Marie-Anne Roubaud, WF King Immobilier (04 94 95 13 01). Marie-Pierre Jardel, Immobilière Raphaëloise (AIR) (04 94 19 05 01). Hervé Niclot, AF Info Immobilier (04 94 95 68 04). Claude Lombard, Agence Lombard (04 94 95 02 07).
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Fréjus and Saint-Raphaël
Once the largest military port in the Roman Mediterranean Sea, today Fréjus is a very popular seaside resort. In Saint-Raphaël, beaches, coves and creeks mingle against a backdrop of red rocks. Both towns on the Var’s coast are seeing their property markets settle down.
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This three-bedroom villa is in Valescure on the edge of a golf course.
1.120.000 €. WF King Immobilier (04 94 95 13 01).
Three-bedroom house with 165 m2 of living space in the residential Les Plaines district.
750.000 €. Agence Lombard (04 94 95 02 07).
This recent, four-bedroom villa faces south and stands on 1,499 m2 of land in Valescure.
836.000 €. AF Info Immobilier (04 94 95 68 04).
Three-bedroom dwelling near Valescure golf course, in a peaceful setting.
699.000 €. AIR (04 94 19 05 01).
In the heart of Saint-Raphaël’s golfing area, very comfortable 170-m2 villa with three bedrooms and a suite.
1.295.000 €. Agence Lombard (04 94 95 02 07).
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What are the main districts in Fréjus and Saint-Raphaël ?
Claude Lombard : Located between the Estérel Massif and the Mediterranean, Saint-Raphaël has 36 km of coastline and several districts. The town centre with its retail and cultural activities, the old port, the old village, and the seafront area boasting Santa-Lucia port and the Palais des Congrès mainly feature apartments. Valescure adjoins the golf courses ; Boulouris extends between the sea and hills. Both have villas and small apartment blocks used as main residences. Detached houses and holiday homes take pride of place in Dramont, Agay, Anthéor and Le Trayas.
Hervé Niclot : Saint-Raphaël centre is near the sea and comprises many shops, the swimming pool complex, the library and multimedia library,
the cinema and the train station. 1-bedroom apartments vary between 180,000 and 250,000 € ; 2-beds can reach 400,000 €. On the well-kept seafront, 1-bedroom apartments are worth between 190,000 and 400,000 €, and 2-beds between 500,000 and 700,000 €, depending on fittings and view. The Notre-Dame plateau and Les Plaines are home to villas from 600,000 to 1.5 million €. Boulouris has a real downtown area where houses fetch from 550,000 to 1 million €. Agay is more seasonal and villas there back onto the Estérel and overlook the sea. Prices quickly reach 1 million €. Less than 7 km from the centre, Valescure’s verdant golfing area is attracting more and more main home buyers with classical villas starting at 700,000-900,000 €. Upmarket properties or those near the golf courses vary between 1 and 2 million €. Fréjus-Plage offers a number of new developments and holiday homes. As its names suggests, it is only a step away from the sea. 1-bedroom apartments start at 200,000-280,000 €. In Port-Fréjus, 1- and 2-bed apartments respectively cost 250,000-320,000 € and 400,000-500,000 €. Villas in La Tour de Mare cost between 500,000 and 650,000 € and are lived in all year round. Houses in Le Counillier range from 300,000 to 400,000 €.
What about the price rise, and the outlook for the future ?
Marie-Anne Roubaud : Prices rose significantly over the year 2005-2006 before coming to a standstill early in 2007 and falling in the second quarter. The market is getting sharper and opportunistic sellers are no longer accepted. Sought-after locations, such as on the seafront, should remain highly priced. The drop in values will no doubt continue in the mid-range segment.
Marie-Pierre Jardel : The locals find it hard to buy property, as prices are well above their borrowing capacity. Yet, main residences account for most transactions in the area.
H. Niclot : While a drop in prices does not seem likely, overvaluation is no longer appropriate. The market is currently settling down.
Would you say this is currently a buoyant market ?
M.-P. Jardel : It is running at half-speed. Prices are no longer in line with the properties on sale.
M.-A. Roubaud : The difference between sellers’ expectations and buyers’ purchasing power, plus the latters’ wait-and-see attitude brought about by extremely high costs, is hindering business.
C. Lombard : The market is buoyant. Stocks have built up again and interest rates are still attractive. A fairly priced property will generally sell within three months.
H. Niclot : Demand is still high, but only owners with a real project actually see it through.
Is there a typical buyer profile for Fréjus and Saint-Raphaël ?
C. Lombard : 32 % of clients are local. 50 % of buyers come from the Paris region, Rhône-Alpes or Eastern France. Foreigners are from Italy, Great Britain, Belgium, Holland and Scandinavian countries. In Saint-Raphaël, average age is 50 to 55.
M.-A. Roubaud : The area appeals to the newly retired in search of sun. Recent villas or quality apartments in the town centre are popular with these clients who are generally well off.
M.-P. Jardel : Buyers of holiday homes prefer Saint-Raphaël’s coastline or Fréjus-Plage, while those wanting a permanent residence opt for Les Plaines and Notre-Dame.
Is it still possible to speculate and to what extent ?
C. Lombard : Exceptional properties are priceless. Quality products ideally located and enjoying a sea view always find a buyer.
What are the main new developments ?
H. Niclot : There are several developments in Saint-Raphaël centre and Fréjus-Plage, some of which are intended for working people and thus subject to price control as a result of local policies to boost urban density. In the outskirts, “Les Jardins de Jade” in Boulouris and “Rive nature” in Agay are currently on the market.
C. Lombard : New developments sell quickly. The segment is particularly active.
A word about your most recent transactions ?
C. Lombard : A 110-m2 apartment in perfect condition in Saint-Raphaël centre for 350,000 € and a 1-bedroom apartment, 100 m from the sea and ideal for holidays, for 140,000 €.
H. Niclot : A two-bed apartment in Port-Fréjus, facing the sea and the port, 465,000 €. A four-bedroom villa in Valescure, 890,000 €.
M.-P. Jardel : Studios near the sea or in complexes with a swimming pool, between 85,000 and 115,000 €. 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom apartments as main homes at less than 200,000 €.
M.-A. Roubaud : A recent villa with a panoramic view of the Estérel, on 800 m2 of land with a pool, 720,000 €. A 90-m2 apartment in a complex, also with a pool, 320,000 €. Both were very well appointed.
Interview by Laetitia Rossi
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