Nantes, a multi-faceted city

New developments, charming houses, bourgeois apartments, unusual homes… Nantes proposes a mixed bag of properties. Enough to meet all kinds of requirements, from the most functional to the most luxurious.

A lovely European Green Capital crossed by rivers, Nantes offers its new look following many years of embellishment. Enjoying an excellent reputation beyond French borders, the city is often cited as the country’s safest and most pleasant commune. In 2017, the international Nantes-Atlantique Airport will add the final touch to the appeal of this town, much appreciated by families. With its preserved, pedestrian historic centre, its exemplary public transport system and its “bicloos” (free self-service bikes), it is indeed a delightful place to live. According to the INSEE, the capital of western France has 143,000 dwellings. Although affected by the general slowdown, its property market is putting up a fight and diversifying its offerings with a single imperative : quality.

Based in Nantes for the past 17 years, the Breville Immobilier agency specializes in old properties of character which have been luxuriously renovated. Sublime apartments hidden in 19th-century buildings with authentic freestone façades are to be found in the most sought-after neighbourhoods : Graslin, Cathédrale and Château, as well as on the ring around the hyper-centre. “From studios to 4-bedroomed apartments, together with outstanding examples such as lofts and duplexes, all these high-quality properties find takers on today’s market,” says Jean-Yves Guet, director of the Breville Immobilier agency. The most highly-prized ? “Those offering well-preserved decorative features : wainscoting, moulded ceilings, Versailles or herringbone parquet floors, concrete slabbing…,” says our expert. Among the properties currently on his files, he mentions an original contemporary loft near the Jardin des Plantes. With its living space of 228 m2 and central patio, it is a perfect example of the type of up-market properties selected by the agency. A home offering such original stylishness is proposed at 849,000 €. And what about houses ? Some old villas offering authentic charm are grouped around Moncelet, Saint-Pasquier, Saint-Felix and Saint-Clément. The clientele for these beautiful homes consists of local senior executives and a few long-term investors, often French ex-pats. “While still pretty active, the market is nevertheless moving at a slow pace. Buyers take their time before making up their minds.”

Estate-agent and developer Axel Colin, director of the Axel Colin Immobilier agency, sheds light on the market for new apartments. Currently marketing a development to be delivered next September in the Sant-Félix neighbourhood, he remains optimistic with regard to today’s market. “New properties are doing well in Nantes. Clients demand homes of high quality. In Le Clos Saint-Felix, we are proposing apartments with 1 to 4 main rooms, whose prices range from 4,200 to 4,900 € per sqm., depending on the surface area and floor. Nowadays, in order to sell, one has to meet numerous criteria and offer impeccable appointments : parquet floors, electric shutters, luxury bathrooms… Whatever the size, the market is buoyant if you are rigorous in what you propose,” explains the specialist. “In the case of re-sales, beautiful bourgeois apartments which have been renovated throughout are definitely the most sought-after. Depending on their locations and stylishness, some sell for up to 10,000 € per sqm. They are excellent investments over the long term.”

Proposing a wide choice of properties in Nantes and its neighbouring communes, Martine and Anne-Sophie Delaporte, manageress and assistant manageress of the agency Martine Delaporte Immobilier (created in Nantes in 1990), describe their clients’ precise requirements. “The most highly-prized neighbourhoods are Monselet, Procé, Saint-Pasquier, Saint-Félix, Saint-Donatien… In other words, “the area within the boulevards”, which is how clients often express what they want”. The pleasant residential suburbs are also popular with their pretty houses and select larger properties, such as one in Sautron, enthroned in the midst of a landscaped park. Benefiting from a lovely pool and generous volumes, it is on offer at slightly over 1 million euros. Excellent value for money, for this type of outstanding property. However, most enquiries concern town houses priced from 500,000 to 600,000 €, near schools and amenities. As for apartments : “Our clients now pay very close attention to energy performance ratings. Recent properties are therefore more attractive. With regard to prices, while a slight downside tendency is the order of the day and bargaining is tough, we remain optimistic. Nantes is a pleasant “green” city. Furthermore, the Nantes/Saint-Nazaire hub has made it a diverse and appealing commune with industrial, commercial and university activities and, above all, living conditions of top-notch quality”.

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