Lluís Barrera in idealista/news: the Maresme's discretion attracts high-net-worth buyers
On 24 October 2026, idealista/news published an interview with Lluís Barrera, managing partner of BARNES Maresme, focused on the area's high-end residential market. The headline sums up his view: the discretion of the Barcelona Coast (Maresme) is, in itself, an attraction for high-net-worth buyers. Here are the key points of the interview.
From Barcelona's "plan B" to its "country club"
The publication presents the Maresme as an area that has stopped being Barcelona's "plan B" and become its natural "country club". Between Alella and Sant Andreu de Llavaneres, villas with Mediterranean views, privacy and immediate access to marinas, golf and international schools have put the area on the map of European luxury. Although it does not yet have a consolidated luxury market, it attracts buyers with high purchasing power who want to live in a quiet setting without giving up any comfort.
Where the luxury residential estates are
According to Barrera, the Alella–Teià–Cabrils–Cabrera axis concentrates hillside estates with open panoramic views, signature architecture and mature gardens. Further north, Sant Vicenç de Montalt and Sant Andreu de Llavaneres combine large plots, golf, social clubs and the draw of Port Balís. You can browse the current selection of houses for sale in Alella, houses for sale in Cabrils or properties for sale in Sant Andreu de Llavaneres.
Connectivity is another argument: the C-32 motorway and the R1 train line keep door-to-door travel to Barcelona at 25-45 minutes, a range Barrera considers ideal for executives and business owners. The area, he explains, has moved up in the high-end segment thanks to space, privacy and views, with growing numbers of international buyers and of cash purchases in the premium bracket. If you are weighing up the southern towns of the Maresme, our guide Alella, Teià or Cabrils: which town should you choose? will help you compare them.
What kind of homes the prime Maresme offers
The typology is premium: hillside villas and estates with south-facing orientation, privacy, a pool and sea views, from renovated Mediterranean houses to highly efficient contemporary builds. In what Barrera calls signature areas — Supermaresme and the upper slopes of Alella, Cabrils or Llavaneres — generous plots, landscaping and security are the norm. They are complemented by restored masías (traditional farmhouses) near the vineyards of the DO Alella and high-end townhouses in well-connected areas.
Prices: between 2,000 and 3,500 euros/m²
Across the area, supply ranges between 2,000 and 3,500 euros/m² depending on the town, with Vilassar de Mar among the highest average prices in the Maresme and Mataró, the county town, at the more moderate end. In the prime and ultra-prime segment — villas with views, land and top-quality finishes — prices sit above the average while keeping an attractive value-for-money ratio compared with other European Mediterranean hubs. To find out more about two of the most sought-after coastal towns, read our guide to living in Vilassar de Mar and Cabrera de Mar.
Who buys in the high-end Maresme
Barrera describes several profiles. Barcelona executives and business owners who move up to a villa while keeping their commute stand out, alongside international buyers (Western and Northern Europe, the United States and Latin America) who prioritise climate, marinas, golf and international schools. Tech and finance profiles who work largely remotely and look for fibre connectivity and privacy are also present, as are local families moving from a townhouse to a villa. In the upper bracket, cash purchases are increasing, as is attention to energy efficiency and home automation.
Dynamic, selective demand
On demand, Barrera recalls the recent trend: record transaction levels in 2022, an adjustment in 2023 and a recovery in 2024, with year-on-year growth above 11% in the upper-middle segment. Today the prime market shows selective but deep absorption: villas with views, recently built or well renovated and on ridge-top locations sell quickly, while properties with outdated design or poor efficiency require repositioning and investment. If you are thinking of selling, you can request a confidential valuation of your property.
Discretion as a differentiating asset
Why is the Maresme still relatively unknown? Barrera points out that the area lives in the shadow of international brands such as Barcelona city, Garraf/Sitges or the Costa Brava. Its many-sided identity — 30 towns with 30 different stories — the historic visual barrier of the N-II road and the railway line along the beach, and the lack of a unified narrative have limited its profile. Add to this the absence of a strong territorial brand, municipal fragmentation, a lack of international promotion and competition from well-established destinations.
The paradox, according to Barrera, is that this lower visibility has preserved the Maresme's authenticity, today one of its greatest differentiating assets for high-end buyers seeking low exposure. For an overview of the whole area, see also where to buy a luxury house in the Maresme.
You can read the full interview (in Spanish) on idealista/news.
Talk to BARNES Maresme
If you are looking for a villa with sea views on the Barcelona Coast, discover our selection of houses and villas for sale in the Maresme or contact our team.
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