NEW BARCELONA MIAMI ROUTE

Iberia expects to carry 53,000 passengers on this route in the first year of operation. Passengers coming from other U.S destinations, such as Dallas, Houston, Orlando and Tampa can connect to the new route via American Airlines. The non-stop Miami-Barcelona flight will be the second U.S route inaugurated by Iberia this week as the airline has also started flying this past Monday, March 28, between Los Angeles and Madrid. Iberia offers now three non-stop flights weekly from Los Angeles on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. The aircraft used on these routes will be a 254-seat Airbus A-340/300, with a recently redesigned 36-seat Business Plus section. Following its merger with British Airways in January, 2011, Iberia is now Europe's third-largest and the world's sixth largest in terms of sales. In addition, Iberia is market leader on routes between Europe and Latin America, with the largest off offer of destinations and frequencies. To promote the new Miami-Barcelona route, Iberia is awarding triple frequent flyer points for tickets acquired in iberia.com through May 31st. Now Iberia operates a total of 10 weekly flights from Miami to Spain. In 2011 the airline will offer a total of 1,164,000 seats between the Spain and USA, representing a 13 per cent increase from 2010. The new flights and the overall capacity increase are part of the joint business launched in October last year by Iberia, American Airlines and British Airways for routes over the North Atlantic. Customers of the three airlines have now more travel options available, with more frequencies, more destinations and better connections across their networks. The three airlines’ combined route network serves 433 destinations in 105 countries with almost 5,200 daily departures.

barcelona wants to ban smoking on the cam nou

Spanish champions Barcelona have proposed a total ban on smoking at its Camp Nou stadium, club officials said Monday.
The club will ask its members to vote on the proposal for "a smoke-free Camp Nou" at its next general assembly, said Jordi Mones, one of the club's directors.
"This is consistent with Barca's values," he told a news conference.
If Barcelona members approve the proposal, the smoking ban will come into effect next season, Barcelona president Sandro Rosell added.
Under a new anti-tobacco law which came into effect across Spain on January 2, smoking is already forbidden in indoor passageways in the Camp Nou stadium, which can seat 99,354 people.
The new law, one of the strictest in Europe, bans smoking in all enclosed public spaces, including bars, restaurants and night clubs, and makes it illegal to smoke in children's parks or anywhere on school or hospital grounds.
Barcelona said the initiative is in line with similar policies across Europe.
Dutch club Ajax and Germany's Bayer Leverkusen have banned smoking at their grounds as have all stadiums in Britain, the club said on its website

what to do in Barcelona after 10 PM

Places to go out in Barcelona:

There are many different areas to go out in Barcelona and each one has it's own characteristic. I'll give you an idea of two places. Ideally I would combine the two by going out to dinner and having a drink in the Born area and then I would head up to the upper zone for dancing. However, this involves catching a cab or driving.

First of all, before you even leave your hotel, you need to check these 2 websites:

restalo.com

and eltenedor.es

to find a highly discounted restaurant in Barcelona.

here are a few ideas about where to go after your dinner:

The hip and trendy Born area:

Eating dinner down here isn't a problem because there is a hip and trendy restaurant on every corner. First drink bars aren't a problem either. If you want the trendy retro 1970s feel, I suggest "Su Borne" on Passeig Picasso or "Bar Música Plastic Café" on Passeig del Born. For a more intimate setting for your first drink head over to the "Pitin Bar" also on Passeig del Born. There is also a nice wine bar right in front of the church Santa Marià del Mar.

Going out dancing in this area is where I can't help you because we always leave and go dancing in the upper zone. However I have been to a dance club called "Jamboree" in the Plaça Reial (off of the Ramblas) and that was a lot of fun.

