Portraits of Bandol and La Ciotat

Radia Amar - 05 October 2016

Retirees from Paris, Saint-Étienne and Grenoble are very fond of the sandy beaches, the closeness to the TGV station, the quality living conditions, quietness and village atmosphere of Bandol, in Le Var. Now with the wind in its sails, La Ciotat, in Provence, has become a lovely seaside resort, also attracting more and more buyers from regions outside Provence. A survey of the reasons behind their success…

With its renowned watery depths, sandy beaches, yacht harbour and famous AOC vineyards, Bandol, a commune with 8,000 residents, offers the full array of charming assets offered by the Mediterranean art of living. Facing a crystal-clear sea, it is 50 km from Marseille, 20 km from Toulon. According to Thierry Salvan of the Agences Boyer : “2016 is turning out to be a very good year. We are seeing much higher sales volume than that recorded in 2015 for the same period, but with fewer clients. Virtually all enquiries are concluded by a sale. Numerous properties are available, and clients, motivated by historically low interest rates, are genuinely set on buying”. A member of the local AMEPI network, he adds : “It is, however, important to point out that 77 % of our sales derive from exclusive mandates. The market is much healthier. Buyers have a choice and are making lots of visits. For sellers, it is essential to post the right price right from the start”. Most enquiries concern the area in immediate proximity to the centre. “Mainly comprised of retirees looking for a pleasant second or semi-main home, our clients want to be able to do everything on foot. Prices of properties suffering from no major nuisances are stabilizing. A 2-bedroomed apartment now fetches from 280,000 €. High-end properties can attain 13,000 € per sq. metre if they offer a good array of appointments and a terrace with a view of the sea. Most properties with pretty views are, however, priced from 6,000 to 7,000 € per sqm. Houses around 500,000 € are highly sought-after, but buyers are confronted by virtually non-existent offerings. On the other hand, in the 900,000 to 1.2 million euro bracket, demand is once again active and availabilities satisfactory.”

Opposite Le Bec de l’Aigle and Cap Canaille, in a bay 31 km from Marseille, La Ciotat has undergone wide-ranging transformation since the 1980’s when its shipyards were closed. Now become a highly-prized seaside resort, this commune with 35,000 residents has been endowed with infrastructures for tourists. “2016 is proving to be very lively,” says Charles-François Font of the Immosoleil agency. “We are seeing rising and steady demand from clients with a genuine desire to buy. From Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, Toulon, but also Paris, they are looking for main or semi-main homes in which to spend their retirement.” The main search criteria of clients looking for houses include being within walking distance of the beaches, a bedroom on the ground floor, a garden with a pool or the possibility of building one, and proximity to shops. “Availabilites are becoming increasingly tight, with properties ticking all these boxes becoming ever more rare, and presented from 650,000 €.” In response to this rising demand, prices have nevertheless not begun to soar. “The decline is over, we are now seeing a market in which prices have stabilized.” The prized neighbourhoods of Fontsainte, Saint-Jean and Le Clos des Plages offer the best locations. Houses further out, built in the 1970’s in simple, practical style, can be found from 240,000 €, depending on their condition. Many require modernization. Several high-end residences of recent construction propose smart apartments with high-quality appointments. “The best addresses post prices ranging from 6,000 to 10,0000 € per sq. metre. Older, more simple apartments are available at more affordable prices : 2-bedroomed apartments then start from 240,000 €.”