Arcachon : a town for all four seasons

Radia Amar - 20 December 2019

Benefiting from the unique configuration of its bay on the Atlantic coast, Arcachon is an important fishing port and yacht harbour, as well as a lively commercial centre. This seaside resort unfurls all its charm, close to the highest sand dune in Europe.

Focusing on the top end of the market, Barnes International offers its expertise on this exclusive market around the Bassin d’Arcachon. “Our clients are mostly looking for apartments or houses all on one floor, within a 5-minute walk of the town centre, offering living space of 130 to 180 m2 with 3 or 4 main rooms, and gardens of about 500 m2. This type of property fetches about 1.2 million euros,” says agency manager Christophe Vaissié. For buyers wanting to settle permanently in the area, the immediate proximity of shops is a determining factor. “Transactions go through at a constant pace, even though prices rise each year, due especially to demand outstripping supply. The market for new properties is also very buoyant : we handled the marketing for all the properties in the Villa Capucine residence, 12 apartments with 2 and 3 bedrooms, which sold on plans within seven months.” Seafront properties are in constant demand, as both holiday and year-round homes. As witnessed by a recent sale orchestrated by Barnes International : a villa of 300 m2 near the jetty of La Croix des Marins, which sold for 3.1 million euros. On the seafront, prices range from 10,000 to 12,000 € per sq.m depending on renovation requirements, while in the town centre, prices now range from 5,500 to 8,000 € per sq.m depending on the property’s condition.

The Evadis agency is part of the Swixim International network, which has over 300 agencies and brokers in Switzerland, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain and Portugal. “Our team specializes in sales, rentals and property management,” says Aymeric Pislor, manager of the Swixim Evadis agency based in Arcachon for over six years. “We cover the entire area around the Bassin d’Arcachon, as far as Bordeaux and Libourne.” The market can mainly be split into budget categories : for 200,000 to 400,000 €, buyers can obtain apartments from 40 to 60 m2, from 400,000 to 600,000 €, houses of 80 to 90 m2, and beyond that level, prestigious residences offering exclusive locations and appointments. “I have noticed that the area of Les Aiguillons is becoming increasingly popular, mostly due to the fact that supply is significantly lower than demand all around the Bassin d’Arcachon.” Over the past two years, Aymeric Pislor has chalked up considerable sales volume despite the fact that some properties tend to be overpriced, resulting in slower completion times.