Saint-Rémy, the golden hub of the Alpilles

Radia Amar - 12 September 2016

The capital of the fine art of Provençal living, the birthplace of Nostradamus, Saint-Rémy de Provence is home to 14,000 residents. Brimming with charm, this commune famed for its olive-oil, wines, typical Wednesday market, its many enticing boutiques, art-galleries and charming hotels, nestles in the midst of luxuriant landscapes immortalized by Van Gogh…

“2016 promises to be a busy year, though with a tense political and economic climate, we can’t actually call it euphoric !” comments Alain Rubinstein who runs the Saint-Rémy branch of the Agence des Alpilles group. “The number of properties up for sale exceeds demand, which has led to a price decline of about 5 % for a good many of them. Even so, the most coherent and most sought-after have not dropped in price, and remain extremely desirable among our clients, 70 % French, 30 % foreign : mainly from Belgium, England, Luxembourg and Switzerland. We have a wide array of properties for sale, ranging from homes priced at 300,000 € to sumptuous residences over and above 4 million euros. This year, however, most of the transactions we have handled involve properties priced from 500,000 to 1.5 million euros. Over 90 % of the market in Saint-Rémy consists of holiday homes, with an average rotation of seven years. Genuinely motivated, today’s sellers listen to our estimates and often agree to negotiations ranging on average from 5 to 10 %. For buyers, we can definitely talk about a market of opportunity.” Closeness to the centre, living space of 200 to 300 m2, grounds of 1,500 to 5,000 m2, generous proportions both indoors and out, a view and a pool all figure among the most frequent search criteria defined by buyers with budgets from 800,000 to 1.5 million euros. “A swimming pool is obviously a triggering factor in a sale, together with spacious interiors. We also strongly encourage sellers to take good care of their gardens.” Being within walking distance of the centre is now an almost Utopian dream, though properties in the country also have their fans, especially in the case of “mas” or “bastides” surrounded by lovely vegetation. “Many “mas” were renovated about 20 years ago. Now on offer at appealing prices, they are real opportunities for buyers prepared to invest in minor refurbishment to bring them into line with today’s taste.”

Based in Saint-Rémy for 50 years, the Emile Garcin agency proposes a fine selection of properties with lots of charm, character and prestige, aimed just as much at French clients - especially ex-pats living in London, Geneva or Singapore - as foreign buyers from the UK, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Scandinavia, Australia and the USA. A few Asian clients have also appeared on this market, focusing their searches exclusively on vineyard estates. “We select each property for its location and unique character. We have just completed the sale of a charming small house in Maillane, priced at 400,000 €, though we also propose exceptional residences worth several million euros. In Saint-Rémy, the market is relatively buoyant, but always highly selective,” explains agency manager Philippe Boulet. “Our clients are looking for a lifestyle of very high quality. Our transactions involve acquisitions of homes for personal enjoyment, though many properties are also destined to become seasonal rentals. Saint-Rémy is a blue-chip investment, and we provide each client with tax advice, assistance at each stage of his project, and in his search for service-suppliers : architects, craftsmen, landscapers, gardeners...” Among the properties currently on offer, Philipe Boulet mentions an outstanding old “mas” of 400 m2, ideally located in immediate proximity to the town centre. Set on slightly over 12.5 acres of land with horse stalls and a pool, it falls into the 3 to 3.5 M € bracket.