The region around Gordes : declining stocks

Radia Amar - 28 October 2020

Overlooking the nature park of the Luberon from the Monts du Vaucluse, the hill-top village of Gordes is ranked among the loveliest in France. It attracts tourists and a growing number of home hunters in search of authenticity.

Founded in 1995, the Agence de Pernes-les-Fontaines - acquired in 2018 by Alexandra Gameiro - belongs to the Maurice Garcin network which has 12 agencies in the Vaucluse. “In the area from Pernes to Gordes, clients focus on houses, like one we just sold : located in Gordes, new and entirely built of stone, offering living space of 138 m2, a garden of 500 m2 and a pool, it found a taker at 695,000 €, fees included, on its first visit.” As for older properties, 3- and 4-bedroomed villas with gardens from 500 to 1,000 m2 are mainly targeted by executives with children and an average budget of 400,000 €. Larger residences priced from 600,000 to 1 million euros are also in demand, on condition that they benefit from quiet surroundings with nothing opposite, but near amenities. “Previously, many buyers were looking for properties in the midst of nature, even off the beaten track. Today, clients always insist on a peaceful environment, but proximity to shops and facilities is now one of their top priorities.” The region in fact offers a wide diversity of charming villages and built-up areas such as Pernes-les-Fontaines, meeting all practical requirements while providing a peaceful, leafy setting and easy access to the motorway and Avignon’s TGV station. “As soon as lockdown was lifted, buyers completed their acquisitions very quickly, so that the very few properties available soon found takers. The challenge today is to build up our stocks in order to meet this high demand.”

Specializing in sales in the Luberon and Alpilles, the Immobilière du Château agency is based in Gordes under the management of Léonard Galante. “Buyers are mostly looking for quiet surroundings, beautiful views and quality appointments, in other words, properties requiring little or no refurbishment. The Covid-19 crisis has accelerated the completion of property projects for those aiming to acquire a desirable second residence in the Luberon. In fact, thanks to the rising number of people working from home, it now very frequently means acquisition of a semi-main home.” The core of demand focuses on properties worth 800,000 € giving access, for example, to a traditional house of about 150 m2 in Gordes. Since deconfinement, significant rise in demand has led to availabilities becoming rarer yet, so far, prices have not risen. “In Gordes and, more generally, thoughout the Luberon, the market for new properties is undergoing development, but mainly concerns those with price-tags of up to 300,000 €, usually of interest to first-time buyers. Above that price level, buyers still prefer the market for old properties.”