Barcelona is a pole of attraction for students and, with them, for investments to offer them residences to live in. So much so that Barcelona has concentrated all the investment in this real estate area at a state level so far this year, with a total of 219 million euros until June. According to data from the consultancy firm CBRE, this figure represents an increase of 68.5% compared to the first semester of 2023.
In this context, the launch of student residences is a booming market in Catalonia. With 299,000 enrolled in the last academic year, it is the second autonomous community in number of students, only behind Madrid, with 370,000. Both capitals will concentrate 54% of the 130,000 places in residences that will be operational at a state level by 2026. Specifically, the Catalan market has 15,900 operational beds, and will add 3,500 more during the next two years.
The growth in the number of students, especially international ones, has increased the need for residences. "In 2023, the increase in the supply of places and the improvement in the occupancy of residences led to good performance in this market in Barcelona, with an investment of 130 million euros, a trend that we expect to continue this year," says the head of Living at CBRE Barcelona, Olga Beltrán.
Globally, operations in the residential segment, which includes student residences, coliving, rental, buying and selling, and senior living, have registered an investment of 269 million euros in Barcelona during the first semester. This figure represents 18% of the total state investment (1,496 million euros) and 3% more than the previous year.
Precisely residences have been the engine of this growth, as they represent 81.3% of the total investment, in a semester marked by the purchase of two residences totaling 624 beds by Morgan Stanley from Grupo Vita. There has also been the agreement between DeA Capital, Partners Group and Camplus to open a residence in 22@.