Property news

What can you get for your money in… Barcelona?

BUDGET
€200,000 + Barceloneta
The old fishing village that has been subsumed into Barcelona benefited from a frenzy of regeneration during the 1992 Olympics. This quarter is becoming increasingly popular, particularly with sun-seeking Scandinavians and Brits, because it’s right on the beach. A typical one double-bedroom apartment with bathroom, living room, open kitchen and balcony will set you back some €230,000.

STANDARD
€500,000 + Gothic quarter
Older buildings with their original architectural features still intact are now very much in demand, making this once run-down neighbourhood highly desirable. A two-bedroom apartment with two bathrooms, living room and private terrace could go for around €600,000 in this neighbourhood.

LUXURY
€1m + Eixample district
This neighbourhood, full of beautiful, listed, Modernista buildings is the preferred location for well-off Catalans. A spacious Eixample apartment with three double bedrooms, three bathrooms, two balconies and a large terrace could be yours for a cool €1.3m.

Web resources
www.casamona.com
www.yhis.com/barcelonadk
www.spanishpropertyinsight.com

We can all be Berliners

Berlin looks set to be a property hot spot in 2007, and Scandinavians are flocking to the historically rich and beautiful city to buy property to let. It’s no wonder: a whopping 88% of Berliners are renters, and property prices are as low as a third of the typical rates in the bigger Scandinavian cities. The reason prices are so favourable at the moment is simply that there’s a surplus of property available – the influx of people predicted to move to Berlin after the wall came down never materialised, families are moving out of the city, and a lot of the city’s old and derelict buildings have been renovated or replaced with new builds. www.berlininvest.dk

World’s biggest property convention

If you’ve got anything to do with the real estate market, MIPIM is the place to be this March. It’s the world’s biggest convention for anyone with an interest in property – investors, developers, architects and property management companies all attend. Against the picturesque backdrop of Cannes, you can seek out information and contacts at the stalls, lectures, or social gatherings. With 508 Scandinavian companies present at last year’s MIPIM, Sterling passengers should feel at home. www.mipim.com