http://www.housesandapartments.fr/ Articles EN Wed, 8 Dec 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/icon_rss.gif http://www.housesandapartments.fr/ http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-the-hinterland-around-the-bassin-d-arcachon-411_1.html Development of this area in the Gironde is closely linked to the history of Arcachon and its vocation as a resort. While it is always delicate to lay down a general rule, here one can make a basic distinction between the immediate contours of the Bassin, largely dedicated to holiday homes, and the hinterlands, where accommodation is more inclined to cater for year-round residents. Thu, 25 Nov 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-nantes-a-very-go-head-town-410_1.html Just 50 km from the ocean, the Prefecture of Loire-Atlantique, distinguished as the most pleasant town in Europe by Time magazine, is also France’s “capitale verte 2013”. The only brakes restraining its property market have more to do with a scarcity of available properties than demand which, on the contrary, is remarkably steady. Thu, 25 Nov 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-private-mansions-in-montpellier-409_1.html With 392,162 inhabitants, the urban area of Montpellier boasts the highest population growth in the country. Within France’s 8th largest city, renowned for its dynamism and quality of life, 43 % of the population are under 30 years old. While apartments largely outnumber houses, private mansions with character still have their fans. Thu, 25 Nov 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-the-mont-blanc-region-408_1.html “A strong character, a shared way of life and an authentic culture,” says the website of the SIVOM, composed of 14 municipalities, including Sallanches, the largest, with 18,500 inhabitants, and the very famous Chamonix and Megève. An excursion to a land of snow-capped mountains, majestic peaks, welcoming pastureland, glaciers, torrents etc... Thu, 25 Nov 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-the-centre-of-lyon-407_1.html The 2nd, 4th and 6th “arrondissements” form the heart of the capital of the Rhône. Listed as part of UNESCO’s World Heritage in 1999, the Presqu’île holds a torch to La Croix-Rousse and the “green lung” of the third largest city in France. Both residential and lively shopping areas, they provide all the infrastructures necessary for residents' everyday lives. Thu, 25 Nov 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-graulhet-appealing-prices-406_1.html A member of the Tarn and Dadou “community of communes”, Graulhet lies at the heart of the “département”, a 40-minute drive from Toulouse and only 30 minutes from Castres and Albi. Home to nearly 13,000 inhabitants, this town surrounded by employment pools stands out for its particularly affordable housing. Thu, 25 Nov 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-frejus-a-recovery-underway-405_1.html Situated between the Massif des Maures and the Estérel hills, at the mouth of the Argens and Reyran rivers, this seaside resort on the Mediterranean is also the economic and cultural hub of the eastern part of the Var, a garrison town and an administrative centre of prime importance. Thu, 25 Nov 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-houses-in-dax-404_1.html Situated in Gascony, midway between Bayonne and Mont-de-Marsan and 30 km from the beaches of Les Landes, the sub-prefecture of “département 40” has been renowned for the quality of its hot spring water since the Age of Antiquity. Here, individual housing is the star product... Wed, 24 Nov 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-apartments-in-villefranche-and-beaulieu-sur-mer-403_1.html These two small towns, with 6,660 and 3,715 inhabitants respectively, lie between Nice and Monaco, on either side of the illustrious Cap-Ferrat. Their apartment buildings appeal to wealthy Europeans in search of holiday homes in the sun. It’s rather as if the upper echelons of today’s world were reviving a century-old tradition… Wed, 24 Nov 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-an-apartment-in-carpentras-402_1.html Situated at the foot of Mont Ventoux, between Le Luberon and Les Baronnies, the capital of the Comtat Venaissin is home to 29,600 inhabitants. Equidistant from Avignon and Orange, the commune is regilding the image of its historic centre. Wed, 24 Nov 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-the-centre-of-aix-a-trip-back-in-time-401_1.html “Complete ensembles are more essential than isolated masterpieces, because they participate in everyday human life. Aix is an ensemble,” wrote architect Fernand Pouillon. This city of art and water combines a rich past and go-ahead modernity with exemplary panache. A tour of the centre of Aix... Wed, 24 Nov 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-bidart-and-guethary-the-charm-of-seaside-resorts-on-the-basque-coast-400_1.html Situated between Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz, the old fishing harbours of the province of Labourd have a lot going for them as tourist attractions : buildings offering typical local character and beaches which stretch no less than 5 km for Bidart and 2 km for Guéthary. Thu, 21 Oct 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-discovering-le-lauragais-399_1.html Straddling three “départements” and crossed by the Canal du Midi, this territory of 1,768 m2 is composed of nine communes in Le Tarn, 69 in La Haute-Garonne and 75 in L’Aude, ie. a total 78,000 inhabitants, two-thirds of whom live in rural areas. Head east of Toulouse… Thu, 21 Oct 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-villeneuve-lez-avignon-and-les-angles-highly-prized-addresses-398_1.html How lovely to live in one of these two villages facing the town of Avignon, on a plateau overlooking the Rhône ! Families, transferred employees, the retired and vacationing Parisians all fall for the charm of these towns with an admirable array of facilities, hosting 12,100 and 7,750 people respectively. Thu, 21 Oct 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-la-vaunage-a-popular-area-between-sommieres-and-nimes-397_1.html Surrounded by hills no higher than 200 metres above sea level, the enclave known as the Vallée de Nages opens out to the east towards Nîmes and to the south towards Vergèze. Over 18,000 people share this area of almost 25,000 acres. This year, the population could reach the symbolic figure of 20,000, prooof of the region’s growing popularity. Thu, 21 Oct 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-the-centre-of-toulon-the-future-at-stake-396_1.html During