asking prices have increased but the
agreed purchase price has typically
reverted back to previous pricing. We
have seen higher budgets with many
clients looking in the 300-500,000
euro price range. More people are
wanting to work from home and are
seeking bigger properties. Lower
priced properties are still selling
well, but I would say that the most
noticeable trend is this demand from
both local and international buyers
for bigger properties.
It is worth noting that clients are
experiencing longer waits for
mortgage approval, so the time
between offer and completion is
extended - my advice is to spend
time making sure that your dossier
is complete and get your application
in early."
Further south, Adriana Hatzakis
is based on the coast, close
to Perpignan. She tells us that
prices within the city itself are
comparatively low and offer an
excellent return on investment.
French media picked up on a
report that highlighted Perpignan
as having the highest yield (5.4%)
of French cities for those investors
with a smaller budget.
"Demand on the coast is strong,
resorts such as Canet-en -Roussillon
and Argelès-sur-Mer are always
in demand. My buyers are mainly
from outside this area - either
from elsewhere in France, or from
overseas. This is a popular spot for
those looking to retire or invest. We
have seen a rise in buyers looking
for holiday homes that can also be
let out for seasonal rentals. The
letting season is long thanks to the
excellent climate and proximity of
winter sports. Apartments close to
the beach, or with a sea view, always
sell quickly. Prices in Canet have
risen steeply since the pandemic
and buyers have turned towards the
surrounding towns and villages. As
an example, I recently had over 100
enquiries in a week on a property in
nearby Saint-Nazaire, with buyers
from Paris being the first to have
their offer accepted. I do predict
that other towns, within 20 minutes
of the coast, will be the ones to
watch in 2023."
Inland, and close to the Spanish
border, Donna Tulloch reports that
MIDI-PYRÉNÉES
06 Leggett International Real Estate
It includes eight departments:
Ariège, Aveyron, Haute-Garonne,
Gers, Lot, Hautes-Pyrénées, Tarn
and Tarn-et-Garonne. It holds
an important strategic position
between the Mediterranean Sea and
the Atlantic Ocean. It is made up of
several former French provinces
and just to confuse things, these
names are still used locally. As an
example, Quercy was an important
province in Roman times and is
often used in property advertising
- it spreads across five departments
and its traditional capital is Cahors.
Similarly you will come across
Gascony, a vaguely defined province
that spanned eight departments
where even the locals can not agree
on the boundaries.
If nothing else, this shows the need
to work with an estate agent who
has local knowledge to help find
your property as prices vary as much
as the landscape.
Yvonne Russell is one agent
with such knowledge. She lives
east of Tarbes, in the foothills of
the Pyrénées. She says that her
local market has seen little price
movement.
"Within the Pays Basque prices have
increased considerably, however
the Gers and Hautes-Pyrénées have
remained stable. It is interesting as
The Midi-Pyrénées used to be a region
in its own right but became part of
Occitanie in 2016.