These pages will be an attempt at offering our website visitors an opinion on the local market as far as it affects Girona and surrounding areas. It will try to give as true a picture as possible and is purely my own opinion, gleemed from having lived and worked here for the past few years. I'll try to keep it relevant and up to date with new information added from time to time.
Most people are aware of the current 'credit squeeze' as the press like to call it and the market here is no different to other, nearby property markets like the UK. However, current prices per square metre are still much lower than in Barcelona, just 90 kms away.
The local property market has cooled somewhat, and the abundance of new build apartments with fewer local buyers coupled with more stringent local bank lending conditions, has dampened demand and official figures show low percentage drops in many areas.
For foreign buyers who have cash or can afford larger deposits this has turned the tables in their favour and for the discerning buyer it may be a good time to 'bag a bargain'.
Again, like anywhere it depends on how motivated vendors are to sell. Private sellers circumstances vary greatly and it's wise to listen to a local agents advice and do a lot of research. Cash starved developers with stock on their hands may be willing to do deals especially when 'cash is king'!
The coastal market may differ as it's always been a popular coastline not only for foreign buyers but for locals who buy for the same reasons, a holiday or weekend retreat.
The top-end of the market is for people that quite often feel insulated from the woes that us lesser wealthy people have to cope with and good locations are always popular. Many places along the coast have moratoriums and severe restrictions on any further construction and it's more likely to be smaller individual plots that will be built on.
That said, the current strength of the euro against currencies like the pound and dollar make things more expensive than they were just a few months ago. But, this could possibly be an excuse to negotiate a better deal if sellers are made aware of this fact.
Do your own research about the area you anticipate buying, in and try not rushing into things too fast and, seek many different opinions.
The Complete Guide to Buying a Property in Spain (Buying in Spain)
