A property at the water’s edge in Le Pyla-sur-Mer and Le Moulleau

Highly-prized neighbourhoods on the communes of La Teste-de-Buch and Arcachon, Le Pyla-sur-Mer and Le Moulleau propose a pleasant village life-style at the entrance to the Bassin d’Arcachon. Their property markets posting very steady prices represent a sound investment.

Bordered by the forest domain, the ocean beaches and the dune of Le Pilat, the seaside resort of Le Pyla-sur-Mer (on the commune of La Teste-de-Buch) is a particularly sought-after address on the Bassin d’Arcachon thanks to the quality of its environment and accommodation. The same goes for Le Moulleau, one of the most popular spots on the commune of Arcachon and a holiday destination since the late 19th century. A privileged and authentic sector characterized by a family atmosphere and a delightful living conditions.

Guillaume Touroul-Chevalerie, manager of Cap Ferret Pyla Sotheby’s International Realty, an agency based in Le Pyla-sur-Mer for the past three years, specializes in prestige properties all around the Bassin d’Arcachon : “We are seeing strong demand for houses priced around 1 million euros less than 1 or 2 km from the beaches and shops. They usually offer living space of 160 to 180 m2 in grounds of 1,000 to 1,500 m2, though offerings are rare. For those with higher budgets, a view of the Bassin is the main criterion. On the seafront, offerings are even more scarce. Some properties can cost as much as 10 million euros”. The area has a good many properties to renovate offering great opportunities, the majority with extensive grounds, “which is rare on a seafront”. On the other hand, apartments are virtually non-existent, as is building land. “Our 650 agencies all over the world give us the status of a leader in the sale of prestige properties, making us well-known internationally and generating lots of enquiries from foreign buyers. Over the past few months, they have taken the form of clients from the UK, Belgium and Switzerland. Our clientele from Bordeaux and Paris have substantial resources and many of them have already entrusted us with their projects. They are often looking for second residences for holidays, which will become their main homes when they retire.”

Based in Arcachon, Carmen Milcent, associate manageress of Ateliers, Lofts & Associés, an agency specializing in the sale of unusual properties (special kinds of architecture, prime locations…), says that the market is “stable and flowing along smoothly”. Demand is thus steady despite prices among the highest around the Bassin d’Arcachon. “They are comparable to those on Cap Ferret. But opting for Le Pyla-sur-Mer or Le Moulleau is a winning investment.” The most recent sale handled by the office in Le Pyla-sur-Mer involved a house of 250 m2 blessed with a sea view and priced at over 2 million euros. “In Le Moulleau, our latest sale was a fully renovated house of 90 m2 less than 200 metres from the beach, at 735,000 €.” The most sought-after property ? “A house with three or four bedrooms close to the sea, at around 1 million euros.” Carmen Milcent receives enquiries from the Bassin’s traditional clientele : “Belgians, Swiss, English, French working abroad and well-off Parisians”. Holiday homes account for the majority of her sales. “Though the percentage of year-round homes is constantly on the rise. Things are changing…”

Given the “excellent results” obtained by Sophy and Christophe Vaissié through their Agence Résidences Exclusives, Barnes International has just entrusted them with the exploitation of its licence for Cap Ferret/Pyla-sur-Mer/Arcachon. Based in Le Pyla-sur-Mer and specializing in the top end of the market, they describe “a niche market with a future, in which discerning French and foreign investors do not hesitate to take the plunge. These buyers, mostly from the Paris region and Bordeaux, compete with others from England, Belgium and Switzerland, but also with young French clients living in London or Asia, wanting to treat themselves to a pied-à-terre in France, in their favourite holiday area”. The crisis does not seem to have had any effect on this highly privileged sector where “demand still outstrips supply”. Among their latest sales in Le Pyla-sur-Mer, Sophy and Christophe Vaissié cite a villa of 150 m2 in need of renovation, with a garden of 1,500 m2, priced at 885,000 €, and a contemporary house of 200 m2, also requiring refurbishment, with a garden of 1,100 m2 and a panoramic view of the Bassin, at 1,450,000 €. “In Le Pyla-sur-Mer, high-quality villas with sea views and no renovation required find takers at 8,000 € per sqm.” As for Le Moulleau, their two most recent sales concerned a fully renovated “Arcachonnaise” of 280 m2 at 2.4 million euros, and a villa of 100 m2 to renovate with a garden of 450 m2, at 680,000 €. “Prices per sq. metre range from 6,500 to 8,000 € depending on the property’s condition and its closeness to the beach. Our agency can also attest to demand for seafront properties, which require a network of international scope such as that of Barnes. The high-quality life-style offered by Le Moulleau and Le Pyla-sur-Mer and their proximity to Bordeaux and Paris - which will only be a 2 hour 30 minute trip from the station in Arcachon, thanks to the LGV - guarantee a very sound market with stable prices.”

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