The Second Ensanche is the area of the city of Valencia that is delimited by the old bed of the River Turia, the Avda. del Antiguo Reino de Valencia and the Gran Vía Marqués del Turia. Separated from the Primer Ensanche by this wide avenue, this residential area also includes part of the popular Ruzafa neighbourhood. The Second Ensanche is a quiet residential area, characterised by the diversity of good restaurants and by the concentration of schools with excellent levels of education, such as the Colegio Sagrado Corazón de los Hermanos Maristas, the Colegio Nuestra Señora del Loreto or the Colegio de los Hermanos Dominicos. The residents of this neighbourhood live it intensely making use of the terraces of the cafés and bars or walking and practising sport in the gardens of the old Turia riverbed.
The Second Ensanche is an area with a predominantly gastronomic offer, with many restaurants. Is it also a quiet area to live in?
The presence of many quality restaurants is precisely one of the attractions of this neighbourhood. In the First Ensanche you can find prestigious Valencian cuisine (Racó del Turia, Casa Roberto, Borja Azcutia), signature cuisine (Bernd Knöller, Riff; Ricard Camarena, Canalla Bar; Quique Dacosta, Mercatbar), tapas and produce (Zacarías, Maipi, Ciscar 26) or international cuisine (Le Cinque Lune, Swagat, Chez Wladimir), among many others.
During the weekend, this great gastronomic offer attracts many locals and visitors, but the First Ensanche has never lost its comfortable and quiet lifestyle. A good example of this is the young families who have settled in the neighbourhood thanks to the quality of life and the nearby presence of several prestigious schools.
What are the differences between the First and Second Ensanche of Valencia?
It should be borne in mind that these two areas are barely separated by an avenue, Gran Vía Marqués del Turia, so there are few major differences. In the First Ensanche there is an abundance of independent professional offices and fashion and design shops, while in the Second Ensanche the focus is on restaurants and local shops. Both areas are adjacent to each other and both enjoy a high quality of life, making them among the most sought-after areas in the city when it comes to buying a permanent home. Buying a property in either area is always a good idea if you follow the advice of a real estate expert.
What type of homes can I buy in the Second Ensanche in Valencia?
Some streets in the Second Ensanche, such as Ciscar and Conde Altea, are lined with modernist buildings designed by historic architects such as Javier Goerlich. These buildings usually have spacious homes, with dimensions of more than 200 m2, characterised by high ceilings. The renovations of these dwellings usually respect original elements such as ceiling ornaments or ceramic floors.
Other buildings were constructed between approximately 1950 and 1980. These are buildings of high quality, with spacious dwellings, in which, throughout these years of economic growth, professionals from outside Valencia or from other parts of the city settled: company executives, school and university teachers, bank employees, etc.
Both in the classic buildings and in the more modern ones, the most sought-after properties are those with terraces and, of course, the penthouses, as we should not forget that in Valencia we enjoy more than 300 days of sunshine a year.
Although some of these buildings do not have their own car parks, the Segundo Ensanche has a wide range of public and private car parks.
Does the Second Ensanche have a family lifestyle?
During the eighties and early nineties, the Segundo Ensanche experienced an ageing of its neighbourhood, a problem that all neighbourhoods go through sooner or later. The turn of the century saw the beginning of a period of rejuvenation of the population, in which the children of the professionals who settled in the Second Ensanche from the 1950s onwards began to occupy their parents’ homes. This process of transformation has resulted in a neighbourhood with families in which the parents are now between 35 and 55 years of age.
As a result, there is currently a great demand for school places in the three schools in the area: Dominicos, Maristas and Loreto: state-subsidised centres that offer an excellent education.
Other families choose to send their children to schools which follow the foreign curriculum. Buses from these schools, which are located very close to the urban area of Valencia, stop in the Second Ensanche and take less than 30 minutes to get pupils to their respective schools.
