Barcelona FC super-fan Phil had visited Catalonia so many times since 1973 to see his beloved Spanish team that a relative finally said to him: “Why don’t you apply to that programme A Place in the Sun and get your own place there?”
Phil, from North Lincolnshire, has attended matches at the Nou Camp stadium three or four times a year for 30 years. Eventually, he realised it would make financial sense to buy a home there.
Time to downsize – and buy in Spain
After Covid, with their grown-up daughters having left home, Phil and wife Paula decided to downsize and use the money to buy a flat in Spain.
They couldn’t afford a home in Barcelona itself, where even a small flat costs around £250,000, so they focused instead on the Costa del Maresme – a more affordable stretch of coast just north of the city, before you reach the Costa Brava. It’s often referred to as part of the “Costa Barcelona” too.
Location, location… train station
The couple homed in on the RENFE train line between Mataró and Blanes, knowing it would make the 30–45-minute trips into the city centre convenient.
“We got a lot of calls from the TV researchers to hone down the sort of location we wanted before we went out filming,” says Phil, 67, who’s retired. “We didn’t have the time to look at hundreds of properties – Paula is still working – so we thought going on the programme would be the answer.”
Filming with Laura Hamilton
With a budget of £120,000, the couple flew out to film with Laura Hamilton, looking for a two-bedroom property with a balcony that needed little work.
They found their perfect place in Pineda de Mar, a small former fishing town with lovely beaches and a train station just 10 minutes away on foot.
They bought property number three on the programme – which aired in October – for £131,500.
A smooth deal with a football twist
It was an unusual deal, as another buyer popped up and the vendor – a lawyer for the Spanish Football Association – how fitting! – asked for £4,500 over the asking price.
But after using A Place in the Sun Currency to transfer their funds and legal firm Legal Iuris to do the conveyancing and their Spanish Will, it all went ‘refreshingly fast’, says Phil.
“It was done in two months and would have been even quicker if the vendor hadn’t been out of range on his yacht for a few days!”
Plenty of plans
Phil and Paula have redecorated four rooms and are planning a new kitchen. Phil says he hasn’t been to any more football matches than before, as the train into Barcelona takes an hour and stops at 11pm – tricky for late kick-offs.
“We are still limited by the 90-day rule,” he says.
But they love their apartment and have used it to visit nearby Girona and plan to buy bikes to explore the hills. “We don’t intend on getting a car as driving in Barcelona is mental,” he adds. “But we love all the festivals they have – the lifestyle, food and the weather were also reasons we liked the area.” All secondary to Barcelona FC, of course.
“We just wished we had done it sooner. Going on the TV programme saved us months of looking ourselves and probably thousands of pounds. It couldn’t have gone any better.”
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