Investors’ demand for commercial spaces in Barcelona continues to rise

Investors have demonstrated sustained and accelerating demand for commercial spaces in Barcelona during the second half of 2024, as indicated by the latest report published by FORCADELL, covering the last six months of the recently concluded year.

In this regard, the report highlights how the approval of Spain’s new Housing Law has driven the dynamization of the commercial real estate sector, solidifying it as an asset of growing interest. Since the second half of 2024, property investment firms, SOCIMIs, family offices, and private investors have been actively seeking and finding stable returns in these assets as an alternative to other traditional real estate market segments.

As Jordi Fandos, Director of Commercial Spaces department at FORCADELL, explains, “this strategic reorientation has been recognized by the market, allowing for greater flexibility in yield adjustments based on investor profiles and the nature of the operation.”

This reflects, as Fandos adds, “a positive trend in the commercial space market, with growing confidence from investors in these assets as a secure source of profitability.”

Barcelona Is the Leading City in Spain for Clothing and Accessories Stores (4,195)

The FORCADELL report notes that Barcelona has more than 62,000 active establishments, equating to 3.65 per 100 inhabitants. In fact, the city boasts a commercial density of more than 1,100 commercial spaces per square kilometer, and from any point within the urban area, residents have access to a commercial hub within a 15-minute walk. The city maintains a pattern of market fragmentation around prime areas, commercial hubs, and main streets in Barcelona’s neighborhoods.

In the prime zone, Rambla Catalunya experiences high demand for smaller spaces with lower rental rates compared to Passeig de Gràcia, achieving an occupancy rate exceeding 90% of commercial spaces. As for the first-tier commercial hubs, they maintain at least 80% commercial occupancy, with at least 30% of establishments offering non-daily consumer goods.

Barcelona closes 2024 with approximately 7,650 available commercial spaces, of which 35.46% are for sale and 64.54% for rent, representing volumes very similar to those of previous years. According to FORCADELL’s analysis, these figures highlight the strength of the city’s commercial fabric, with a rapid turnover of spaces, often preventing them from even reaching the market.

Regarding specific sectors, Barcelona is the leading city in Spain for clothing and accessories stores (4,195) and ranks second in the number of foodservice establishments (5,698), just behind Madrid (6,797).