Very Fashionable Passeig de Gracia Designer Patricia Urquiloa took her modernist design visions and built this spectacular bar into an old bank building - in the new extravagant Mandaring Hotel on famous Passeig de Gracia. You will probably find as much of that type of clientele as you here the clue in the name. There is a great outdoor terrace, where you can sip your Lychee Caipirinhas or champagne in the high, beautifully designed glasses. Don't forget to look up in the ceiling. A series of old security boxes from the bank is to be found hanging above. Neighborhood: Eixample Price range: €€€€€ Bankers bar Mandarin Hotel, Passeig de Gràcia 38 08007 Barcelona Tele: 93 151 8888 www.mandarinoriental.com/barcelona/dining/bankers_bar/ View large map Share | Bar, Trendy, Exclusive, Chic Coctail, Chill out

Restaurants aren't that great in this area but the good news is that after you have eaten you don't need to drive anymore. (Unless you want to go to the nightclubs up on Avenida Tibidabo like Rosebud and Danzatoria.)

After you have eaten, take a cab to the middle/bottom portion of the street Santaló. A lot of the "first drink" bars are here. Some that come to mind are "The End", "Maricels" and "Chipen". One with good music, but becomes very crowded is "Más i Más" on Marià Cubí.

For your second drink place I recommend going to some place with good music like "Universal" which is also on the street Mària Cubí across from the bar "Mas i Mas". Another popular place is "Búcaro" on Aribau Street (between Avenida Diagonal and Travesera de Gràcia).

Shoko Club



Articles also under Lounge:

* La Fianna
* Hotel Omm Bar
* Cafe Royal
* Shoko Club
* Catwalk
* Rubi Bar

Shoko Club is located out at Port Olympic and the Olympic towers within the row of discothèques opening out onto the beach. This sheik club is where the pretty people go to dance and be seen. You can enter either from above on the Paseo Maritim de la Barceloneta or off the beach below. There is a large deck on the beach that is slammed during the warmer months. The interior is a cross between a feng shui, Japanesse design and a Buddhist meditative feel.

It has three large bars anchoring the dance floor with an elevated VIP section where the selected few sip cava. The dancing is inspired by a rotating group of local in-house DJs and live musicians. They have a mix of Dance, Trance, Electronic, Latin House, Club and House music to sample. They also have private party´s that are invite only. There is a list at the red velvet rope in front but if there is not a private party happening you should be able to enter before 1:00 after a short wait. The wine and beer cost around 5€ and the cocktails are about 8 to 10€. They have an extensive menu of Japanese-Asia fusions that goes along with their limited sushi menu. The restaurant is open during the week 19:00 to midnight before they open up into the club on Thursday through Sunday nights, midnight until 3:00. Dress up trendy and enjoy the scene.

At 6:00 am head over to Café Paris (on the corner of Aribau and Paris) and order a "Paris Bikini" which is a sandwich made of two fried eggs, ham, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise.

museums in Barcelona

Picasso Museum (Museu Picasso)

Address: Montcada, 15-23
Opening Hours: 10am-8pm. Closed Mondays & Public Holidays
Metro: Jaume I
Check Entrance Fees & Opening Hours at the Picasso Museum Website.

Barcelona is the city that shaped Picasso's youth and this museum is result of his wish that after his death his art would have a permanent impact on the city. It is located in the historical Gothic quarter and the permanent collection is housed in three medieval palaces attracting over a million annual visitors. Much of the museum is devoted to Picasso's early works and the chronological order of the exhibits allows visitors to appreciate the artist's development.

Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art

Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA)
Address: Placa dels Angels, 1
Opening Hours: 10am-8pm (Saturdays); 10am-3pm (Sundays). Weekdays 11am-7.30pm (Winter); 11am-8pm (Summer). Closed Tuesdays, half price on Wednesdays.
Metro: Catalunya or Universitat
Check Entrance Fees & Opening Hours at the MACBA Website.

The Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art has been the catalyst in the urban regeneration of the El Raval district of central Barcelona, just off the Ramblas. Even if you're not particularly an art enthusiast it's well worth a visit to the MACBA although you might find some of the exhibits rather weird. The building itself is an impressive work of modern art contrasting sharply the the rundown neighbourhood which surrounds it. The main attractions amongst the exhibits are works by prominent Catalan artists such as Antoni Tàpies and Miquel Barceló.

Barcelona luxury hotels Check out the latest deals on city centre Barcelona hotels. Barcelona Apartments A fine alternative to overpriced Barcelona hotels.

National Art Gallery of Catalonia

Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC)
Address: Palau Nacional
Opening Hours: 10am-7pm; Sundays 10am-2.30pm; Closed Mondays
Metro: Placa Espanya
Check Entrance Fees & Opening Hours at the MNAC Website.

The National Art Gallery of Catalunya is one of Europe's greatest art museums exhibiting works of Catalan art from the Romanesque period to the mid-20th century. As well as displaying the best collection of Catalan modern art in the world the museum is also worth a visit simply to see the magnificent Palau Nacional building in which it is housed. This palace was built on the Montjuïc hill for the 1929 World Exhibition providing breathtaking views of the city of Barcelona down below.

Fundació de Joan Miró

Address: Parc de Montjuïc
Opening Hours: 10am-7pm; Sun. & public holidays 10am-2.30pm; Closed Mondays. Seasonal variations.
Metro: Espanya or Paral-lel then take the Montjuïc Funicular
Check Entrance Fees & Opening Hours at the Fundació de Joan Miró Website.

This modern art museum is located on the Montjuïc hill and is dedicated to the works of Juan Miró, Catalonia's greatest 20th century artist. Only a selection of his many paintings, sculptures and drawings are on display at any one time with a tendency to focus mainly on the last 20 years of Miró's life.

FC Barcelona Museum

Address: Carrer d'Aristides Maillol
Opening Hours: 10am to 6.30pm; Sundays 10am-2.30pm; Closed Mon. Check website below to confirm.
Metro: Collblanc
Check Entrance Fees & Opening Hours at the FC Barcelona Website.
Adult Admission Cost: €8.50 (museum only); €13 (museum & guided tour)

The FC Barcelona museum is located within the grounds of the magnificent Nou Camp stadium. You can choose to simply visit the museum area where there's a selection of memorabilia including trophies on display. However, you should combine this with a guided stadium tour which includes visits to the changing rooms and onto the pitch. Please note that on match days the museum opens from 10am to 1pm but the stadium tour isn't available for obvious reasons.

Cheap Barcelona Hotels Great deals on hotels on in barcelona	Barcelona apartments for sale buy an apartment in Barcelona

getting a phone line and internet in Barcelona.

One of the most important part once you have moved into your new flat is to be able to connect to the world. This is why it is very important to be able to know where to go to set up and internet connection and a mobile Phone.

1rst step: getting a landline.

thereare 2 ways to get landline in Spain, it is to call the you can either go with the "historical" phone provider, Telefónica, and if you are lucky you can get your ADSL connected the very next day. most of the time it takes up to 72 hours to get it up and running. The easiest part, if you speak a little bit of Spanish, is to order your phone line directly online ( telephonicaonline.com). but you also have the website in english : Telefónica's website in English

The only problem is that you will need a spanish bank account. However, if you have a nice friend you can ask him to give you his bank account number since you will then be able to change it anytime. You should also have a prepaid phone since they will call you before going to your home.

you can choose to stay with telefonica for your ADSL or go to some other, cheaper ADSL operator.

However, if you decide NOT to go with telefonica, the installation will cost you about 80 euros and should take a little longer. So make sure you have a friend that speaks spanish and can take adantage of some offers they have to get the installation totally free of charge.

Please also note that telefonica has this horrible habit of overcharging on the first 2 bills. If you call them and complain, you will get reimbursed very quickly but you need to be aware of this.

