Saint-Vincent-de-Tyrosse and Saint-Geours-de-Maremne

Two towns undergoing real expansion, both economic and in terms of tourism. Not far from Bayonne and close to Dax, Saint-Vincent-de-Tyrosse and Saint-Geours-de-Maremne are keeping apace of their development.

In Saint-Vincent-de-Tyrosse, the population has more than doubled in 40 years. Today, the town has 7,800 residents, divided between retirees and the actively employed. Its dynamism is easy to explain : it is an intermediate crossroads between Dax and Bayonne-Anglet- Biarritz, its shops and crafts industries are developing, and it is near the ocean and beaches. Here, the population is mainly sedentary : in the last census, three-quarters of the inhabitants had been living on the commune for at least five years. Lively all year round, Saint-Vincent-de-Tyrosse is mainly composed of year-round homes. Amenities and proximity services provided by the municipality and departmental authority are much in evidence and among its assets, in addition to the Atlantic, the town is near the mountains, without suffering from harsh winters, and has retained a countrified atmosphere, without being isolated.

Old and more recent properties share the real-estate market. The town centre contains a few old estates and has met with rising popularity over the past few years. “You can tell that clients want to be as close as possible to amenities, not waste time on travelling in order to make the most of life,” says Florence Pinsol of Acimflo. “Schematically, you can do a copy/paste of Paris, where people just run downstairs to buy a newspaper and have a coffee.” This return to more simplicity means that supply does not always meet demand. New offerings consist of estates with houses benefitting from modern appointments and small gardens. An example in contemporary style with 4 bedrooms costs from 250,000 to 300,000 €. Neighbourhoods built in the 1930’s are popular among trendies, middle managers and senior executives. Detached houses of 100 m2 are priced from 260,000 to 270,000 €. Town houses are, of course, the ideal home. One 2-bedroom example of 130 m2 with an adjoining studio in grounds of 1,200 m2 is an absolute must at 350,000 €. Just like so-called “horizontal” housing, apartments are divided between 1970’s residences (a 2-bedroom apartment in the town centre costs 120,000 €) and recent offerings such as “Central Park”, where a 2-bedroom apartment of 70 m2 is currently for sale at 200,000 €. First-time buyers prefer the centre of Saint-Vincent-de-Tyrosse, as do retirees, while socio-professional categories with high income opt to build new timber houses that start from 380,000 € and can go up to 500,000 €. As the commune is situated in a rural area, building land is still available. A plot of 600 m2 costs roughly 90,000 €. “The rental market, a dynamic sector, has seen a lot of activity over the past two months,” note Jean-Louis Haurat and Marie-Joëlle Froustey of Michelot Orpi. A studio rents for 350 € per month, a 1-bedroom apartment 420-460 € per month, a 2-bedroom apartment 600 €, a semi-detached house 720 € and a detached house 800 to 850 €. And who are the tenants ? Generally speaking, young people and young couples for 1-bedroom apartments, divorcees for 2-bedroom homes and families for houses.

Saint-Geours-de-Maremne is less than 10 km from Saint-Vincent-de-Tyrosse. History-books tell us that Napoleon, then en route to wage war with Spain, made a halt here to rest on the Place du Prada with its century-old oaks. The last census revealed 2,122 inhabitants, an increase of 27.4 % versus 1999. The clientele here is divided between active employees, retirees and investors. Among the first, some work about 25 km away in Bayonne, but prefer to live in Saint-Geours where prices are more affordable. Detached houses stand alongside semi-detached, on estates or not. A semi of 70-80 m2 costs from 160,000 to 180,000 €, a detached 1980’s house of 100 m2 with a pool 236,000 €, likely to appeal to a young couple as their second acquisition. Country houses to restore with good-sized grounds have lost their powers of seduction. Attitudes have changed, potential buyers want to be closer to the town centre and are reluctant to take on renovation work. A few retirees are nevertheless still tempted by small houses of this type, retirement not necessarily being synonymous with relaxation and old age. Bayonne in fact plays host to the 1st parachute regiment and marine infantry : some of the veterans, retired but hardly 40 years old, embark on rehabilitation of farms or barns. Such as this property in need of rehabilitation, near the ocean, on 2,500 m2 of land, awaiting a new owner willing to pay 143,000 €. Investors are turning to studios and 1 bedroom apartments concentrated on the coast, or very specific properties such as accommodation with medical care. “They are in rehabilitation and treatment centres : for 113,000 €, notary’s fees included, you can become the owner of a room of 20 m2 and rent it to the company that runs the establishment,” explains Jean-André Larissou of L’Agence Conseils Immobilier Saint-Geours. Building land, not on estates, follows estimates that change day by day, making it hard to define a price scale, though here the most recent plots sold for about 130 €/m2.

In Saint-Vincent-de-Tyrosse and Saint-Geours-de-Maremne, there are no less than 14 agencies, 12 of which are in Saint-Vincent. According to our estate-agents, the market is seeing a clean-out, even if it remains overpriced by 10-12 %.