Buy, sell or rent property in Sant Martí, including Poblenou

In July 2026, at asking prices, €5,369/m² (Idealista), up 7.6% on the year. That is 1% below the Barcelona average (€5,449/m²). A 75 m² flat is about €405,000. Inside the district Vila Olímpica is above the district average, at €6,471/m², and Diagonal Mar is higher still, at €8,781/m². These are asking prices: sales registered with the Property Registry in 2026 average €5,085/m², about 5% less.

At July 2026 asking prices: about 55 m² for €300,000, about 95 m² for €500,000 and about 185 m² for €1,000,000. Taxes and costs (11–14%) come on top.

Taxes and costs add 11–14% to the price. On a €405,000 flat that is roughly €45,000–55,000. A resale in Catalonia pays ITP on a 10–13% scale; a new build pays 10% VAT plus 1.5% stamp duty. Notary, registry, lawyer and gestoría are extra. The guide to buying costs breaks it down.

Yes, there are no restrictions for foreigners. You need an NIE and a Spanish bank account; then the offer, the reservation contract and the contrato de arras, the nota simple check and the signing at the notary. A purchase does not give residency: the golden visa was abolished on 3 April 2025.

The price comes from closed sales of comparable homes nearby, not from listings: sellers in the district ask €5,369/m² on average, while sales registered in 2026 average €5,085/m². In Sant Martí I do not mix the Diagonal Mar towers, the Poblenou lofts and the plainer quarters: each group has its own comparisons. I give a price range rather than one number and show the sales it rests on. The valuation is free, with a reply usually within a working day.

The cédula de habitabilidad, the energy certificate, a nota simple, the IBI receipt, a certificate from the community that nothing is owed, a bank statement of the outstanding mortgage if there is one, and the ITE for a block over 45 years old. The community orders the ITE and it takes weeks, so start with it. For a new build, prepare the community certificate and the running-fee figures. The guide to selling documents has the full list with timings.

Capital gains tax: for a non-resident 19% of the gain if resident in the EU/EEA and 24% otherwise, with the buyer withholding 3% of the price and paying it to the tax office as an advance. The municipal plusvalía is due within 30 working days of the notary; where the seller is a non-resident, the buyer pays it. If you are resident, gains tax is worked out differently — I will calculate it on your figures.

For furnished, market-rate homes, budget around €1,800 for a one-bedroom and roughly €2,500 for a good two-bedroom; new-builds near Diagonal Mar with a pool or sea view run higher. It generally offers more space for the money than the centre. I mostly handle rentals from €3,000 a month; for a smaller budget I will tell you honestly whether I can help or refer you to a colleague.

Usually an NIE, a passport, proof of income, guarantees for the landlord (a deposit, sometimes a bank guarantee) and cash on arrival. A seasonal contract also needs a document proving the reason. The guide to rental documents has the full list.

Yes, but since 1 January 2026 a seasonal contract in Catalonia is defined by its reason, not its length: work, study, medical treatment, waiting for a home. The reason is stated in the contract and backed by documents. The sea and metro line L4 are close, which suits those who come for a few months. Tell me the dates and the reason and I will find what is on the market now.

Yes. New-build flats, parks, the beach and modern schools make it popular with families, especially around Diagonal Mar and the Vila Olímpica. You get space, sea air and a contemporary home a short ride from the centre.

Poblenou is the creative, characterful core: old industrial streets turned into lofts, studios and its own rambla. Diagonal Mar is newer and more polished: modern towers by the water, a large park and a shopping centre. Poblenou feels more like a neighbourhood; Diagonal Mar more like a modern development.