From Corporate Lawyer to Real Estate Entrepreneur: Matthew Coe's Journey to Barcelona

A Fresh Start in Barcelona

Relocating to sunny Barcelona yielded far more than a more relaxed lifestyle for Matthew Coe. He’s pursuing things he’s dream of in a place he loves. Relocating to a sunny Mediterranean city in Spain isn’t always just for a more relaxed lifestyle — although siestas are a definite plus. Making the leap can also lead to pursuits you’ve dreamed of in a place you love. Just ask Matthew Coe.

Matthew Coe bought an apartment in Barcelona in 2021. He founded a company that helps other people navigate buying property in the city.

The 60-year-old real estate and corporate lawyer from Wenatchee, Washington, embarked on a fresh start after the global economic crisis hit his job in the hotel sector, pushing him to reconsider future plans. He quit his corporate job in Hong Kong with a major hotel brand and moved to Europe. Of all the cities Coe had toured and lived in during his career, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Seattle and Chicago, he picked laid-back Barcelona, Spain. Looking back, he says he has no regrets.

Matthew Coe bought an apartment in Barcelona in 2021. He founded a company that helps other people navigate buying property in the city. 'What started off, in my mind, as a break or sabbatical, turned into a new chapter of my life in Europe and entrepreneurial pursuits related to real estate investment and design.' Coe 'tested' the rhythm and size of Valencia and Madrid, living in rented apartments in both cities for a time before settling on a longer lease in Barcelona.

Making Spain Home

In 2021, he made the move more permanent by purchasing a 90-square-meter (about 970-square-foot) apartment in a Modernist building from the mid-1920s in Barcelona’s lively Sant Antoni neighborhood. He paid 400,000 euros (about $435,000) and renovated it for 125,000 euros (about $135,000). The one-bedroom, one-and-a-half bath apartment has two balconies and a small back terrace.

Coe completely renovated the apartment he purchased in the lively Sant Antoni neighborhood.

Barcelona really captured Coe with its vibrant, small and approachable vibe with a blend of expats and locals, a city that 'hums with activity, promising discovery nearly any day or evening of the week.' 'Surely this happens in the US, but not with the same level of engagement. If US cities had more density and less cars, maybe, it could be replicated to some degree. The day-by-day act of living here leads to a quality of life unmatched by anywhere else that I have lived.'

The community Coe is now part of is a big piece of the city's appeal.

Launching a New Venture

Barcelona’s slow lifestyle and the warm Mediterranean weather were all plus points that supported Coe’s decision to open his own company, VistaFutura, in 2022 to help other expats find a home, connecting them with local architects and builders. 'I had a chance later in life to do what I really want to do in a place I love to live,' he said.

Relocating was far from a piece of cake, though. He had to first figure out how to live in Spain legally. 'My own experience, though, became an impetus for me to start my own business supporting others seeking to move to Barcelona.' Coe has a permanent resident visa (Residencia Larga Duración), allowing him to work and reside in Spain permanently. He says it’s not so hard to get for other US citizens, requiring just some diligence in pulling together the paperwork and patience to complete the filing.

The business he set up may be a dream job, but it comes with challenges and funny episodes, particularly when dealing with American clients addicted to the rat race who can’t come to grips with the slow-paced Spanish mode of living.