Apt and the surrounding region

The sub-prefecture of “département 84” is laid out around the Cathédrale Sainte-Anne, with lots of hamlets and small localities in the valley of the Calavon, between the Massif du Luberon and Monts de Vaucluse. Crossed by five little rivers, it is home to 11,150 people.

Mediterranean forests, vineyards and orchards surround the town of Apt, which has no less than two weekly market-days. Three-quarters of its accommodation were built prior to 1974 and 45 % consist of individual houses. A noticeable variety of architecture characterizes this town in the Vaucluse, sheltered from the wind by its position in the plain. “The capital of the Luberon and candied fruit, it has seen considerable development since the turn of this cent­ury. The number of visitors is constantly on the rise, and the “pays d’Apt” now has 33,000 inhabitants. Well-known companies, such as Blachère Illuminations, Delta Plus and Eurosilicone, have premises here,” say Alice and François Sanchez of Pierres et Tradition. They add that from 2000 to 2006, the area chalked up a rise of 100 % in the case of individual houses, 300 % for building land. From 2008 onwards, prices have certainly seen a readjustment, though definitely not a collapse. An hour’s drive takes you to the TGV station in Avignon, 1 hr 15 minutes to the international airport in Marseille. It should nevertheless be pointed out that Apt, unlike Cavaillon, is not a “drive-through” town.

A quick analysis of the site reveals two distinct areas : the west, or “Le Petit Luberon”, and the east, or “Le Grand Luberon” stretching as far as the Alpes-de-Haute-Prov­ence. Our estate-agents mostly cover the axis in between, very wild and crowned by typical hill-top villages. Prices are more attractive and the properties, of good quality, are seeing growing demand. Ready to pay 180,000 to 250,000 € for a house with a small garden on an estate, local buyers come up against a dec­line in their purchasing power due to recent modification of the zero interest mortgage. Pre-retirees from outside the region, who tend to pay cash, usually target properties in the 350,000-500,000 € bracket. One example of 180 m2 awaiting completion, on almost 7.5 acres of land in the Grand Luberon, has just found such a buyer at 400,000 €. Belgian, Swiss and German clients, also less needy of a bank loan, can pay from 400,000 to 800,000 € for holiday homes. They take advantage of the fact that they are less numerous than properties on agencies’ files to do a little bargaining. A “bastide” of 250 m2 in impeccable condition, in grounds of 8,000 m2 near Saint-Martin-de-Castillon, recently changed hands at 850,000 €. Being within walking distance of all amenities is always an asset.

Based in Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt, Nicole Blanc of Luberon Provence Immobilier works within a radius of 25 ­­km east and west of Apt. A glance at business over the past few months shows that local buyers rarely go beyond 200,000 €. This kind of budget enables them to acquire an apartment of 60-80 m2 near the cathedral, a town house of 80 m2 without a garden or a village house of the same size with a garden. This last option can rise to 300,000 € in prized addresses such as Goult, Bonnieux, Lacoste or Joucas. The majority of buyers are again occasional residents. Their latest acquis­itions include a recent villa of 160 m2 in grounds of 4,000 m2 in the plain of Roussillon, at 470,000 €. Foreign­ers prepared to pay 600,000 to 900,000 €, usually capable of paying cash, tend to have specific demands, such as a sweeping view. A house of 165 m2 with grounds of 3,500 m2 in Rustrel, facing the “Colorado Prov­ençal” and Monts de Vaucluse, costs close on 600,000 €. With the exception of the famous “Golden Triangle”, and possibly Saint-Saturnin and Villars, a price-tag of 1 million euros is an unspoken barrier yet, paradoxically, the starting-price for an old “mas” in good condition.

Based in Gordes, Mireille Ziegelbaum and Patrick Gatinet of MZ Immobilier en Luberon extend their coverage from the select triangle to L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and from Apt to Banon. Experienced in dealing with international clients looking for holiday homes, they mention the slightly more affordable prices posted in the sub-pref­ecture and its surrounding area, not forgetting the very real impression it gives of space and serenity. Clients who show an interest here are not seeking a prestigious address ; they prefer authenticity rather than ostentatious luxury, local life rather than hordes of tourists, the charm of old buildings rather than recent constructions. Retirees wanting to live year-round in this area nevertheless want to be close to towns, shops and amenities. For clients from the Parisian region, Apt, a 1-hour drive from the TGV station, is as far as they will go. And only properties which have been fairly estimated will sell. Those trying to fly too high do not even get a visit. All in all, however, while the market here is not exactly euphoric, its cruising speed is currently looked upon as satisfactory.