The Cote d’Azur, or French Riviera, has long been a favourite for both French and
international buyers alike. However, in recent years there has been a trend towards buying real estate on The South West Coast (particularly Parisians), notably in Biarritz & Saint Jean de Luz on The Basque
Coast, and Arcachon & Cap Ferret near Bordeaux in The Gironde.
This is partly because of good TGV links from Paris to Bordeaux and the high entry cost of
properties on The Mediterranean. The rise in popularity on The Atlantic Coast, has meant that property prices have risen drastically there, and now match, or sometimes even surpass those of homes in The South of France. So, is The French Riviera still the best place to buy property in France?
We think it might still be, and here’s why:
Location, location, location!
The Cote d’Azur is ideally located on The Mediterranean Sea, in The Southeast of France, just
a stone’s throw from neighbouring Italy and an easy drive to The Southern Alps and great
skiing. This makes The French Riviera for a very attractive place to own a second home, or to
live full time.
Nice International Airport allows for easy access from many foreign countries and there are
also a large number of flights from Paris.
Great Weather
If you like the sun, then you’re in the right place. With over 300 days of sunny weather the
Cote d’Azur is one of the sunniest places in France.
Mild winters and warm summers, with a sea breeze, make for excellent living.
The Climate is therefore a positive factor for those wanting to buy a place in the sun.
American buyers have often compare the French Riviera to sunny California in terms of
climate, and our British and Scandinavian clients often buy here for a large dose of vitamin D!
It’s Famous
The French Riviera is world renowned and has been a favourite with stars, high-flyers and an
inspiration for artists for as long as anyone can remember.
The Cote d’Azur is a well-known destination and for good reason; it’s not just for the Cannes
film festival……the beautiful towns, the sun, the glitzy lifestyle, and the pure beauty of the
place attract people from all over the world.
International community
The attractiveness of this stunning part of France brings in an international community; from
holiday makers over for a few days, to people buying property and settling here for part or
all of the year.
The Cote d’Azur is home to a lot of Expats, and is very popular with British, Scandinavian,
Russian and American buyers.
It’s Varied
The vibe and scenery on The Cote d’Azur vary from town to town.
In The Var you have the famous Saint Tropez, which has an almost village like feel, with easy
access to the back Provencal back country.
Further up the coast in Saint Raphael you have the stunning Esterel mountains, making for a
beautiful drive on the coast and great hiking.
The Alpes Maritimes is somewhat denser and is home to the effervescent city of Nice, glitzy
Cannes, charming Antibes, and other sought-after gems like Saint Jean Cap Ferrat. Go to
Menton on the border and you get a distinctly Italian vibe, both in terms of architectures
and ambiance.
There’s lots to Do
There’s so much to do on The French Riviera, meaning there’s something for everyone.
You can sail a yacht from any one of the numerous harbours, go shopping in Cannes' luxury
boutiques, go for a city break in bustling Nice, or admire the beauty of the old town in Saint
Tropez.
Alternatively, just chill at a café and watch the world go by or relax on a warm sunny beach
anywhere along the beautiful Mediterranean coast and top up on your tan.
It’s an Excellent Investment
Buying a home on The Cote d’Azur is an excellent investment and French Riviera real estate
remains prime.
Many of the above-mentioned strong points means the area remains highly sought after and
the real estate market is one of the most buoyant in France.
Property on The French Riviera tends to hold its value well and almost always increases in
price year on year.
Rental returns from platforms such as Airbnb allow for solid rental returns; an American
client of ours recently purchased a 3 bedroom apartment in the centre of Cannes for a
relatively modest €600,000 and is seeing over 10% yield, making over €90,000 net per year
in holiday lets.
If you’d like to find out more about how to buy a property on The French Riviera, or
elsewhere in France, send us an email at contact@buyersagentfrance.com, or schedule a
free, obligation-free discovery call using this link : https://buyersagentfrance.com/contact/