If you are lucky enough and have cable connection on your street, you can check the cable operator's website ( www.ono.es) and may get the fastest internet in Town, 50 MB ( 02/2011).

Ono is not cheap but it is much cheaper than telefonica and more reliable.

you can also choose between 2 other phone operators:
VodafoneVodafone offer a new router which comes with a mobile internet USB stick built-in. This means that if you take out a contract with Vodafone for ADSL, you can have your internet connection via mobile internet whilst waiting for the landline ADSL to be connected. First you will use free of charge the 3g connection of Vodaphone, up to 1GB, until you get your line connected to the ADSL.

This is a good solution as it means you can have internet in your home from the very moment you leave the shop and get home with the connection pack

Orange

Orange offers a similar service – if you take out an ADSL contract you can have "Internet Sin Esperas" (mobile internet) on a pre-pay basis while you wait for the connection, which takes up to 30 days.

Orange belongs to France Telecom and is about 20% cheaper than Vodafone. the good news is that if you combine internet ( ADSL) with a Cell Phone contract, your internet will cost you 4 euros 95 for the 1rst 6 months.

There is something very annoying with orange: the fact that, even though they don't want to aknoledge this, they have placed a ban on megavide connection which prevents you from watching ANY movies of documentary on megavideo ( since the speed is limited to 50kps, which is ridiculously slow for a streaming website).

Unless you are planning to use a VPN, don't go for Orange.

If you aready have a landline, Jazztel and tele2 are good alternatives.

luxury hotels barcelona

Walking down the famous via layetana in Barcelona, I noticed that a building that had been empty for more that 5 years now, that used to be the central office for hoteliers in Barcelona, has been converted into a 5 star hotel.
the building in itself is a classy typical Barcelona building with modernist touch.
however, what I find quite surprising is the facade.

they are having a special promotion ( 166 euros for a week end break).

Here is a description I found

Ideally situated just 5 minutes’ walk from Plaza Catalunya, this stylish design hotel offers a rooftop pool and bar with views over Barcelona. It also features a gym and sauna.
The modern rooms at Ohla Hotel are equipped with a plasma TV and iPod docking station. All guests are provided with a bathrobe and slippers. Some rooms have views over Via Laietana or Calle Comtal.
Car and bicycle rental can be arranged at the 24-hour reception. Ohla also has a tour desk for information on the surrounding area and a ticket service is available.
Guests can enjoy a meal in the hotel's chic restaurant. There is also a lounge-bar serving cocktails and refreshments.
Located in the charming Gothic Quarter, Hotel Ohla is just 2 minutes’ walk from Urquinaona Metro Station.. The famous Ramblas is a 10-minute walk away.

Barcelona Luxury Hotels is the most exclusive collection of luxury hotels in Barcelona, with only 15 prestigious high class hotels at a discounted price in Barcelona, rigorously selected by our independent experts for the excellence of their service. By booking through us, benefit from the largest booking system in Europe


Our goal is to put together a comprehensive selection of Barcelona’s most exquisite boutique hotels, design hotels, luxury hotels, classic hotels, hip hotels, exclusive villas, spas, resorts, hideaways and retreats at the guaranteed lowest rates.


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Barcelona luxury hotels features luxury hotels each sharing very high standards of food, service, accommodation and ambience. These 4 star, 5 star and luxury hotels, which have all been inspected, include boutique hotels, country house hotels, country hotels, castle hotels, golf hotels and spa hotels.





2 featured hotels

W Hotel Barcelona

W Barcelona is a striking sail-like structure next to Barceloneta Beach, offering breathtaking design and fantastic views over Barcelona. It features a spa, infinity pool, rooftop bar and luxurious rooms.


The W Hotel’s impressive rooms feature avant-garde design and views of the Mediterranean or the city. They all come with a chaise longue, flat-screen TV, iPod docking station and rainfall shower.



