The coast from Guérande to Pornic

The “Côte de Jade”, the communes of Saint-Brévin and Pornic, Guérande, lying between the salt marshes and the Regional Nature Park of Brière, and La Baule, with one of Europe’s loveliest beaches, dot the shores of the Loire-Atlantique in a very inviting way. Our estate-agents lead the tour.

The coastal strip of the “Pays de Retz” known as the “Côte de Jade” alternates vast expanses of sand backed by low cliffs and wooded dunes to the north, and wild, rugged scenery to the south. Saint-Brévin stands at the mouth of the Loire, on the bank opposite Saint-Nazaire, to which it owes its development. Growth which accelerated as soon as the bridge connecting the two entities was built in 1975. Small sandy beaches follow one after another, running along the pinewoods. With 12,055 inhabitants in the last population survey, the area recorded growth of 25 % between 1999 and 2007. Largely focusing on tourism, its housing consists 48 % of holiday homes. Pornic, with 13,900 residents, encompasses Sainte-Marie-sur-Mer and Le Clions-sur-Mer. Well-known for its castle and old port, it also hosts a casino, thalassotherapy centre and an 18-hole golf-course. While the local economy is mainly based on tourism, Pornic also makes a living from commerce in seafood. Guérande is composed of 32 villages with 16,000 residents in a protected area of about 430,250 acres, 740 acres of woodland, almost 2,500 acres of salt marshes and 39.5 acres of ponds. Much appreciated by the Dukes of Brittany, the town was also popular among writers : Balzac, Flaubert and Gracq. La Baule boasts one of the loveliest beaches in Europe, which it shares with Pornichet and Le Pouliguen. In this seaside resort on the Côte d’Amour, the permanent population of 16,000 swells to 150,000 in summer. From the late 19th century, it became a fashionable holiday resort. 77 km from Nantes, it enjoyed its heyday in the Roaring’ Twenties, an era of luxury villas and palaces, and staged a comeback in the 1960’s, as evidenced by its modern buildings.

“Close to employment pools and the Saint-Nazaire TGV station, Saint-Brévin attracts two kinds of clients. Occasional residents from the Loire valley and the Paris region pay 200,000 to 220,000 € for houses of 50 to 70 m2 in need of a little refreshment, with gardens, or apartments of 40-60 m2 facing the ocean,” says Franck Hakoun of Thalassa Immobilier, with two agencies in Saint-Brévin. Clients looking for year-round homes spend 250,000 to 270,000 € on relatively recent houses of 90-110 m2 with gardens of 400-600 m2. Quality of life is one of the main attractions of this address, 45 minutes from Nantes Airport and just a short distance from the train station and motorway. Hardly felt in the region, the effects of the crisis soon faded away thanks in particular to extremely low interest rates. “An unexpected rebound could, in fact, destabilize the market,” warns Franck Hakoun. “Except in the case of superb seaside villas built in the early 20th century, one of the specific features of Pornic is the virtual absence of properties with sea views : the configuration of the coast, though beautiful, makes them impossible. On the other hand, the town boasts a castle, an old harbour and a yacht marina, all highly-prized,” says Cyril Gueffier of Gueffier Immobilier. Prices here are about 15 % more expensive than in Saint-Brévin. The sq. metre costs on average around 3,500 €, attaining 4,500 € for a high-end property or one overlooking the Atlantic. Disparities are significant from one neighbourhood to the next. The centre with its typical architecture and full array of amenities tops the bill. Gourmalon, La Birochère, La Noëveillard and Sainte-Marie-sur-Mer, all in close proximity to the beaches, harbours and golf-courses, are very popular : two-thirds of homes here are acquired for holiday use. After a downward adjustment of 10 % at most, prices are stabilizing, just like the volume of transactions, with perhaps a slight acceleration in the fourth quarter of 2010.

“Five minutes from La Baule, Guérande is active all year long, appealing to a considerable number of retirees from Paris, Le Mans and Angers, who appreciate its many facilities and infrastructures as well as its cultural activities,” notes Catherine Vermote of JCB Immobilier. The market for houses ranges from 250,000 to 350,000 € for a surface area of 110-120 m2 with a garden of 600-800 m2. Some estates (Colveu) and popular areas on the hills near the sea with open views (Quéniquen) propose villas of 180-200 m2 from 400,000 to 650,000 €. Characterized by ancient stones, the intramuros part of town posts widely differing prices, from a 1-bedroom apartment at 120,000 € to a residence with a garden at 700,000 €, via an apartment of 140 m2 at about 350,000 €. The only downside is the shortage of properties on offer. 80 % of buyers are looking for main residences, the remaining 20 %, usually armed with a budget of 400,000 €, target long-term investments. Other buyers invest more modest sums in new developments ranging from 3,000 to 4,000 €/m2. Yield does not exceed 5 %, but the prospect of Scellier tax advantages remains attractive under certain conditions. First-time buyers often decide to look for homes 10 km inland, much more affordable. Finally, our estate-agent notes renewed interest in properties offering a certain character in the countryside, “longère” farmhouses or “chaumière” cottages, priced between 250,000 and 500,000 €.

“La Baule, Pornichet and the communes composing Guérande meet mixed demand for year-round accommodation, holiday homes and investment,” adds Nicolas Lickel of Côte et Mer Immobilier. Throughout fiscal year 2010, the Scellier scheme has provided an extraordinary springboard, especially as these high numbers of purchases have satisfied a very real need for long-term unfurnished rentals : previously, properties for rent were mostly exploited on a seasonal basis. In the centre of La Baule, Giboire’s “Jardin des Ondines”, almost sold out, now bears price-tags from 5,000 to 5,500 €/m2. Promocean’s “Jardin des Noelles” at 3,500 €/m2 has found takers in less than three months. Most investors intending to rent out their acquisitions pay from 150,000 to 200,000 €. Vacationers opt for apartments on the seafront, from 6,000 to 11,000 €/m2, or traditional villas from 500,000 to 3 million euros or more, the sum required for a house of 200 m2 in excellent condition in grounds of 700-1,000 m2 near the Casino, luxury hotels and Benoît beach. Locals look for building plots, from 150,000 to 500,000 €. In the Beslon area, Maison Khor is building an estate with houses for under 200,000 €. Towns on the periphery, such as Pornichet, Le Pouliguen and Guérande, post prices 10 to 25 % lower. The enthusiasm of retirees for the area explains its "soft landing" from the crisis.

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