Antibes Les Semboules : an up-and-coming area
Johnny Iticsohn - 05 August 2016
Generous living space, natural greenery, good infrastructures and enticing prices : the neighbourhood of Les Semboules is far from lacking in asssets. Prized for both its closeness to Sophia Antipolis and its leafy setting, this area is seeing a considerable number of new developments rising from the ground.
Five minutes from the sea, in a natural setting surrounded by a pine forest, Les Semboules is an up-and-coming area on the commune of Antibes. About 20 years ago, it was an area of very little interest : today, it is one of the town’s most highly sought-after addresses. It offers both open spaces and amenities ideal for families, as explained by Daphné Turpin, manageress of the Agence du Parc : “There are two crèches and a primary school in Les Semboules, which is perfect for our buyers, who are mainly active young people, mostly working in Sophia Antipolis. Consisting almost exclusively of permanent homes, the local market is very buoyant : older people selling their properties are being replaced by first-time buyers. Which is, in fact, rather logical, as Les Semboules offers a secure setting and a real community lifestyle, hard to find in large towns. Most demand is for apartments with roof-terraces, or small houses with gardens. The problem with these requests is that there are not enough availabilities. The same is true of the rental market, which is also very active”. A typical example of a sought-after property, a superb 2-bedroomed apartment on the top floor of a small residence recently sold for 228,000 €. In perfect condition and offering total peace and quiet, its living space of 76 m2 is extended by an insulated terrace surrounded by lush vegetation. It is worth noting that, even while the neighbourhood is on the rise, prices are not prohibitive. According to Daphné Turpin : “It is a quiet setting, close to everything and ideal for family life. Yet prices are still reasonable, especially as most of the properties are only 30 years old at most”.
New builds also offer enticing opportunities in Les Semboules. With prices per sq. metre ranging from 4,900 to 5,500 €, there is certainly no lack of takers. For Maximilien Goglio, manager of the ParcImmo group, it is vital to anticipate clients’ requirements when planning new developments : “To preserve this neighbourhood atmosphere, we are going to build “Les Villas du Parc”, consisting of nine lots of 91 m2, with a shared pool and a park where children can play. Prices range from 460,000 to 540,000 € depending on the size of the garden. The idea is to create a safe family estate, without any cars. As part of this concept, we are going to fit the kitchens with screens showing what’s happening in the park, so that parents can keep an eye on their children. These concepts are initiatives we have taken after listening to our clients and holding discussions with them. Our aim is to build pleasant communal living areas while offering quality appointments. With each new development, we imagine whether we could live in these properties, and do our best to ensure that our buyers are pleased with their homes”. ParcImmo’s other development, “Les Jardins de l’Altana”, is comprised of 13 apartments with no low-income housing. Set in the pinewood, it proposes very appealing appointments such as good-sized balconies and large private gardens. Prices start from 199,000 € for 1-bedroomed apartments, rising to 550,000 for 3-bedroomed apartments of 106 m2 with views of the sea.