Grasse and its surrounding area : an affordable market
Yann Cohignac - 29 October 2014
Comprising the hinterland behind Cannes, Grasse and its neighbouring communes propose varied and affordable properties. An interesting fall-back market, within easy reach of Antibes, Cannes, Nice and the surrounding region.
Quieter than the Riviera shoreline and benefiting from a full range of amenities, the area around Grasse offers lots of attractions. Especially as its property market represents good value for money : “Many executives working in Sophia Antipolis come here to take advantage of much more appealing prices than those in Mougins or Valbonne,” says Vincent Thomas, manager of Orpi Lancelot Immobilier, an agency opened a year ago, just south of Grasse. “We were previously based in the Old Town, but we sold off the transactions part of the business while retaining our property management portfolio, to move into an area closer to main roads and specialize in the market for houses.” The starting price - for a semi-detached house of about 80 m2 with a garden of 80 to 150 m2 - ranges from 270,000 to 330,000 €. Prices then rise to 800,000 € with relatively limited availabilities up to 450,000 €, then a very wide choice from 550,000 €. “As for apartments in the centre of Grasse, the price per sq. metre ranges from 1,500 to 2,000 €. In 1960’s residences, it is about 2,000 €, whereas it can range from 2,700 to 3,700 € in more recent residences, depending on their quality.” Building plots of 1,500 m2, for example, cost from 270,000 to 280,000 €. “After seeing a soaring market from 1997 to 2007, prices have dropped 10 % since 2011. And they are always subject to bargaining. With some fine opportunities which shouldn’t be missed…”
Formerly based in Valbonne, the Immobilia Concept agency moved to Grasse last May to benefit from a location with more properties on offer. “We are already chalking up half of our sales figures here,” says manager Arnaud Ringenbach, whose clientele is mainly comprised of working people wanting to move to the back-country with its attractive prices. “Apartments with 1 or 2 main rooms in the historic centre are available from 70,000 to 100,000 €. Transactions here usually consist of first purchases or rental investments. In the surrounding neighbourhoods - Saint-Claude, Saint-Jacques, Saint-Antoine - 1-bedroomed apartments cost from 130,000 to 150,000 €. For 2 bedrooms, one can expect to pay 170,000 to 200,000 €. We recently sold a 3-bedroomed apartment of 90 m2 priced at 240,000 €.” As for houses, Arnaud Ringenbach explains that prices range from 270,000 to 350,000 € for a terraced house and start from 375,000 € in the case of detached homes. “Those priced from 400,000 to 600,000 € are particularly popular among retirees and clients looking for holiday homes.” For example, one house of 120 m2 in the Saint-François neighbourhood of Grasse, in grounds of 1,500 m2 with a pool and pleasant view, is the subject of a provisional sales contract at 520,000 €. “It’s also worth remembering that the nearby residential communes of Spéracèdes, Le Tignet, Cabris and Peymeinade offer a wide choice of homes of real quality.” Building land here is also very affordable : from 230,000 to 250,000 € for a plot of 1,500 m2. “All these prices are subject to bargaining, ranging from 5 to 15 %.”