Andernos-les-Bains and Lanton : pleasant and lively

Nestling to the north and east of the Bassin d’Arcachon, the go-ahead communes of Lanton and Andernos-les-Bains offer peaceful living conditions at the water’s edge, with Bordeaux only 40 km away. A privileged area, more affordable than Arcachon.

With its beaches, walks (pier, natural site of Les Quinconces…), casino and easy access, Andernos-les-Bains has lots of arguments that appeal to holiday-makers. Though this commune with about 12,000 residents is also lively year-round thanks to its shops, amenities (nursery, primary, intermediate and secondary schools…) and its 250 clubs and associations. As a result, it is a sought-after address seeing on-going development, with its neighbours, Arès and Lanton (approx. 6,000 inhabitants) pursuing the trend.

Pierre de Luzan, representing Mercure Bordeaux-Aquitaine, an agency specializing in homes of character and prestige in the region around Bordeaux, also operates in Andernos-les-Bains, Lanton, Arès, Audenge and on the Cap Ferret peninsula : “In Andernos, the price per sq. metre is close on 3,000 €, especially as prices are rising by 25 to 30 % on the Bassin side. Together with the town centre, this is the most sought-after area. Here you’ll find typical “Arcachonnaises” and contemporary houses offering magnificent views, such as a villa of 120 m2 with a garden of 400 m2 which recently sold for 650,000 €”. Pierre de Luzan’s portfolio also contains a seafront apartment of 68 m2 priced at 449,000 €. He recently sold a building plot of 600 m2 for 187,000 €. “Prices for building land range from 300 to 500 € per sqm, based on the same logic : the closer one gets to the water, the higher the price.” His clients are mostly young retirees from Paris, north and eastern France, and air traffic controllers working at the Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport.

Manageress of a Laforêt Immobilier agency in Saint-

Médard-en-Jalles (a commune 13 km from the centre of Bordeaux), Minh Garault opened a second office at the beginning of March in Andernos-les-Bains, which also covers Lanton, Arès and Lège-Cap-Ferret : “We have lots of clients living and working in Bordeaux and its surrounding area, who would like to move to the Bassin d’Arcachon to benefit from its living conditions. And this, despite the travelling back and forth, and the high prices. We therefore decided to open an agency in this buoyant and go-ahead sector”. This young and active clientele, which sometimes includes first-time buyers, would find particul­arly appealing propositions on the commune next to Arès. Minh Garault says that the price per sqm. in Andernos is about 3,000 € “rising to 4,000 € on the Bassin side”. The agency’s portfolio already contains a wide choice of houses with prices ranging from 300,000 to 700,000 €. “A property of 120 to 140 with three or four bedrooms and a garden of 700 to 900 m2 can be had from 350,000 to 450,000 €.” She adds that the clientele for Andernos consists largely of retirees : “They come from Bordeaux and the surrounding area, but also from other parts of France, drawn by the amenities and delightful life-style offered here”.