Le Cannet, the residential factor

Lying north of Cannes, Le Cannet is home to close on 42,000 residents. Sheltered by seven hills, the commune offers panoramic views stretching from the Lérins Islands to the Estérel mountains. Once a source of inspiration for artists Pierre Bonnard and Auguste Renoir, this privileged location now attracts a clientele in search of a quality lifestyle.

Well-known for its security, the quality of its proximity shops and services, and fast access to the motorway, Le Cannet notably draws people employed at Sophia Antipolis. Its immediate proximity to the centre of Cannes, accessible in less than 10 minutes via Boulevard Carnot, is an additional asset, while its property prices have long been significantly lower than those posted in Cannes. The authentic charm of its historic centre, Le Vieux-Cannet, is conveyed by emblematic landmarks such as the Saint-Catherine Church, the Tower of Les Danys, or the villa Le Bosquet, home to Pierre Bonnard until he passed away. More modern, the Rocheville neighbourhood is characterized by its residential developments separated from the old centre by typical small hamlets, while Le Haut Cannet hosts high-end villas and apartment buildings offering splendid views of the Bay of Cannes.

Active for over 30 years, the family-run agency Century 21 Mistral is a benchmark player on this property market. Directed by Alexandre Bierne and his team of four, it assists clients in the neighbourhoods of Le Cannet Mairie, Le Cannet Résidentiel and Mougins, in the fields of sales, rentals and rental management. The properties proposed range from studios from 120,000 € to prestigious houses and apartments at around 1 million €, often on the hills and enjoying fabulous views.

As an example of his properties currently on offer, Alexandre Bierne mentions an elegant bourgeois apartment of 106 m2 with four main rooms, prolonged by a terrace facing full south. Completed by a maid’s room and a cellar, it is proposed at 593,000 €. Another example is a light and airy 2-bedroomed apartment of 100 m2 in a prestigious residence with a pool and gym. Benefiting from a double garage, it is on offer at 950,000 €.

The clientele is mainly comprised of the locally employed looking for a main or second home, first-time buyers accoun­ting for 30% of the agency’s clients, young families looking for more generous living space, but also retirees searching for accommodation better suited to their new lives. Foreign clients, mostly from northern Europe, appear more from May to September, in search of a pied-à-terre or holiday home. The Townhall neighbourhood, encompas­sing Rue Albert Ier, Rue Jean Mermoz and Rue Victorien Sardou, is one of the most sought-after due to its central position, its offerings of shops, amenities and schools. A town house with a garden, only representing 10% of properties here, is in high demand, and hard to find due to its scarcity. Confident about the future of the local market, Alexandre Bierne emphasizes the soundness of this area and its stable prices : “Within our target range and our sector, there is very little uncertainty,” he says.