The Ayuso government paid 6.3 million for the luxury penthouse in Madrid
The real estate agency that managed the operation took a commission of 3%, which amounts to 189,000 euros charged to the seller, as reported by ‘El País’
The 485-square-meter penthouse that the Community of Madrid bought as a "temporary office" for Isabel Díaz Ayuso cost 6.3 million euros, according to the newspaper El País. The luxury home, located at number 35 on Paseo del General Martínez Campos, in the Chamberí neighborhood, was put up for sale for 6.6 million on the real estate portal that managed the purchase. Ayuso's government acquired it three months ago through the public company Planifica Madrid, which manages the Community's land.
According to the same media outlet that published the information, the real estate agency received a 3% commission, which amounts to 189,000 euros charged to the seller. The purchase was not advertised or recorded in any budget or transparency portal, and although the Madrid president admitted the acquisition, she assured that it is not clear that she wanted to use the property for personal use: "It is false, I am not buying anything nor is anything being bought for me." Until now, the final sale price had not been disclosed, and Ayuso herself avoided the issue when asked.
The penthouse in question has a 199-square-meter terrace and is on the ninth floor of a residential building without offices, next to Paseo de la Castellana. According to El País, the luxury real estate agency that acted as an intermediary in the sale is Promora, located in La Moraleja. This real estate agency published the advertisement for the flat on social media with the following claim: "A unique and exclusive penthouse in the heart of Almagro: 623 square meters of absolute luxury, five en-suite bedrooms, six bathrooms, and a spectacular terrace".
The video shows montages made with artificial intelligence of how the house would look if it were decorated with furniture: an office or a bedroom with panoramic views of Madrid are some of the simulations shared by the real estate agency. Ayuso acknowledged a week ago that the apartment was to be one of the spaces to be used during the renovation that will be carried out at the Real Casa de Correos, headquarters of the regional government. However, she did not clarify why the purchase of the apartment had been opted for instead of a rental. Finally, and after the criticism from the opposition and media pressure, the Community announced that the penthouse would be sold just 24 hours after the news broke.