The W has two stylish gourmet restaurants, as well as a poolside bar and a lobby bar. At ECLIPSE bar, located on the 26th floor, you can enjoy a cocktail with panoramic views over the city and sea.


Facilities at the Bliss Spa include a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room, and a wide range of relaxation and beauty treatments is available.


The W is 20 minutes’ walk from Barceloneta Metro Station, and buses stop outside the hotel.

Ohla Hotel

Ideally situated just 5 minutes’ walk from Plaza Catalunya, this stylish design hotel offers a rooftop pool and bar with views over Barcelona. It also features a gym and sauna.


The modern rooms at Ohla Hotel are equipped with a plasma TV and iPod docking station. All guests are provided with a bathrobe and slippers. Some rooms have views over Via Laietana or Calle Comtal.


Car and bicycle rental can be arranged at the 24-hour reception. Ohla also has a tour desk for information on the surrounding area and a ticket service is available.



Guests can enjoy a meal in the hotel's chic restaurant. There is also a lounge-bar serving cocktails and refreshments.


Located in the charming Gothic Quarter, Hotel Ohla is just 2 minutes’ walk from Urquinaona Metro Station.. The famous Ramblas is a 10-minute walk away.

Welcome to Luxury hotels barcelonawe have been working very hard, together with our partners to gather a comprehensive selection of over 10.000 of the world’s favorite boutique hotels, design hotels, luxury hotels, classic hotels, hip hotels, exclusive villas, spas, resorts, hideaways and retreats at the guaranteed lowest rates.


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NIE

One of the most important document required when you move to Spain, or, of course to Barcelona, is the famous NIE number.
this Nie number is like the codice fiscle in Italy, it represents your tax number but, much more than that.
it is almost impossible to do anything without this number. so, the big question is
How to you get this NIE number:

NIE Application

Logistics of Working in Spain

A NIE number (Foreign Identification Number, Número de Identificación de Extranjero) is a necessity in all fiscal or legal matters in Spain.

These identification numbers are used to track an individual's financial and official activities in Spain. Spanish citizens have a NIF number (Fiscal Identification Number / Número de Identificación Fiscal) which is their DNI (National Identity Document/ Documento Nacional de Identitidad). The NIE number always starts with "X" and is followed by seven numbers and a letter. Your number is personal to you; it is not transferable nor does it expire.

Obtaining a NIE number is quite easy and should be a priority upon arrival. If you do not feel up to the paperwork, you can pay a local gestor and for approximately 100 euros, they will get it done for you. If you choose this option, you must sign a power of attorney if you will not be present at the time of application.

Your NIE Number is Needed to:

Apply for a business permit

Apply for a mortgage/loan

Buy/sell property in Spain

Buy a vehicle

Employment

Inheritance of assets in Spain

Insure property

Pay taxes

Sign onto the national Social Security health plan

How to Get a NIE:

The application process is straight forward. Go to your local National Police Station, to the Departmento de Extranjeros (Foreigners Department) and ask for the NIE application form or call directory enquiries in English on (+34) 902 955 033 to request the forms to be emailed or posted to you with instructions in English. The following documents must be submitted to the police station to obtain a NIE number:

Completed and signed original application and a photocopy (original returned)

Passport and photocopy

Address in Spain does ( not necessarily have to be permanent)

In order to get the NIE application form you can either:

• Collect it from the police station in Pg. Joan de Borbó 32, 08003, Barceloneta, Barcelona, Tel: 932 240 600
• Download it from the Mir website (www.mir.es).

or go to the main police office.

The police office from which you need to get the NIE in Barcelona is now located at the following address: Calle M. L’Argentera 2-4, Barcelona, near the Estació de França
You need to take with you the following documents:

• Passport or ID (original and photocopy)
• The NIE application form filled in (original and photocopy)
• 2 passport pictures
• The Empadronamiento document (original and photocopy)
• In the NIE application form it also says that you need a job contract or something explaining why you are in Spain. In my experience, as long as you have the Empadronamiento they never ask for a job contract. Instead, even if the NIE application form does not mention it, the Empadronamiento is always required.

health insurance in Barcelona

A friend of mine asked me this question: if I come to Barcelona to live, will I get health insurance.

