“I looked for almost a year. I wanted to explore Barcelona as each neighborhood has its own vibe”. Along the way Oliver met dozens of real estate agents. “I would say 30% were very good; 20% were not good; and the rest were OK, but had to be watched. Always measure the flat’s indoor floor size; agents tend to embellish this.”

Oliver purchased the flat as a second home and visits Barcelona frequently. “I like Born. It’s in the Old Town and is trendy with mostly young people and innovative stores. There’s a large park (Ciutadella) and the beach nearby.”

Oliver thoughts on the neighborhoods he visited in his search:

Poble Nou. “If I bought now, I might buy in Poble Nou. It’s spacious with wide streets, natural light and near the beach. It’s up-and coming with several renovation projects. A good investment.”
Poble Sec. “A traditional part of Barcelona with a central location and a lot of families. There are some nice pedestrian streets and a lot of renovation projects.”
Gracia. This used to be a small town north of Barcelona. “A very traditional Catalan area with trendy stores, lively streets and good restaurants; very popular.”
Eixample. The is the large grid area between Old Town and Gracia. “A general mix of urban city life, more conservative with families.”

Plaza Born, Barcelona