Home thoughts from... Barcelona

Gaudi nights are a short hop away

Easy to get to and easy on the eye. Graham Norwood on a good life in the Catalan capital

Barcelona IS Europe's top budget airline destination, linking the Catalonian capital's 1.75 million residents with 31 locations. Little wonder it is emerging as a popular place for an urban second home, a phenomenon relatively unknown to UK buyers until now.

It has 16 per cent of Spain's population but gets 25 per cent of inward investment and generates 20 per cent of the national product.

House prices reflect Barcelona's wealth, easy access and reputation as a party city. The council wants estate agents to employ at least one English speaker in each office and markets books on buying property.

Who? The city is unabashed, hedonistic and colourful: perfect for movie director Pedro Almodóvar, who has a flat there, as does writer Gabriel García Marquez.

How? No British estate agents have offices in the city, so go through a property finder set up by or for ex-pats, but check commission rates first.

Try Monika Rusch SA (0034 93 204 5520), Executive Relations (0034 93 426 3288) or Easy Relocations (0034 93 664 0908). Or seek advice from international departments of British agents selling elsewhere in Spain, such as Knight Frank (020 7629 8171) or Hamptons International (020 7589 8844).

Barcelona homes are registered with the local council, making it easier to arrange a mortgage than for a rural Spanish property, but you will need to set up your own survey. You become liable for income tax when you reside 183 days a year in Spain, or if you have your main business interest there.

How much? Expect to buy an apartment (they outnumber houses five to one). In the best areas they reach a maximum of 75 per cent of London's prices.

The Eixample area of the city centre is most sought-after (Gaudi's Sagrada Familia and Casa Mila are both in this early-19th-century district) where flats fetch up to £3,800 per square metre. The Barri Gotic, close to the centre, fetches about £2,500 per square metre. Graçia, a formerly down-at-heel older area on the city centre's west side, fetches £1,000 per square metre. A big apartment by Barcelona standards is 130 square metres.

Just outside the city are the Costa Daurada and the smaller Costa de Garraf, with the resort of Sitges the most popular and expensive.

There is a large, affluent gay community, and house prices can hit £350,000 (try Spanish House on 0034 630 334 998). In the Barcelona region, local and property taxes can add up to 15 per cent of the purchase price.

Why? Flights to 11 British airports take about 90 minutes and cost from £20 to £120 on budget routes. Barcelona is a 90-minute drive from France and boasts an integrated transport service considered the best in Europe; some of the largest regeneration areas (and newest apartment complexes) are in the new marina and docks, close to the Olympic-standard sports facilities. Twenty minutes away is a Grand Prix circuit and the region enjoys 250 days of sun a year.

Why not? It is surprisingly wet, with over 70 rainy days each year. Barcelona is legendary for visitors being pick-pocketed, though the city is not unique in this.

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