Families living in the Second Ensanche benefit from its proximity to the old Turia riverbed. On Saturdays and Sundays, families walk and play in a large green space less than five minutes from their homes. Another new space, the Parque Central, is located next to the Ruzafa district and can be reached from anywhere in the Second Ensanche in about 20 minutes.
Is there a price difference between the First and Second Ensanche and is it expensive to buy a house in the Second Ensanche?
As the two areas are so close to each other (as we have already mentioned, only one avenue separates them), we cannot speak of a specific price variation between the First and Second Eixample. Both areas are excellent options for buying a home: centrally located, with all kinds of services and a great standard of living.
The price of a property in both the First and Second Ensanche will depend on its dimensions, location and orientation, conditions (whether it requires partial or complete refurbishment, for example), whether it has a parking space or terrace, as well as the building in which it is located.
If you are thinking of buying a refurbished property with a terrace to enjoy the excellent climate of Valencia, you will find excellent options.
It should not be forgotten that when weighing up the option that best suits your interests and those of your family, our recommendation is always to go to professional real estate agents with accredited experience and prestige.
Is the Second Ensanche a safe area?
As is the case in the vast majority of neighbourhoods in the city of Valencia, the Second Ensanche is a very safe area to live in. Not surprisingly, it is the choice of many families with children.
Is it a good option to buy a property and rent it out?
Valencia is a very active city in the rental market. More and more national and foreign professionals are choosing Valencia to develop their careers. In addition, Valencia is a city that receives thousands of students every year, as it has excellent universities, such as the UPV, and prestigious teaching centres, such as the European headquarters of Berklee College of Music. Acquiring a property for the rental market is an increasingly widespread option. At Rimontgó we will advise you step by step if you wish to explore this option.
What type of foreign clients buy property in Valencia?
There is no defined typology, although we can point to independent professionals who settle in Valencia with their families, those who work for foreign companies with headquarters in the city and, of course, retired people who buy a home in Valencia because of the quality of life offered by the city.
What guarantees can I count on when buying a property in Valencia?
When purchasing a property, at Rimontgó, we always recommend the advice of an accredited and experienced professional. The purchase of a property is a very important decision for any person and for this reason we insist on the need for advice and help. The housing market in Valencia, as in the rest of Spain, is regulated and has all the legal guarantees that protect the interests of both the buyer and the seller.
What are the expenses derived from the purchase of a property in Valencia?
The expenses for the buyer in Valencia are the same as in the rest of Spain: Notary and Land Registry fees, Value Added Tax (VAT), Stamp Duty and Transfer Tax and Stamp Duty. Some of these expenses depend on the value of the type of property. At Rimontgó we will accompany you in all the phases of the purchase process, and, previously, we will have offered you a detailed report on the costs derived from the acquisition of a property.
How long does it take to buy a property in Valencia?
It can be as quick as two weeks and as long as three months. It all depends on the degree of due diligence required on each property and on the organisation and experience of the Real Estate Agent leading the transaction.
There is no set time frame. At Rimontgó we always analyse, in great detail, each operation and the circumstances of the market. The purchase of a property is an extremely important decision, which affects the buyer and his family, which is why haste is never a good advisor. It is essential to take the time that each transaction needs to fully enjoy the purchase of a home, which, after all, is also an investment.
Is it advisable to go to a real estate company when buying a property in Valencia?
More than convenient, we would say that it is highly advisable and, the more complicated a transaction may be, it may even be essential to go to a Chartered Real Estate Agent with years of experience. Although in Spain the property buying and selling market is a free market, at Rimontgó we always recommend that you go to professionals with experience and prestige. Expert advice in all phases of the purchase is the best tool to make an optimal decision.
Do I need any special documentation to buy a property?
At Rimontgó we advise our clients in all the administrative processes related to the purchase of a property, as well as during its ownership and subsequent transfer. We provide essential help in obtaining the NIE, opening a bank account and other necessary procedures to carry out the purchase or sale with all the legal guarantees.