the 1980’s and 1990’s, the verdict seemed irreversible : the historic heart of the capital of the Var was run-down and considered an unsavory area. Its rehabilitation has been one of the most extensive undertakings launched at the turn of this century. Our experts take stock… Thu, 21 Oct 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-agglopole-provence-a-solution-between-aix-and-marseille-395_1.html The urban agglomeration of Les Bouches-du-Rhône is composed of 17 entities including Salon-de-Provence, Mallemort, Pont-Royal, Lançon, La Fare-les-Oliviers and Berre-l’Etang, in all 130,000 people sharing an area of 514 km2 at the gateways to Aix and Marseille. Its main attributes are more affordable housing and a quality life-style on an everyday basis. Thu, 21 Oct 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-le-beaujolais-an-extremely-diverse-property-market-394_1.html East of the Massif Central, north of Lyon, between the Saône and the Loire, Le Beaujolais offers an extremely diverse array of housing opportunities. Its wine-producing activity dates back to the days when the Romans occupied the region, though it only acquired its letters of nobility in the 12th century A.D. Today, Le Beaujolais produces 12 “appellations”, 10 “crus” and 130 million bottles of wine per year. Fri, 22 Oct 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-l-entre-deux-mers-and-les-graves-393_1.html The vines cultivated in the undulating countryside between the Dordogne and the Garonne give a very well-known dry white wine, while the stony soil of Les Graves accounts for the strength of its AOC labels. But wine production is not the only reason why this region at the gateway to Bordeaux is well worth the detour... Thu, 21 Oct 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-cannes-"whoever-comes-stays"-392_1.html The motto of the famous town to the west of the Alpes-Maritimes says a great deal about its magnetic appeal. Nowhere else would an adage be so true, when one learns that 36 % of the living accommodation consists of holiday homes*, that this commune with hardly 70,830 inhabitants plays host to 100 hotels and 5,320 beds for tourists. Tue, 19 Oct 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-the-hinterland-in-the-aude-a-wealth-of-vocations-391_1.html Le Minervois, Les Corbières and Le Carcassonnais offer extremely varied rural scenery. The first two regions are of interest to occasional residents and seniors in search of the sun, while the third also appeals to people working in the Prefecture. An overview… Tue, 19 Oct 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-investing-in-aix-les-bains-390_1.html Situated between the Massif des Bauges to the east and Le Bourget to the west, this is a town with lots of attributes. Starting with its azure-blue lake, the largest in France, its “Belle Epoque” heritage, the architectural reminder of a rich past, and its thermal spas, which are far from being its main activity. Tue, 19 Oct 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-ganges-an-alternative-to-montpellier-389_1.html This commune with almost 4,000 inhabitants stands at the confluence of L’Hérault and Le Rieutord, 18 km from Le Vigan, 45 km north of the capital of “département 34” and 60 km from Nîmes, in a plain surrounded by the foothills of the Cévennes. Discovery of a town which is not very well-known… Thu, 23 Sep 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-townhouses-in-carcassonne-a-market-full-of-contrasts--388_1.html The Prefecture of the Aude is divided into two distinct parts : the Medieval City, known as the “Ville Haute” or Upper Town, and “La Basse” or Lower Town, whose construction began in 1247 A.D. The Trivalle neighbourhood serves as a junction. Over the decades, the “intra-muros” part of town, so-called despite the abandonment of the ramparts in 1764, has seen the rebuilding of individual homes, a market now highly diversified and highly prized. Thu, 23 Sep 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-southern-part-of-the-cub-an-eclectic-market-387_1.html Talence and Pessac are undoubtedly two of the most highly prized communes in the “département”, together with Nansouty, a very lively neighbourhood of Bordeaux, while Bègles and Villenave-d’Ornon propose lots of opportunities for first-time buyers. An overview… Thu, 23 Sep 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-moliets-and-vieux-boucau-the-charm-of-the-southern-part-of-the-landes-386_1.html Less than 20 minutes from the A10 motorway connecting Spain and France, 30 minutes from the TGV station in Dax and 45 minutes from the Biarritz airport, Moliets-et-Maâ enjoys a real micro-climate. The tourist activity of Vieux-Boucau, 7.5 km away, got going in the 1930's and has intensified since the 1970’s. Thu, 23 Sep 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-the-banks-of-the-garonne-a-very-popular-area--385_1.html The Garonne river is about 647 km long with about 522 km on the French side, giving its name to three “départements”, including the Haute-Garonne. The Prefecture of Toulouse is crossed by this mighty river, as are Bordeaux and Agen. The riverbanks act like real magnets. As explained by our local estate agents... Thu, 23 Sep 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-the-countryside-close-to-geneva-384_1.html The suburban area known as “Le Genevois français” is closely tied to the job market in the Swiss economic capital. While the majority of buyers target the immediate vicinity, ie. the commune of Saint-Julien, some prefer more rural scenery, the very luxuriant valley of Les Usses, or Valleiry, an address between the two. Wed, 22 Sep 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-valence-crossroads-of-the-rhone-383_1.html On the left bank of the river, the town commonly known as the “Gateway to the Sun” is home to 65,260 inhabitants, 167,160 in its greater urban area. 90 km from Grenoble, and 100 km from Lyon and Avignon, this garrison town with excellent infrastructures enjoys a strategic location. Wed, 22 Sep 2010 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.housesandapartments.fr/the-real-estate-magazine-nice-west-a-wide-choice-382_1.html Place Masséna is the central pulse of the capital of the Côte d'Azur. And while the Prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes consists of no less than 41 different neighbourhoods, locals all focus on those just east, north and west of this famous square. Real-estate professionals are, however, full of praise for the area defined by Magnan, the Plain of the Var, the Mediterranean and the hills of Nice. Wed, 22 Sep 2010 01:00:00 +0100