Sanary-sur-Mer, charm and stability
Radia Amar - 23 December 2014
Lying between Toulon and Marseille, Sanary-sur-Mer is a peaceful seaside resort on the Mediterranean coast. Since the 1980’s, this town with 16,000 residents has built up an excellent reputation for its tourist facilities.
Sanary exercises real appeal with its authentic fishing harbour, Provençal traditions, the charm of its old centre comprised of shaded little squares with fountains and inviting café terraces, not forgetting its big open-air market on Wednesday mornings. In the background, the hills of the back-country where orchards flourish alongside AOC Bandol vines and century-old olive-trees, composing an environment highly-prized by a clientele of young seniors who find in Sanary an idyllic climate, Provençal charm, but also the draw of a commune which is lively year-round. Secure and culturally attractive, Sanary has managed to carry out modernization while preserving its heritage and identity.
“Our clients mainly come from the Valley of the Rhône,” says Sylvianne Garrot, manageress of the GTI-GPI agency based in Sanary since 1988. “They appreciate the easy access to the commune from the TGV station in Toulon or Marseille.” Budgets here range most frequently from 350,000 to 550,000 €. Popular 2-bedroom apartments of 70 m2 cost from 300,000 to 350,000 € depending on their location and characteristics. Small detached villas of 150 m2 with gardens of 400 m2 are pegged around 450,000 € for the most recent examples. “Often retired, our clients are mostly looking for houses with at least one bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor. A property with this kind of layout will find a taker, even if renovation is on the cards. On the other hand, if work is indeed required, the price will be around 300,000 €.” Less sought-after due to parking problems and the lack of outdoor areas, village houses nevertheless draw a clientele wanting a pedestrian life-style and a few shopkeepers right in the centre. These properties can usually be found at about 3,000 € per sq. metre.
“At the top end of the market, prices have remained steady compared to 2013,” notes Mathieu Vallier, manager of Mathieu Immobilier, an agency opened in Bandol in 2009 which also covers Sanary-sur-Mer. “Budgets range from 200,000 € for a small apartment in pied-à-terre style to over 1 million euros for a villa offering luxurious appointments and a view of the sea.” Clients can mostly afford to pay from 600,000 to 700,000 € for houses of 150 m2 in large grounds of around 1,000 m2, ideally located 15 to 20 minutes from the centre and its shops. These high-end properties are, however, priced from 900,000 to 1 million euros, esepcially if they enjoy a lovely view. Less popular than the shoreline areas, those higher up, such as Ollioules and Gros Cerveau, thus offer slightly lower prices.