A return to optimism for Saint-Raphaël

Home to 34,270 residents, Saint-Raphaël plays the double role of a well-known seaside resort and a lively economic, administrative and cultural centre. After a quiet spell, its property market is showing new vitality.

Between Cannes and Saint-Tropez, 34 km from Draguignan and 94 km from Toulon, Saint-Raphaël stretches out along the coast for 24 km between the Estérel mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. Accessible via the A8 motorway and a TGV line, the commune has many sandy beaches and wild creeks of outstanding beauty. In addition to its town centre, this vast commune is made up of numerous residential areas and hamlets, some of which are really enviable addresses. 46 % of the accommodation here consists of holiday homes.

“We have seen a marked recovery this year,” says Marc Viale of the Andelim agency, also a property developer since depuis 2004. “There are more buyers than in 2014 wanting to transform their plans for acquisition quickly into reality. Furthermore, sellers have accepted changes in the market, and agree more readily to our estimates. The result is a healthier market with properties advertised at their real value.” For villas, the most sought-after neighbourhoods are Valescure, Santa Lucia and Boulouris, where impeccable examples on offer at prices up to 2 million euros are popular among a clientele comprised of North Europeans, ex-pats and a few French buyers who have chalked up considerable personal achievements. “From 1.5 to 2.5 M €, the stock of available properties is rather stagnant. Proposals are lacking in this segment of the market.”

What about apartments ? New ones are in the highest demand, especially as their prices are competitive compared to those in older buildings. By way of example, Marc Viale mentions the Villa Praetoria, a development consisting of 25 select apartments to be delivered at the beginning of 2017 at the lower end of the Valescure neighbourhood. In a quiet spot and benefiting from a swimming pool in a leafy setting, it proposes 1-bedroomed apartments from 240,000 €, and 2-bedroomed apartments of 75 m2 from 345,000 €, parking places included. Properties and prices apparently meeting local requirements and budgets, as 50 % of them have sold since they came on the market.

“The market is indeed looking more optimistic,” comments Karim Cordelier of Canat & Warton, a group of six agencies in the Var, one in the Valescure neighbourhood. “It is, however, a buyers’ market as they are currently in a strong position and certainly don’t hestitate to bargain,” says this expert in the high-end segment. “We are in the midst of an excellent period for making dreams of property acquisition come true. Many properties of quality offer superb value for money. Today, buyers with budgets ranging from 600,000 to 800,000 € can set their sights on really good addresses. Better still, there’s lots of choice !” In fact, this leafy area, set back from the centre, appeals particularly to fans of the little white ball, often retired or pre-retirees, who can treat themselves to a villa near, or at the edge of, the greens of one of two 18-hole golf-courses : the Golf de Valescure and Golf de l’Estérel. Mainly comprised of detached units, the houses here were built in the 1980’s and 1990’s. These offerings are now completed by more contemporary properties on a few high-end estates and in co-owned residences, such as the recent Domaine de la Tour.

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