luxury houses sales in barcelona: up to 10 millions euros

One of the largest luxury home purchases last year in Spain was that of a private house in the upper area of ​​Barcelona. The transaction exceeded 10 million euros.

Alex Vaughan and Stijn Teeuwen, partner of Lucas Fox Photo: Elena Ramón.
"It was the largest operation we have coordinated since we started, although we have sold 300,000 euros floors," said Stijn Teuwen, director and founder of Lucas Fox Barcelona, ​​along with Alex Vaughan.

Lawyer by profession, left behind his life in the Netherlands and United Kingdom respectively, and moved to Barcelona with their families to "change of scenery." Teeuwen happened first in Andalusia, where he began his first real estate business. 6 years ago he moved to Barcelona and met Vaughan. Together they created Lucas Fox in 2005. Since then help foreign buyers to find housing for a very specific market niche.
A demanding customer
Foreign clients account for 70% of the total business of the company. "They do not need mortgage, have much work, little time and want answers fast," said Teeuwen. By nationality, 20% came from Eastern Europe, especially Russia. Other important clients are Australian, American and more Chinese and Indians, the latter doing business in England.
At first, many of them bought houses for a second home, but increasingly want to live in Barcelona. "The city is clearly a plus, but the main obstacles are to get a job working according to their level and find the appropriate value of the product," says Teuwen. The employer believes that the market is stable Barcelona after the "adjustment" to the luxury homes, but argues that prices "have yet to lose a little more."
Of the 18 employees who have Lucas Fox Barcelona has four more in the office of the Costa Brava and Ibiza five in only two of them were born in Spain and the rest are from ten different countries. "In addition to speaking their language, understand their cultural roots, which helps us find the right product for each customer," says the founder of Lucas Fox
A double-edged sword
Teuwen notes that the international focus of the company puts them a step backwards from similar agencies who know the market over Barcelona. But it is also true that they can get more foreign customers, which seems to be the only one who resists the stake of the crisis, as domestic demand continues to fall. In fact, according Teuwen, many sellers believe that the international market is the "only solution" to sell their property.

These international customers Lucas Fox has allowed its sales grow by 40% every year since its founding. In 2010 some 40 operations were performed with a value of 66 million euros (1.6 million euros on average per transaction), which allowed them to bill some two million euros.

for trichet, European treaties should be modified

For the President of the ECB, the euro is "not threatened", but he called all Europeans to be "extremely vigilant" with regard to public finances.

As his term ends at the head of the European Central Bank (ECB) October 31, it is not a Jean-Claude Trichet to lecture who spoke Sunday at the Grand Rendez-Vous on Europe 1 / Le Parisien-Aujourd'hui en France / i> Télé, to discuss the crisis at the moment Europe.

With his experience of eight years at the head of the institution, who was also governor of the Banque de France, has recommended that Europeans hear the messages addressed to them. His advice? First, be "extra vigilant" with regard to public finances. Rejecting the idea that the euro area and its currency are "threatened" by the crisis, it nevertheless stated that "all countries without exception must be extremely careful." "Protect yourself rather than cure," he summarized, adding that "it depends on us that we can have the least slower growth."

Then you have to "think about the future," stressed the President of the ECB. "Tomorrow, I think we need to change the treaty to be able to prevent a member of the euro area to roam and create problems for everyone else," he said, referring to the Greek crisis that Europe in a hard to control. He called for a reform that would make the European Council "able to impose decisions" in a country slide, with "possible sanctions".

It includes some of the "outraged"
"We must strengthen the management and governance of globalization in all fields," he also said in reacting to the movement of indignation that spreads in several major cities. "There are obviously a number of lessons from the crisis that the lessons are harsh: it is not possible to leave a financial system and consequently a global economic system that is as fragile." This does not mean "demolish" the banks, he insisted, recalling that "pay three-quarters of the economy."

That he referred to as de-globalization theme is in vogue right now, as advocated by the Socialist-Arnaud Montebourg, and one can imagine Jean-Claude Trichet tense in his chair ... and find that it is a call to strengthening of global economic governance.

the "indignados" occupying barcelona's street: 60.000

At least 60,000 'indignados', according to figures from the local police, and more than 300,000 according to organizers, have turned this Saturday to take the central streets of Barcelona to claim a global change in the political, economic and financial matters.

In a march organized simultaneously in more than 600 cities around the world have once again shown its convening power concentrating students, trade unionists, activists and affected by the cuts, such as toilets and teachers.

The march was led by a large banner that calls pass' of indignation to action, but peacefully.

There have been other signs with the symbol of the scissors crossed and criticism of the socioeconomic system - 'enough to privatize profits and socialize losses',' without sharing there can be no justice, without justice there can be no peace without peace there can futuro' have - that have demonstrated over the rejection of a system that want to renovate completely.

The crowd chanted songs have already become a classic within the movement as' democracy and not tell what is' and 'no, no, they do not represent us'; well have shouted again,' I was also in the Parlament 'in relation to the blockade of the Catalan Chamber on June 15, and' guilty 'when passing by the Exchange.

Arriving at the height of the Department of Interior, protected by a dozen police vans, the 'outraged' have demanding the resignation of Councillor, Felip Puig, the eviction of the Plaza Catalunya and the arrests of suspects by the blockade of the Parliament who had volunteered in the City of Justice.

The demonstration started at Plaza Catalunya has undergone Paseo de Gracia and Calle Aragon, and the height of Arc de Triomf - theoretical end point of the march - some 'angry' have diversified into three areas: to the Hospital del Mar, in protest at health cuts, to the Faculty of History at UB for education, while it remains unclear the direction of the protesters by housing problems.

Speaking to Europa Press, a translator and singer who has moved from Canet says he is in the demonstration because he believes he has reached a point in the world where "nothing can be saved."

Believes that change the whole system to promote the end of "consumerism, absurd."

A colleague, Moses, also a singer, he criticizes: "We believe this lie. We must promote a paradigm shift that may imply the abolition of money."

For Reuben, which is a hotel receptionist, who lives in Valencia but Barcelona, ​​change will come when politicians see what the movement actually 15M and realize that they are mistaken.

According to him, put a rope system to society that no longer can squeeze more because "going to be hanged," and now it's time to unite to get rid of that rope.

John, of the assembly of 'outraged' by Horta, said that since has gone global hunger is good that the movimieto be globalized as well: "We want to build a world in which the citizen is above the market."

WORLDWIDE

Speaking to Europa Press, the President of Justice and Peace, Arcadi Oliveres, a guru of the movement, explained that the mobilization on Saturday shows that "continues with the same force" after the summer break, a period that has used to do much work in pedagogy and cultural associations, districts and villages.

He applauded the movement is to resonate worldwide because the problems of crises occurring around the world, and it was time, in his opinion, that people will react, for example landmarks such as Wall Street.

In the other cities in Catalonia and in Madrid are also called the October 15 march, which converge eight gears 'outraged' to go together to the Puerta del Sol