The Alpilles and Vallée de l’Arc, parallel portraits

Much appreciated by many French and foreign fans wanting to treat themselves to a charming holiday home, the Alpilles offer a property market focusing on personal enjoyment at prices that have now become stable. Prized for their assets of charm and practicality, communes in the Vallée de l’Arc are, on the other hand, targeted by the locally employed looking for year-round family homes.

“Pursuing the liveliness seen in 2017, the property market in the Alpilles is doing well despite a slight slowdown at the beginning of the year,” says Valérie Lucien, manageress of Actuel Immobilier, an agency offering a wide array of high-end homes of charm and character in Saint-Rémy, Eygalières and their neighbouring communes. “Our clientele, mainly French, completed by a few Swiss, English and German buyers, are looking for charming holiday homes within the 600,000-850,000 € bracket, at around 1 million euros, or well beyond in the case of those with financial means allowing them to set their sights on the finest properties in the most desirable locations. Prices have undergone an adjustment, which has made the market healthier,” adds out expert, mentioning as an example of sales currently being handled by the agency, an old “mas” full of poetry and charm on the peaceful commune of Graveson. Set in mature grounds with a pool, it sold for 600,000 €. In a village between Saint-Rémy and Noves, another authentic “mas” enthroned with its annexes in extensive grounds changed hands at 800,000 €, while a prestigious property with a breathtaking view found a taker at 1.9 million euros. Located in Saint-Rémy, it benefits from recent renovation throughout offering high-quality materials. “Clients are prepared to pay the asking price if the property has been renovated in today’s taste and offers refined appointments. In the Alpilles, our clients want to enjoy their acquisitions immediately, so they see avoiding a tedious phase of renovation as a persuasive argument.”

Opened in Rousset three years ago, KB Immobilier has developed a deeply human approach to the profession of estate-agent, ready to offer services such as home-staging and financial advice in order to assist each client efficiently in all aspects of his plans. “Our activity mainly focuses on permanent homes acquired by many retirees and members of the locally employeed, all over the east side of Aix and especially in the Vallée de l’Arc,” explains manageress Katia Becasse. From studios on offer from 50,000 € to villas priced up to 1,700,000 €, the agency’s portfolio contains a wide choice of properties. “The most frequent request is for a 3-bedroomed house with a garden priced from 300,000 to 350,000 €. Thanks to our extensive network, we manage to meet virtually all demands, though if we had more properties available, we would sell them quickly, as demand is really steady.” The communes closest to Aix-en-Provence are naturally the most sought-after, and price-tags here reflect their proximity to the historic capital of Provence. “Even so, prices are currently stable all over our area,” says Katia Becasse.

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