Apartments in Hyères-les-Palmiers

Lying at the foot of the Massif des Maures, 15 km east of Toulon on the Mediterranean shore, facing the islands of Porquerolles, Port-Cros and Le Levant, this commune with 56,000 residents offers a pleasant setting with a good balance between urban amenities and seaside attractions.

Awarded the “Station Nautique” and “Pavillon Bleu” labels, Hyères offers numerous well-preserved natural areas and is highly appreciated by fans of sailing, kitesurfers and windsurfers, who can enjoy these sports in all four seasons, especially on the famous beach of L’Almanarre. Providing 1,500 shops and services, healthcare centres, and an important agricultural hub, this commune with picture-postcard scenery is also an address internationally renowned for the avant-garde cultural activities held at the Villa Noailles, an architectural gem of the Ration­alist movement designed by Robert Mallet-Stevens. Each year, the International Festival of Fashion and Photography and the Design Parade draw many devotees.

After witnessing an overall drop in prices - still not always accepted by sellers -, the property market in Hyères is seeing renewed activity. “Only the top end of the market designed for hefty budgets still remains sluggish,” says Véronique Jeampy of Omnium Services Immobiliers, an entity belonging to the Palladium group with four agencies in Le Var : in Toulon, La Seyne-sur-Mer, Saint-Mandrier and Hyères. “With budgets often over and above 200,000 €, the locally employed, including numerous first-time buyers, are looking for apartments. And many retirees who have sold their villas want to move to the centre, closer to amenities, for a pleasant and more practical lifestyle. Accounting for a large share of our clientele, these older buyers have budgets ranging from 300,000 to 350,000 €, enabling them to envisage 2- or 3-bedroomed apartments of good quality, located in particular near the Médiathèque, a convenient central neighbourhood where properties are on offer at around 3,500 € per sq. metre (garages extra), depending on their condition and precise location.”

New developments are also meeting with real success. Some luxury residences can attain 7,000 € per sqm. while others, posting more competitive prices, offer modern comfort and quality appointments. One example is the Villa Costebelle, a charming residence in Mediterranean style, consisting of 36 apartments shared out in two 2-storey blocks. “Sales were launched at the beginning of May 2015, and there are now only six units still available. Delivery is scheduled for March 2017. Mainly set on buying a permanent home, the clientele is comprised of local retirees or pre-retirees who have sold their villas or suburban houses, and clients from other regions of France wanting to settle in Hyères,” explains Alexandra Paroutot of the Promogim agency. Located higher up, near the station, with good transport links and lots of neighbourhood amenities (shops, schools…), this smart address in a peaceful suburban area meets the requirements of many local buyers. “It is comprised of 1-bedroomed apartments from 40 to 45 m2 priced from 195,000 €, and 2-bedroomed apartments from 59 to 62 m2, from 259,000 €. Lock-up box-garages cost a further 17,000 €. We have had requests for larger surface areas. Buyers are certainly back on the market,” says Alexandra Paroutot, adding that Promogim is planning more new dev­elopments within the commune.