The popular area south of Nantes

Whether in Vertou, Basse-Goulaine or Bouaye, the living is easy ! Part of historic Brittany, these towns south of the capital of Loire-Atlantique, benefitting from good public transport, are drawing more and more residents.

Vertou, home to 21,450 inhabitants, is in the valley of the Sèvre Nantaise, precisely 7 km from the centre of the Prefecture. Crossed by the Nantes-Saintes railway line, it is also serviced by buses and the train-tram. On the south bank of the Loire, on the edge of the Muscadet-Sevre-et-Maine vineyards, Basse-Goulaine has close on 8,000 residents. The population proves to be relatively young. The high property prices explain the predominance of actively employed 30, 40 and 50 year-olds. Formerly devoted to the cultivat-ion of vines, lily-of-the valley, fruit and vegetables, and also fishing, this area has gradually been taken over by creeping urbanization. Les Vallées and La Baillée are the only exceptions to the rule. On the edge of the Grand-Lieu lake, 17 km south-west of Nantes on the road to Pornic, Bouaye, with 5,770 residents, has witnessed soaring population figures since 1968. Its integration into the greater urban area and the creation of a secondary school marked the last leg of its transformation into a desirable residential address.

“Vertou is regarded as the Neuilly of the region, attracting middle and senior executives. This rural world revolves around a shopping centre, with large stores opening on the outskirts,” says Michel Ardouin of the Agence Ardouin. Two market segments are particularly active : the lowest price-bracket, 150,000-240,000 €, corresponding to a 2-bedroom house of 60-70 m2, sometimes with a small garden, and the category referred to as “properties”. Residences of 150-200 m2 built in the 19th century on the banks of the Sèvre range, depending on their condition and appointments, from 500,000 to 1.5 million euros. Rarely available, they are indeed highly-prized. Recently, a self-employed professional based in Nantes paid 700,000 € for such a property of 220-250 m2 in grounds of 2,500 m2. Matching supply and demand is even more complicated in the 280,000-380,000 € bracket. Stocks are high and the prices asked often above what buyers are willing to pay in exchange for the accommodation proposed. A house of 110-120 m2 on an estate with its garden of 600-700 m2 bears a price-tag, for example, of 350,000 €. Worth noting, however : more building land is on offer in Vertou than in the smaller locality of Saint-Sébastien.

“Basse-Goulaine, known for the quality of its restaurants, is also part of the urban community. Pleasant to live in, the town boasts schools up to BTS level and provides a good array of cultural and sports activities,” says Christian Guérin of BG Immobilier. If the starting price for individual housing is 240,000 € - the price one would pay for living space of 100 m2 in a garden of 500 m2 -, most transactions are concluded between 380,000 and 600,000 €. Among his latest sales, Christian Guérin mentions a recently-built 5-bedroom house with grounds of 2,000 m2, acquired by a couple of executives for 550,000 €. Another house with 4 main rooms, quality appointments and a garden of 1,300 m2, found a taker at 380,000 €. After a quiet summer, activity seems to be picking up again.

“It’s hard to talk about country living in the case of Bouaye,” notes Catherine Cormerais of Côté Immobilier Orpi. “With the exception of the vineyard area, it has become really “rurban”, blending a countrified spirit with urban amenities.” There are lots of popular associations. Cycling paths encourage family outings. And Bouaye’s proximity to the sea - 20 minutes to the nearest beaches - is a powerful argument, particularly in the eyes of newcomers who have been transferred to the region. The local authorities advocate the use of public transport, providing a coherent and well-run network, as well as an attractive pricing policy. During the crisis, standard homes dropped in value by an average 15 %. Which is now beginning to be offset. There is steady demand for building land and the territory is being fragmented in order to comply. As a result, those interested content themselves with plots of 400 m2 costing 80,000-100,000 €, whereas a short time ago they would have obtained a plot of 600 m2. As for already existing homes, a 3-bedroom house sells for 210,000-240,000 €, one with 4/5 bedrooms from 260,000 to 400,000 €. First-time buyers are all in favour of low-rise developments. Proposed at under 200,000 €, a new semi-detached house of 75-80 m2 on this type of estate is inevitably a resounding success.