Villefranche-sur-Mer and Beaulieu-sur-Mer

At the end of the confinement, markets for year-round and holiday homes in Villefranche and Beaulieu have retained their appeal, though they remain dependent on the hypothetical return of an international clientele.

Represented by two agencies in Villefranche-sur-Mer and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and managed by Frédérique Mathias, Azur Méditerranée focuses on sales and seasonal rentals with a predilection for the “Golden Triangle” comprised by Beaulieu, Villefranche and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. “A growing number of Niçois residents are opting to leave the city to benefit from a privileged location for their main home, with budgets that can attain 3 million euros for desirable villas. We also see numerous foreign buyers looking for luxury holiday homes, such as one beautiful residence in Saint-Jean, in need of total renovation, that we sold for 7 million euros.” Within this perimeter, apartments are also in steady demand, often selling at prices beyond 1 million euros. “Today, faced by the restrictions imposed by the health crisis, we have seen a few cancellations, though the majority of buyers are pursuing acquisition plans they committed to before the confinement.” Some are also looking for “bargains”, though the Côte d’Azur property market hardly lends itself to drastic price reductions : owners prefer to wait rather than rush. With regard to seasonal rentals, for as long as frontiers remain closed, Frédérique Mathias anticipates demand from clients in Monaco wanting to benefit from lovely villas during the summer season, while waiting for the return of foreign tourists.

On the strength of its 800 agencies in 34 countries, Engel & Völkers is an essential player in high-end real estate in France and internationally. Marie-Claire Sangouard runs the branch on the Côte d’Azur. “Among our clients, two buyer profiles stand out : those giving preference to beautiful apartments in town to benefit from the closeness of shops and beaches, and those - now more numerous given the current situation - who give priority to a villa offering a garden, a lovely view and peaceful surroundings.” Welcoming many tourists, Villefranche has several locations where villas offer sumptuous views of the bay, while Beaulieu, lively year-round, proposes a decidedly urban lifestyle. In both communes, average prices range from 8,000 to 15,000 € per sq. metre. “Despite the situation we are currently experiencing, I remain optimistic about a pick-up in activity : during the confinement, we saw steady demand from French and foreign buyers. Real estate is a necessity as well as a safe haven, especially on the Côte d’Azur, where the markets for permanent and holiday homes are characterized by their attractiveness and stability.”

Specializing in sales on the Côte d’Azur since 1989 and directed by Michael Fusaro, Nice Properties has four agencies from Cannes to Beausoleil and Roquebrune. “The start of 2020 was marked by a particularly lively market, with stable prices - sellers understood that it was counterproductive to overvalue their properties when confronted by buyers, both French and international, who now have finely tuned knowledge of the market.” At the beginning of the confinement, Michel Fusaro observed a 20 to 50 % decline in the number of enquiries though activity practically regained its usual pace as soon as the lifting of restrictions was announced. “We were rapidly able to complete transactions that were on hold, though today, we are wondering about the return of foreign clients who dominate the market for sales in Beaulieu and Villefranche, and whose presence has a considerable impact on the Côte d’Azur’s economy overall. Even so, foreigners getting in touch at the moment seem determined to carry out their plans to acquire holiday residences in the region. Which is also the case for many buyers all over France who realise that owning a property on the Côte d’Azur is a very wise investment.”