Sainte-Maxime, a haven of tranquillity

Linked to Saint-Tropez by a ferry service, this commune with 14,000 residents enjoys almost 300 days of sunshine per year. A very persuasive argument for many north Europeans who decide to acquire holiday homes here - though not at any price…

In the high season, this charming commune in the Var, ideally located on the seafront, welcomes up to 60,000 residents. Bearing the “Pavillon Bleu”, “Villes et Villages Fleuris” and “Patrimoine du XXe Siècle” labels, it proposes the assets synonymous with an art of living combining a high-quality environment and seaside pleasures along a shoreline 11 km long, six of them offering glorious sand. The Provençal ambiance in Sainte-Maxime is reflected in its market stalls and typical narrow streets in the historic centre. Boasting 600 shops, about 100 cultural and sports associations, and a yacht harbour with 780 moorings, the commune is lively year-round. Mainly focusing on holiday homes, the property market is again showing signs of life after several years of sluggishness and declining prices. Motivated buyers seem to be taking an interest again in this quality market, especially as Sainte-Maxime is only 50 minutes from Nice’s international airport and traffic flows smoothly on the motorway all year round.

Founded in 1889 by the Provensal family of Sainte-Maxime, the Agence Provensal proposes a good number of properties all around the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. “Most of our buyers, mainly foreigners, invest 1 to 2 million euros in a holiday home, ideally close to the centre and obligatorily facing the sea,” says Eric Provensal, co-manager of the agency with his sister, Claire Ferrero. “Clients are above all looking for a good location, and some are prepared to demolish the existing house if they find it obsolete.” Encompassing La Vierge Noire and La Petite Corse, the Sémaphore area is the most popular neighbourhood. Here, old and contemporary villas mostly sell at prices between 1 and 2 M €. Among his recent sales, Eric Provensal mentions a house of 130 m2 in need of renovation, in grounds of 1,400 m2. Offering a lovely view of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, it just sold for 1,100,000 €. Another example of 280 m2 in grounds of 3,800 m2 with a pool has just found a taker at 2 M €. “Both properties sold at their asking prices thanks to their ideal locations.”

”In fact, the Sémaphore area is an address synonymous with a sound investment,” comments Valérie Dehais of the Marks Real Estate agency in Sainte-Maxime, who has noticed a return on the part of English buyers in 2015. “Most of our clients insist on a property in impeccable condition in order to benefit immediately from their holiday home.” What about prices ? Following a general decline, they are tending to stabilize, and properties offered for sale above professional estimates immediately come in for bargaining. “The market is healthier, you can feel that it is picking up. The number of transactions rose in 2015. Furthermore, buyers currently have lots of choice.” Among her recent sales that reflect today’s market, Valérie Dehais points to a villa of 250 m2 in Provençal style, in grounds of 2,800 m2 benefiting from a pool and offering a beautiful sea view. A French buyer has just spent 1,550,000 € on this desirable address in the Sémaphore area, conveniently located just a few minutes from the centre. The market mainly consists of villas, though a few apartments are also sought after by senior buyers looking for luxurious living space of over 100 m2. Unfortunately, this clientele is confronted by a very limited choice

of high-end apartments.