Ascain, a land of opportunity

Full of charm, this authentic Basque village lies inland, 7 km from Saint-Jean-de-Luz. At the foot of the Rhune mountain and on the border with Spain, Ascain offers living conditions of undeniable quality.

Split into seven neighbourhoods, Ascain offers genuine charm with its traditional houses with white walls and half-timbering painted in red or green, and farmhouses dotted around the surrounding area. Lively year-round, this commune with a population of 4,200, a good number of shops and amenities, has retained its authentic soul, making it a very appealing address. Local families and active retirees fond of hiking have chosen Ascain as their main home, while numerous French and foreign buyers look here for peaceful holiday residences in the midst of nature. Close to Spain and the golf-courses of Chantaco and La Nivelle Ciboure, Ascain offers lots of assets.

“Since last summer, Ascain’s property market has shown real liveliness, which is beginning to signal a rise in prices,” says Caroline Laffontan of the Laffontan Immobilier agency in Saint-Jean-de-Luz. There is still, however, lots of choice, with the most classic houses starting at 600,000 €. One such home of 180 m2 with a garden of 1,500 m2 just sold for 650,000 € after only two visits. “Most of the properties on offer are priced around 1 million euros. With this kind of budget, one can envisage an impeccable family residence benefiting from a pool and offering lovely views of the mountains.” By way of example, Caroline Laffontan mentions a charming property set in an English-style park of almost five acres. In need of a revamp, it is up for sale at 900,000 €. With a different kind of appeal, a contemporary house of 200 m2 offering lots of light, a superb view and a pool is on offer at 1,100,000 €.

“Ascain is a unique market, now proposing unequalled potential in the Basque country,” comments Pierre Deglaire, manager of the Coldwell Banker agency. “Almost all of its houses are typical examples of traditional Basque architecture, and most of them benefit from lovely leafy grounds. With starting prices at around 2,500 € per sq. metre and an average price of about 4,000 € per sqm, Ascain currently offers the best value for money in the département. Furthermore, real cohesion between the prices posted reassures buyers, fully aware that they are acquiring homes of real quality.” Pierre Deglaire has also noticed that supply is narrowing in the face of growing demand. “The most recent transactions we handled in this commune have involved properties priced from 750,000 to 900,000 €, that’s to say, villas from 220 to 350 m2 with gardens of 1,000 to 2,000 m2, in immediate proximity to the centre of the village. We are currently proposing properties of very high quality, such as a master residence of over 400 m2. Renovated throughout with superb materials and offering tasteful appointments, it stands in a sumptuous wooded park of 3,000 m2. Within walking distance of the village, it is up for sale at 1.3 million euros.” A real opportunity, according to Pierre Deglaire, who is convinced that this commune with so many charms will soon be in very high demand.