This is the information I found.

Information on expat health insurance, public and private health care in Spain, as well as and international travel medical and health insurance.

There is free universal health care in Spain. The problem is that to become an insured you have to have a social security number. To get one, you generally have to either work for a company or become self employed (in which case you’ll pay to be part of the system). That said, you can occasionally “beat the system” with luck and persuasion. An American friend of ours arrived to Spain when she was 76 years old, and managed to convince the people at the social security office to give her a number.

If your country of origin has universal health care, then you may be able to get your country to pay Spain to cover you. For the UK, this is the case for those over 60 and for some people who qualify for the invalidity benefit. You will need the appropriate form (E121 or E106).

In some cases, you may want to keep your universal health care provided by your home country if you intend to be back and forth between Spain and home. In this case it would be recommended to purchase additional health or travel insurance from a home-country insurance provider that supplements your universal health care for the duration of your stay in Spain. In Canada, for example, you will need to continue paying for your provincial health care and notify them of your extended absence from the country to ensure continued coverage. This is a requirement of getting private health or travel insurance anyway.

If you have a Certificado de Empadronamiento, you have the right to emergency care in any public hospital. Once any temporary health care from your country runs out, look into contracting Spanish health insurance. Also see Doctors in Spain for more about your empadronamiento, getting your health care card and finding a doctor.

top 10 barcelona attractions.

I have ofund this video on the internet, I am sure it can be interesting for your friends, coming to your house and in search for diversion in Barcelona. we all know, especially foreigners and expats, that everytime a friend comes to visit us, they need to be untertained.
Here is a fun video about what to do in Barcelona

why not choose a vacation rental in Barcelona

Barcelona vacation rentals are a great way to experience this city. You aren't limited to the hotels in the area. You can choose to spend your time in a full size apartment, with multiple bedrooms, full size kitchens, and even air conditioning. For those that want to enjoy the city from somewhere other than a small hotel room, Barcelona rentals are the answer.

When you plan your trip and need a holiday accommodation in barcelona, Barcelona provides many options. You can book your trip right on

line and communicate with the property owners. They will meet you when you arrive, give you a tour of the apartment, the keys, and probably a few pointers to get the most out of your stay. Remember to ask about the nearest grocery store, restaurants, and tapas bars. You'll be able to save quite a bit on bus and cab fares if you can walk to many of your destinations. Since Barcelona vacation rentals are located all over the city, try to find those closest to the attractions you want to visit.

The nightlife in Barcelona is vibrant, exciting, and most of all, fun! The night clubs here don't get busy until after midnight and many are open until dawn. Most people en

joy a long, leisurely dinner beforehand, but remember that dinner isn't usually served until after nine here. For those that are hungry between lunch and dinner, the tapas bars will fill you up quite nicely. This is a tradition from Spain and it's one of the most popular ones for locals and visitors alike. Tapas offer many types of appetizer sized foods and you're sure to find your favorites.

For those that want to explore the city away from their holiday accommodation, Barcelona has enough to keep everyone happy. There are art museums, such as the Picasso Museum that highlight some of the greatest artists known to the world. The Barcelona zoo is a great choice for families, as it the local aquarium. There are numerous shopping districts, full of quaint boutiques and designer shops. Spend the afternoon people watching in a café and return to your holiday accommodation Barcelona to relax before the evening's events.

Some people find that staying in one of the Barcelona vacation rentals lets them experience more of the culture here. The people are known for their warmth and friendliness, and most will be more than willing to provide you with answers to any questions you may have. Most people find that the locals are the best source of information on the best restaurants, nightclubs, and attractions.

