Soorts-Hossegor, a protected area

This seaside resort in the Landes is one of the flagship addresses on the Côte d’Argent. In the Maremne, between the Landaise forests and the Gulf of Gascony, Seignosse and Capbreton, the town found its place as soon as it was built, with Arcachon to the north and Biarritz to the south already serving as magnets.

Launched in the 20th century, Hossegor made a favourable impression on members of literary and intellectual circles in Paris. Serge Barranx even referred to “the Hossegor literary school” in his book “Nos Landes”, published in 1927. The middle class from the capital, but also from large urban areas in the South-West, began to take an interest in the town. The Sporting Casino was built in the 1920’s, together with neo-Basque property developments. In 2007, 3,630 people were living there year-round. The spot attracts experienced surfers from all four corners of the world, especially for championship events on the professional circuit. The French Surfing Federation has a base in Hossegor. As for fans of the greens, they indulge their passion during the “Grand Prix des Landes” golfing event.

“Hossegor benefits from a privileged location at the edge of the ocean, 30 minutes from the Biarritz airport, 45 minutes from the border with Spain and one hour from the Pyrenees,” says Serge Pilke of Terres & Océan. “Backing onto a marine lake, it offers magnificent beaches and a much-appreciated golf-course.” The population naturally rises in summer, but is never oppressive. And holiday-makers enjoy a feeling of security. They practise outdoor activities, water sports, golf or mountain biking. The centre proposes new layout favouring getting around on foot or bicycle. The clientele, mostly families, comes frome Paris, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Pau, even northern Europe. Among the most recent sales orchestrated by the agency, Serge Pilke mentions a contemporary house of 200 m2 in grounds of 1,500 m2 situated 3 km from the beaches, acquired as a main resid­ence by retirees from the Gironde for 1,020,000 €. A Swiss family then treated themselves to a tastefully renovated “Basco-Landaise” of 200 m2 built in the ’fifties in grounds of 1,300 m2, not far from the centre and 300 metres from bathing spots, for 1,390,000 €. Finally, clients from Pau looking for a holiday home paid 370,000 € for a 2-bedroom apartment of 71 m2 in a select residence in the area known as “entre Lac et Mer”. The main problem for estate-agents is to find properties likely to satisfy buyers with high demands.

“The overall trend is relatively encouraging and the market is protected thanks to its intrinsic qualities, as well as the very nature of its clientele,” add Jérôme Lassabe and Franck Sellier of the Agence des Golfs. “Lots of seniors from other French regions set their sights on Hossegor, firmly intending to spend their retirement years here. After selling their homes or businesses, they can afford to pay cash.” The average budget is 600,000 to 650,000 € for a villa, 300,000 € for a detached house and 400,000 to 500,000 € for a building project, a competitive solution. Given this level of prices, the locally employed, and esp­ecially first-time buyers, are often obliged to look in outlying areas. The scarcity of properties is partly explained by the change in legislation on capital gains and the consequent withdrawal of homes from the files. Buyers of second residences are also hesitant, and the flow of business has become more sluggish. Prices remain stable, inevitably underpinned by constant demand and rare availabilities. The golfing sector, targetted by this agency, is still buoyant. A house of 120 m2 built in 2008 with a garden of 800 m2 at the edge of the fairways currently fetches 800,000 €.

“Holiday homes account for two-thirds of the activity. Company directors, senior executives and self-employed professionals are all drawn by Hossegor,” comments Michel Moser of the Agence Moser Immobilier. Near the centre and beaches, the “entre Lac et Mer” area is popular among holiday-makers. Properties of quality in perfect condition and enjoying direct access to the lake range from 1.5 to 2.5 million euros. The immediate outskirts around the golf-course, which post comparable prices for the same type of homes, are shared out equally between main and second residences. Further out, the east bank of the lake is slightly less expensive. Very limited because of the sand dunes, the seafront lies to the south of the resort between the very lively Place des Landais and Capbreton. In Hossegor, nature is respected, the environment protected and priority given to horizontal housing. In fact, a plot of at least 1,500 m2 is required in order to obtain a building permit.