Saint-Aygulf, a market full of opportunities

Lying south-west of Fréjus, Saint-Aygulf has its own identity and even its own post code. This real village in the Var on the Mediterranean shore can count on a property market under­going a real transformation.

Before the War, Saint-Aygulf, formerly a haunt for fishermen, was a seaside resort much appreciated by many artists and aristocrats. Lovely 19th-century residences, like the villa built by the artist Carolus Duran, and a number of 1930’s properties, on the seafront or nestling at the heart of the historic centre, bear witness to the former glory of this village reached by the “train des Pignes” from 1889. From the 1950’s to 1970’s, Saint-Aygulf underwent urbanization considered as “massive” by many residents, gradually undermining its identity and charm. Becoming more “concrete” than its neighbours Sainte-Maxime and Les Issambres, Saint-Aygulf attracted more people working in the surrounding area who could afford apartments here. Today, Saint-Aygulf is still a “village neighbourhood” where many locals live year-round, making this seaside address very lively, as demonstrated by the Tuesday and Friday markets, essential rendez-vous for all inhabitants around the bay. Each summer, the village lays on more activities, and the very pretty beaches - including certain creeks known for being the loveliest on the Côte d’Azur - are invaded by holiday-makers, some of whom own second residences here. Far from the glitz of Saint-Tropez, the atmosphere is family-oriented, interspersed with evening markets, open-air balls and amusements such as the grand annual fête with a Giant Omelette, held in early September on the Place de la Poste.

A native of Saint-Aygulf, Dominique de Mattei, director of the Rêve de Sud agency created 20 years ago in Roquebrune-sur-Argens and Les Issambres, knows the area very well. “Saint-Aygulf is seeing lots of changes. The commune’s property market is embarking on a new era.” In fact, the many estates built in the 1980’s as “leisure accommodation” contain a considerable number of properties which are now appearing on the market due to the ageing of their owners : inherited properties in these many holiday residences now find themselves in the portfolios of local agencies. As a result, there is an abundant supply of rustic houses in Provençal style, in need of renovation. “With average living space of 160 m2, a pool, a garden of 1,800 m2 and, for some, a pretty sea view, they are available from 600,000 €,” explains our specialist, offering the example of a Provençal villa built in the ’eighties, offering all these criteria and priced at 788,000 €.

”2014 seems all set to be more positive than 2013, and even if Saint-Aygulf is less sought-after than its neighbours Sainte-Maxime and Les Issambres, numerous properties on the seafront are genuine opportunities,” confirms Marie-Anne Roubaud, manageress of the WF King agency, created in 1906 in Les Issambres and now based in Saint-Raphaël. By way of example, she mentions a Provençal villa of 150 m2 to renovate, set in grounds of almost 1,500 m2 featuring a pool with overflow effect and offering a sublime panoramic sea view, up for sale at 795,000 €. “A very competitive price for such a location on the Var coast.” What about more recent properties ? “You can find high-quality homes suiting today’s taste and benefiting from refined appointments, at prices under 1 million euros,” says Léonie Lelièvre, who runs the agency of the same name, opened in Les Issambres in 2000. Borne along by non-residents and offering appealing value for money, this market is also of interest to many shopkeepers and craftsmen working in Saint-Raphaël. “Prices are lower in Saint-Aygulf, and thus more affordable for year-round homes,” says Léonie Lelièvre. A more discreet market, Saint-Aygulf is nevertheless a seaside address in the Var where villas with considerable assets are propos­ed at appealing prices. Worth keeping an eye on…