In closing, Barcelona vacation rentals give you a lot of choice over the traditional hotel room. You not only have more space available, but it's nice to spend some time relaxing in a place that feels more like home. Look for a holiday accommodation Barcelona that has a few extras, like free cooking classes, or a free night when you stay three or more. These are just a few of the benefits you'll find with Barcelona vacation rentals.

On the other hand there are many people looking for accommodation in Barcelona, scouring through out the city to find a suitable Barcelona apartment but not getting it. Can you imagine what is required here? Yes! A link to join the two ends. There needs to be a mediator, someone who can inform these poor pals of a suitable living spot in Barcelona.

Barcelona is no doubt is a wonderful place to live in. Whether you have plans to live there for long term, or just looking for vocational residences for a limited period, you need someone to help you.

Bornliving.com is doing something alike. This is the site full of so many Barcelona properties that are looking for dwellers. There are long term rentals, vacation rentals and multiple properties on sale. Almost everything about Barcelona is available online. “We help people finding the best penthouses in Barcelona” informs the web master at barcelonaaticos.com,

If one really wants to know how much it troubles to someone who is looking for Barcelona apartments but not getting to it, you should ask someone who is really in search of Barcelona accommodation. It’s terribly troubling situation. You are looking for a place to rest but not getting one. Moreover, the things get intensified when you do not know of someone who can help you. There might be many brokers and agents in Barcelona who can help you access a suitable property in Barcelona but they don’t know about you.

Likewise there are some property owners who are desperately waiting for someone to occupy their long vacant property and help them pay bills, but they are not getting one. Accessing professionals for these requirements often involve certain charges, and at times these charges may get exorbitant.

"We have a full range of professional services for property owners, house hunters and HR executives relocating employees” says the Manager of barcelonaatiscos.com, “There is a property guide online which informs you of every thing that you need to know about renting, buying an apartment in Barcelona” adds the manager.

Anyone who is looking for Barcelona apartments or other Barcelona accommodation options, should certainly first explore things online, before consulting to anyone else. The logic is that there is someone who can certainly help you getting what you are looking for, without costing a single penny. But beware, you need to ascertain all legal complications before buying that information and working on it, or visit only a reliable websites, which have got their own standards of serving property owners and property buyers in Barcelona.

Mortage

Getting a mortgage

There are five basic types of finance arrangement available internationally; to enable you to determine which one suits you and your circumstances best there follows a brief description of each: -

1) International Mortgages

Depending on the country you’re resident in and the country you’re considering buying property in some domestic lenders offer international mortgages for overseas real estate purchase.

An example is Lloyds TSB in the UK which offers resident Britons who already own a home in the UK an international mortgage scheme specifically for the purchase of real estate in Spain.

The types of mortgage and repayment vehicles are standard to the domestic country (e.g., UK or US) though there is often the added criterion that the purchaser is already a home owner in the local country and any mortgages available are only for up to 70% of the purchase price.

2) Local Spanish Mortgages

As Spain is largely geared to the foreign property buyer it’s often possible to raise a mortgage locally in Spain especially when you approach one of the larger international bank’s subsidiaries. It’s still important to make sure you understand the local terms and conditions of the loan and the repayment vehicle as well as checking and comparing the interest rates available to you with those available from an international lender ‘back home.’

3) Expatriate Mortgages

If you’re already an expatriate whether in Spain or another overseas country and you want to buy in Spain or you’re interested in buying a home in your originating country for investment purposes or as a base for you to return to at some point in the future, it can be tricky to secure a mortgage.

If you had a strong credit history before you expatriated and you’re now in receipt of income to support your mortgage application there are a number of lenders specifically interested in attracting expatriate business though. Some of the major high street lenders will charge you a bit of a premium for the ease of application and service they offer and it’s actually worth while shopping round on the internet to see who else is offering specific expatriate mortgages.

Usually you should be able to borrow up to 85% of the property’s value and when it comes to proof of income this can be made up of earned, pension, investment and rental income.

