The property market near La Sainte-Victoire

At the heart of breathtaking scenery, communes lying south and east of Aix-en-Provence offer a substantial and diverse array of properties ranging from prestigious “bastides” to new apartments and family homes.

Following a period in which the real-estate market was rather sluggish on the outskirts of Aix-en-Provence, activity is picking up in the sector of housing for members of the working population, as well as that of luxury properties. There are many homes of quality here, with prices south and east of Aix-en-Provence still following a slightly downward trend.

14 kilometres from Aix-en-Provence, Châteauneuf-le-Rouge embodies all the charm of villages of character in this area. With its schools, shops and quality cultural events, this commune with 2,200 residents appeals to local families, buyers from Paris, Lyon and Bordeaux, but also clients from northern Europe looking for year-round homes. French, Belgian, British and Swedish buyers thus comprise the clientele of Florence Leze, who opened the At Home agency two years ago on the commune. “Foreign clients quickly fall for the charm of landscapes around the Sainte-Victoire mountain. And local residents appreciate the country setting with the bonus of being in immediate proximity to Aix-en-Provence and Marseille, thanks to the various means of transport.” Mainly a market for villas, Châteauneuf-le-Rouge

At the edge of the Sainte-Victoire nature reserve, Le Tholonet, also conveniently located near the motorways (two interchanges around the commune), boasts prestige properties of remarkable quality. Nicolas Staes of the Nicolas Staes agency just sold a plot of almost 10 acres to a French client, who paid 1,050,000 € in order to build the contemporary villa of his dreams here. “This area is popular not only among a French clientele with budgets from 1 to 2 million euros, but also among international buyers from northern Europe and Russia,” explains Nicolas Staes. These clients may well invest 3 or 4 million euros in stone properties meriting a long list of superlatives. As exemplified by a villa of 650 m2 enthroned in 7,200 m2 of grounds : elegantly renovated, it boasts the entire panoply of appointments one would expect of a property priced at almost 3,600,000 €, ie. painted ceilings, a fabulous wine cellar, vast garage, swimming pool, stunning view… After a real slowdown, this market segment is begining to stir, thanks in particular to the arrival of a few wealthy Russian clients, looking for the perfect spot in this well-preserved scenery so dear to Cézanne.

Based in Rousset for the past 16 years, the ERA Immobilière Sainte-Victoire agency covers a lively sector whose catchment area consists of communes at the foot of the Sainte-Victoire mountain and as far as Trets. Here, many working people capable of paying from 300,000 to 450,000 € are mainly looking for comfortable family homes of 90 to 110 m2 with gardens of 1,000 to 1,500 m2. “The most popular communes are Châteauneuf-le-RougePeynier, Fuveau and RoussetAix-en-Provence, RoussetFuveau. These villas – including a few ultra cont­emporary residences - with wooded parks and swimming pools in top-notch residential areas in the countryside come up for sale at prices between 700,000 and 900,000 €.