our Barcelona Property Buying blog we examined the initial process regarding property searches, price, and locations. Discussing how negotiation is a key factor, as transfer tax is high. We finalised with an introduction to the abogado’s role and a breakdown of their responsibilities.

In this continuation, we’ll delve more into the legal process. Examining the contracts required, the deposits to be paid and purchase fees which are payable. We’ll also give some advice about estate agent tricks, informing you who to trust and who to be wary of!

Once the price of the property has been agreed and your abogado has started the conveyance, the next stage focuses on the legalities of the property leading to the contracts. Your abogado will deal with any discrepancies and legal issues.

Some points to note :

• Be wary of any information given during the negotiation by the estate agent, seller or their legal representatives. It may be true and honest but it’s your abogado’s duty to check all the details thoroughly. A good abogado will make certain there are no binding issues.
• Never deal with the seller’s contracts or paperwork. This will naturally be biased in their favour. Your lawyer should draw up the initial relevant paperwork to protect you, and the final deed is a neutral contract overseen by a notario.
• Never transfer any money before signature. The seller can change their mind or simply not turn up to the first signing.
• Don’t feel pressured to make any irregular payments. There is always a phantom third party making another offer – according to the estate agent.

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With summer slowly and reluctantly slipping into Autumn. Barcelona is counting the success of another record-breaking tourist season. Figures show an increase in all sectors on the previous year with record numbers visiting Catalonia, and airport numbers over taking the capital Madrid in June, July and August.

Couple this with the growing exposure of optimism from the UK broadsheets regarding attractive property investment with a 30% price reduction, and Catalonia’s capital of cool will definitely have some of those tourists thinking.

So if you are one of these people who recently fell in love with this Mediterranean city (or even a long term resident who has finally decided to take the plunge). Studio P10 thought we’d shed some light on the Barcelona property buying process, uncover some of the pitfalls and maybe dispel some of the myths along the way.

With a wide choice of properties, from mountain retreats, urban pads to beach side dwellings. Barcelona has the full range to offer, all for a knock down price. It’s no wonder, therefore, that foreign demand is now surging, with ‘Spanish Property Insight’ reporting a 29pc rise in foreign purchase in Spain over the last 12 months and a staggering 49pc rise in the last quarter alone.

Location, location, location. It’s a well known phrase but one that holds weight in a compact city such as Barcelona, where crossing a street can lead you over the invisible line into the next barrio. Research therefore is the key, and there’s no better way than living and breathing the city like a local. Walking the streets and experiencing day to day life, chatting to the locals and learning secrets. Uncovering hidden gems of knowledge about areas such as the Eixample. Avoid apartments on the ‘one way streets’ going up hill. The traffic noise is considerably higher, as the motos strain their engines to climb the inclination. (Trust me, at 6am you will be thankful!) Or some parts of Poble Sec, which has a series of underground tunnels built in the civil war that has effected the foundations of some buildings.

There are only two certainties in life – death and taxes.

With tax levels for residents being among the highest in Europe, current inhabitants of Catalonia will definitely agree with the latter.

In a country where taxes differ from region to region, the Catalans seem to suffer the most for their hard work.

And with the recent announcement by Andreu Mas-Colell (economic counselor for Catalonia) that property transfer tax will rise from 8 – 10%, any future respite seems doubtful.

Property transfer tax, or impuesto sobre transmisiones patrimoniales, is a tax paid on the transfer of ownership on existing property, therefore payable on the majority of property sales in Spain. This tax does not apply to new build properties, where IVA (or VAT) is applicable.