4) Equity Release and Second Mortgages

This is of course the simplest and most popular method being used currently for the purchase of holiday homes overseas by many buyers. In the UK especially, where the housing market has significantly strengthened over the last 5 – 7 years, many people have built up substantial equity in their homes and are now releasing this ‘extra money’ to purchase property in Spain in cash.

If you consider this method you must accept that the additional sum you add to your mortgage will incur interest, it will have to be repaid over the term or at the end of the term of your mortgage and that the whole loan is secured on your main property.

5) Installment Payments

You might like to consider purchasing property off plan as this can give you the option to pay for the real estate via a series of installments or stage payments that you can save up to fund during the build period.

After paying the securing deposit your installment dates and amounts will be written into your purchase contract enabling you to budget accordingly. Clearly this method would particularly suit those with a high level of disposable income.

Once you have determined the most suitable method to suit your requirements and circumstances you can begin your search for a lender if applicable. Consider searching the internet, using forums, expatriate and international property sites, examining lenders sites and you can also listen to personal recommendations from friends, family and colleagues who have already undertaken property purchases in Spain.

Now you need a mortgage. There are two figures that are important. Firstly, the TAE which is the initial interest rate for the first six months. A good TAE rate would be 2.5%. The most important figure, however, is the interest rate after the first six months. This consists of the Euribor, which is the set European interest rate that changes every year and has been roughly 2% for the last three years, and the individual bank’s interest rate, which can be anything from 0.49% to 0.75%. A good interest rate would be Euribor + 0.49% (2.49%). Many banks offer excellent TAE rates but high individual rates that only come into effect after the first six months. You might also find that bank managers do not explain clearly what each interest rate means.

Mortgage eligibility – risk assessment
To assess whether you are legible for a mortgage, the bank will evaluate what level of risk you present. This process is called “Riesgos,” and normally takes between 7-14 days. It is a good idea to ask for a mortgage loan from a few banks at the same time so that if one bank rejects your request, there are others in the process of considering it. Remember, you only have limited time before your reservation contract runs out! To carry out the risk process, a bank will ask for the following things: a surveyor’s appraisal of the property in question (“tasamiento”: for a fee of €140 the bank or the estate agent’s will make the necessary arrangements); a full time employment contract or evidence of monthly earnings for a prolonged period of time (one year); details of all bank accounts in Spain and a signed statement testifying that you have no undeclared debts in Spain (this does not include information about other countries so if you have student loan repayments or outstanding debts abroad it is not necessary to declare them); NIE/NIF number and identification documents. Quite often if the bank considers that you present a high risk then they will grant you the mortgage on the basis that a guarantor also signs the mortgage loan contract. This means that if you or your partner can not make a mortgage repayment, the guarantor will be held responsible for said repayment. A guarantor must be a property owner and in full time employment. It will be necessary to present legal information about the guarantor’s earnings and identity to the bank. Foreign people might have a problem in this instance if their guarantor does not live in Spain as many banks will only accept Spanish residents as legible guarantors. One of the few banks that accept guarantors based outside of Spain is the Caja Mar.

Signing the contract
Once you have been approved for a mortgage loan, the bank will set a date with the solicitor and the estate agent to sign the contract for both the property sale and the mortgage loan. On this day the buyer, the seller, the estate agent rep., the bank manager and the solicitor will be present. Be prepared for the seller to want to take a 5% share of the total price as “black money / en negro.” This is a common, albeit illegal, practice in which the full price quoted on the contract for the property sale is 5% less than the asking price, which is then given as a separate check to the seller so that they can avoid paying tax on this money. You will have a cheaper tax bracket if the property is legally owned by a Spanish resident and, therefore, it is worth considering carefully whose name appears in the property contract.

We hope that this article has cleared up some of those doubts or shed a little light on the daunting process that has become the talk of the town for many citizens of Barcelona.