Côte d'Azur Real Estate

There is an old saying that "on the Côte d'Azur sits the old money". These words are striking for the real estate situation in the region, which has proven to be extremely stable for quite some time. The best customers for real estate on the Côte d'Azur are out-of-towners who want to invest their long-standing or newly acquired wealth in the right local properties. At the time when the real estate market in countries like Spain was slipping more and more significantly, the Côte d'Azur even saw a slight upward trend.

In recent years, the Côte d'Azur has defied all economic fluctuations.

The reason for this trend is understandable. While the economic security in many European regions was severely affected during the economic crisis, the Côte d'Azur has turned out to be a relatively safe place. Logical consequence! Property prices in prestigious coastal regions such as the Cap d'Antibes peninsula, near Saint-Raphaël or the Mont Boron in Nice have even risen. If plots of land or Côte d'Azur real estate are for sale, realtors do not even get a chance because of the high popularity. Often, sales talks are conducted on the golf course, which means that a constant price trend in the area is difficult to discern. Especially Russian prospective buyers are groups of people who are willing to pay horrendous prices for local Côte d'Azur real estate. In fact, it is not uncommon for these investors to pay ten times the actual value just to call the villa their own.

Côte d'Azur real estate: interest is high, but space is limited

Decisive reason for this price development are the limited space conditions, which are geographically given at the Côte d'Azur. In the southern part, the Côte d'Azur is bordered by the sea, while in the eastern and northern regions, nature reserves and foothills of the Alps adjoin the region. In most cases, only new buildings in the double-digit range sprout from the ground each year, so that the sales figures for properties in popular areas cannot even be counted on one hand on an annual average.

Higher spending also for foreign property owners

The government's decisions to increase social security contributions CSG as well as CRDS to 15.5 percent some time ago are drastic. These regulations apply, for example, to income from rentals and now also affect foreign property owners. The consequence of this regulation is that capital gains from sales of Côte d'Azur real estate are now no longer taxed at "only" 19 percent, but at an incredible 34.5 percent. Such sums hurt even well-heeled investors.

In Nice there are relatively inexpensive real estate

If you don't have millions in your bank account but still want to wake up every morning in your own property on the Côte d'Azur, you should look for residential properties in Nice or the hinterland. In Nice, there are currently still relatively affordable yet well-located apartments that should soon increase in value thanks to amenities such as planned orange or palm gardens. Currently, however, three-bedroom apartments on northern terrain are still available for prices of around 200,000 euros. However, this price trend does not mean that other areas of Nice do not nevertheless have a different pricing policy. Luxurious and glamorous art nouveau villas with sea view and pool are sold also with Nice around the Mont Boron for two digit million amounts. In addition, experts believe that prices on the prestigious Promenade des Anglais will reach new peaks in the future. After all, the city of Nice is in the process of expanding the beach promenade with palm gardens and reducing the previously four-lane road traffic to a minimum.

The mountainous hinterland is popular terrain for thrifty travellers

Much less hustle and bustle, but more affordable Côte d'Azur real estate and pleasant temperatures await property owners in the mountainous hinterland. This region is home to the French middle class, where the population is growing steadily. Small villages such as Levens, for example, are only a few miles from Nice and have new residents every year. The residential properties in this area are less luxurious and sophisticated. Instead, estates with pools change hands for as little as 500,000 euros. Nevertheless, an upward trend can also be seen in these areas, although it is developing much more slowly than in coastal areas.

Rapidly rising real estate prices in Villefranche-sur-Mer

Another popular catchment area on the Côte d'Azur is Villefranche-sur-Mer, the neighboring city of Nice. Favorite residential locations in this area are in the old town near the national highway and in hilly areas. The beauty of this residential area is that despite its high popularity, the old town is comparable to a cozy fishing village. Only during the main season in summer the picture changes for some time. This natural flair of the nevertheless well-located town is certainly an important reason why real estate prices in Villefranche-sur-Mer have risen more dramatically in recent years than in any other area in the south of France. For example, in 2011, there was an increase of about five percent, while the increase in other areas was no more than one percent.

Antibes is a crowd favorite in the south of France

One example of this development is the city of Antibes, which has established itself as one of the most popular cities in southern France. One reason for this high level of popularity is the advantage that Antibes - unlike the neighboring city of Cannes - has no bad neighborhoods. As a result, real estate prices range from 6,000 to 8,000 euros for properties in the old town. For a view of the Mediterranean, those interested in real estate must reckon with costs of 10,000 euros per square meter. Those who already want to make a safe investment in Antibes will find what they are looking for with houses or apartments near the harbor. The city of Antibes intends to expand the area around the largest yacht anchorage in Europe, making it more interesting for large ship owners. In the future, Antibes will not lose its attractiveness for private investors.

Monaco: Square meter prices in the region of 65,000 euros

Another example of the upward trend is Monaco. The princely state on the Mediterranean may only be two square kilometers in size, but every residential property located here is worth a fortune. For one square meter, investors in Monaco's top locations have to put around 65,000 euros on the table. If real estate prices have remained relatively constant since 2012, experts are nevertheless certain that the market will slowly stabilize again and prices will rise.