Henry Muller, Abis Immobilier (04 94 39 87 42). Sylvie Gal, Montauroux Immobilier (04 94 76 56 66). Christophe Lecardonnel, Selsea (06 63 59 63 58).
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The Canton of Fayence
Standing 30 minutes from the sea, from Fréjus, Saint-Raphaël and Cannes, the Canton of Fayence, in the Var, has some weighty arguments in its favour : bucolic landscapes set against the Estérel Massif and property that is more affordable than on the coast or in the Alpes-Maritimes. Let the specialists show you round…
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This 3-bedroom villa in perfect condition stands on a 2,200-m2 tree-studded plot. 895.000 €. Selsea (06 63 59 63 58).
This contemporary villa in the hills of Fayence offers 270 m2 of living space (three bedrooms) on 4,600 m2 of land.
1.166.000 €. Abis Immobilier (04 94 39 87 42).
A house surrounded by nature : 105 m2 (three bedrooms) in a garden measuring 2,500 m2. 428.000 €. Montauroux Immobilier (04 94 76 56 66).
A 417-m2 villa (five bedrooms) on grounds of 8,300 m2 offering a wonderful view almost to the sea. 1.575.000 €. Abis (04 94 39 87 42).
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What are the main villages in the Canton of Fayence ?
Christophe Lecardonnel : Montauroux, Callian and Fayence, the most dynamic communes, attract people who work in Sophia Antipolis and the Alpes-Maritimes. They favour the practical aspect and like to be close. Saint-Paul-en-Forêt, Mons and Seillans are further out and really quiet. They appeal to lovers of wide-open spaces and nature. A village house in the canton starts at 200-250,000 €, a semi at 300,000 €, and a detached home of 150-250 m2 on a plot measuring 1,500-5,000 m2 will start at 350-400,000 €. The average sale is concluded at 500,000 to 700,000 €. The upper limit is 2 million €.
Henry Muller : The Canton of Fayence enjoys a privileged geographic location, which guarantees a buoyant property market. Supply concerns mainly houses, mostly priced between 400,000 and 800,000 €. The rare apartments are generally in old town houses that have been split. Renovated and occasionally over-priced, they cost from 3,000 to 4,000 € per m2. Buyers who work in the Alpes-Maritimes prefer Montauroux and Callian, close to the motorway. Fayence and Seillans are quieter and more residential and are popular with a foreign clientele seeking their Provençal ideal.
How much have prices gone up ? How do you feel things will go in the future ?
Ch. Lecardonnel : In the 400-500,000-euro range, properties are few and far between and prices are now only going up very slightly. In excess of 500,000 €, where supply is plentiful, the trend will tend to be downwards.
H. Muller : Prices rocketed up from the year 2000 until 2004 to 2006, when they stabilised. We’ve noticed prices going down slightly since last year, sometimes to 20 % off the asking price. The market is sluggish, partly due to the international context, heralding similar results to 2007 for 2008.
Do you consider the market buoyant at the moment ?
Sylvie Gal : The euphoria of recent years is over. Things seem set to remain calm. 2008 should finish settling the market down. Buyers are facing higher interest rates and stricter lending policies than in the past. Demand is still strong, but negotiations are tough. Buyers are proving to be demanding and sales are taking time. If a property is properly valued, it will take 6 to 8 months to find a buyer - 3 months if it benefits from an exclusive sales mandate and a very accurate valuation.
Ch. Lecardonnel : The only thing slowing business down is the difference between market prices and the prices some owners are asking. If they are given the right advice, they can sell their property within two months !
H. Muller : High prices, occasionally abusively so, have contributed to changing mentalities, putting buyers on their guard. They want to visit more properties, make comparisons and select the best quality/price ratio.
Is there a typical buyer profile for the Canton of Fayence ?
Ch. Lecardonnel : 70 % of buyers work in the Alpes-Maritimes or the Var. This population includes a lot of first-time buyers. The remaining 30 % comprises the retired in their holiday homes, people in their fifties who come from the north of France and live here half of the time, and a few foreigners.
H. Muller : Wealthy foreign buyers target the Provençal spirit, quality of life and a pleasant situation close to the sea and the airports. A lot of young couples from the region look for an apartment to get them on the property ladder. Others, further on in their careers, aim for a house ; prices start at 300,000 €. Buyers also come from the Alpes-Maritimes, put off by the prohibitive prices back home. In fact, the Canton of Fayence is only 30 minutes down the motorway.
Are there any substantial new property developments ?
Ch. Lecardonnel : New properties open the door to speculation. There’s a programme in Montauroux, for example, comprising 3-bedroom houses that were sold for 300,000 €. They apparently changed hands on delivery, some eight months later, for an extra 20-30,000 €. Fifteen houses are currently on the market between Peymeinade and Montauroux - 80 m2 of living space with an outdoor area - for 300,000 €. Major brands, which had left local property developers to get on with it for a long time, are now starting to take a closer look.
H. Muller : There are very few building programmes in the canton at the moment, and they mainly comprise holiday residences. Demand from the local working population is growing, which will perhaps put a different slant on the situation in the near future.
Your most recent sales ?
S. Gal : A 130-m2 house on 851 m2 of land with a swimming pool, close to a village, for 470,000 €. A semi on a big plot of land out in the sticks for 380,000 €.
H. Muller : Two houses in the region of 400,000 €.
Ch. Lecardonnel : A new house in Montauroux, 300,000 €. A 100-m2 villa with pool, 430,000 €.
Your message to vendors and buyers…
H. Muller : I would incite certain vendors to lower their prices to get in line with the market and restore the confidence of future buyers. Some agencies would also do well to refrain from these indulgent valuations ; they fuel the battle for the highest bidder and thus create a climate of mistrust.
Interview by Laetitia Rossi
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