Sales of Offices Buildings in Barcelona Rise by 45%

6 January 2020 Barcelona is experiencing record sales of office buildings, reaching highs not seen since before the beginning of the financial crisis. The sales are largely driven by high levels of liquidity and low bond yields. Ten buildings worth more than one hundred million euros sold during 2019, pushing total investments for the year to €2.816 billion. That figure is 44% above the amount sold in 2018, according to a report by CBRE.

The profile of investors has recently changed as well, as larger institutional investors looking for stable, long-term returns have slowly replaced more opportunistic buyers. Furthermore, the political turmoil in Catalonia also seems to have failed to scare off most investors.

Barcelona está experimentando ventas récord de edificios de oficinas, alcanzando máximos no vistos desde antes del comienzo de la crisis financiera. Las ventas están impulsadas en gran medida por los altos niveles de liquidez y los bajos rendimientos de los bonos. Se vendieron diez edificios por valor de más de cien millones de euros durante 2019, lo que empujó las inversiones totales para el año a 2.816 millones de euros. Esa cifra es un 44% superior a la cantidad vendida en 2018, según un informe de CBRE.

El perfil de los inversores también ha cambiado recientemente, ya que los inversores institucionales más grandes que buscan retornos estables a largo plazo han reemplazado lentamente a los compradores más oportunistas. Además, la agitación política en Cataluña también parece no haber asustado a la mayoría de los inversores.

Original Story: Expansión – Marisa Anglés

Photo: Elena Ramón/EXPANSION

Translation/Summary: Richard D. Turner

Engel & Völkers’ Business Grows By 60.7% In Spain

30 January 2015 – La Vanguardia

E&V brokered property sales worth €699.25 million in 2014 compared with €435.1 million in 2013.

The luxury real estate agent Engel & Völker increased its business in Spain by 60.7% in 2014, when it brokered property sales worth €699.25 million, compared with €435.1 million in the previous year.

During 2014, it closed 1,071 sales, an increase of 77.6% on the 603 transactions completed in 2013. Nevertheless, the average sales price decreased by 9%, from €719,759 to €652,894, said the firm.

As for the rental market, the number of homes handled by the firm in Spain increased by 66.4% in 2014 with respect to the previous year, as it closed 724 transactions.

As with house sales, the average price of rental accommodation also decreased, by 7.6%, in line with the trend in the market to amount to €2,305 (per month).

During the course of last year, Engel & Völkers opened 14 new offices in Spain: its Market Centers in Madrid and Valencia; and 12 offices located in San Sebastián, Vigo, Tarragona, Benidorm, Calpe, Denia and in several parts of Madrid, including Conde de Orgaz, Majadahonda, Las Rozas, Alameda, Sanchinarro and Aravaca, amongst others. In addition, 16 new licences were sold.

According to Philipp Neimann, the CEO of Engel & Völker in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the market in Spain is a key priority for the company at the international level.

Having opened its Market Centers in Madrid and Valencia last year, with a total investment of €4.5 million, the prestigious property firm considers that there are still many business opportunities in the country.

Globally, the Engel & Völkers group increased total income from commissions by 10.1%, to €300.3 million, the highest amount the company has ever recorded in its 35-year history.

In 2015, it plans to employ 2,000 new real estate agents around the world, with Spain and the USA earmarked as the priority markets for the firm.

Original story: La Vanguardia

Translation: Carmel Drake