Buying real estate on France's most famous coast - the Côte d'Azur

INTERVIEW WITH MARC SEBASTIAN ANIANSSON, OFFICE MANAGER AT VON POLL REAL ESTATE CANNES.

Impressive landscapes, expansive beaches, glamorous marinas and first-class restaurants - the French Riviera, also known as the Côte d'Azur due to its azure waters, has always been one of the most exclusive addresses in the world. Located directly on the Mediterranean, the heart of the region is the municipality of Cannes. From a former fishing village, the city has developed into the flagship of the Côte d'Azur and is the annual venue for the famous Cannes Film Festival. The VON POLL REAL ESTATE store of master license partner Martina Aniansson and office manager Marc Sebastian Aniansson is also represented there on the famous promenade "Boulevard de la Croisette". Real estate expert Marc Sebastian Aniansson gives an insight into the facets of the real estate market on the Côte d'Azur, current trends and how he and his team help international buyers purchase a property on France's coast.

Mr. Aniansson, what makes the French Riviera such an attractive place to buy a property? In your opinion, what are the special features?

MARC SEBASTIAN ANIANSSON

The Côte d'Azur has long been a highly sought-after destination - not only for tourists, but also for property buyers. One of the main reasons for this is the diversity and atmosphere of the region. Whether prospective buyers are looking for the vibrant life in the coastal towns or the relaxed atmosphere in the more rural areas, the French Riviera has something to suit every taste. The region also impresses with its proximity to the mountains, Provence and neighboring Italy. With excellent connections to Nice International Airport and the numerous private airports in Cannes-Mandelieu and Saint Tropez, the French Riviera is easy to reach. The Côte d'Azur also enjoys a worldwide reputation and stands for the highest level of exclusivity - from shopping experiences and restaurants to top-class cultural events. Another factor that should not be neglected is, of course, the almost 270 days of sunshine a year that people enjoy here.

What trends are you observing on the real estate market? And what factors could influence the market in the future?

MARC SEBASTIAN ANIANSSON

We are actually seeing an increase in buyers in the high-end market segment who can work remotely. As they are not tied to a specific location and are therefore flexible, they are looking for their own property in the south of France. We strongly believe that this trend will continue in the future. In addition, some buyer groups from countries outside the eurozone were affected by strongly fluctuating exchange rates last year - particularly the British, Swedes and Norwegians, who are traditionally very active in the market. As a result, some have recalculated their budgets or put their plans on hold for the time being. Since the beginning of the summer, however, we have seen the situation easing and many buyers returning to the market.

In the long term, the Côte d'Azur is a safe haven for real estate purchases. The region has always been very popular and has great appeal - not only for French and European buyers, but also for prospective buyers from North America and the Middle East.

You mentioned that the region has great appeal to an international clientele. Where do most real estate buyers come from?

MARC SEBASTIAN ANIANSSON

The clientele on the Côte d'Azur is very international. In the past, the British were the largest group of buyers in the region. However, this has changed as a result of Brexit - after all, the British are now affected by the 90-day stay in the Schengen area. In 2023, Belgians therefore made up the majority of international buyers. We also look after many prospective buyers from Germany, the Netherlands and the United States.

What preferences do these prospective buyers have when buying a property?

MARC SEBASTIAN ANIANSSON

What prospective buyers are looking for is always very individual. However, we see that many are looking for proximity to the coast and also value good connections to Nice airport. Nevertheless, we also have many prospective buyers who are more drawn to the quieter hinterland - where they will find spacious properties and traditional French village life. Almost all property categories are popular - from apartments to mansions - although properties that have already been renovated and fully furnished are particularly in demand. International buyers are looking in all price ranges. However, entry-level prices on the French Riviera - even for smaller properties - tend to be higher than in other regions of France or most European countries.

What is the current price level on the Côte d'Azur? And above all, which regions have proven to be particularly stable in terms of value?

MARC SEBASTIAN ANIANSSON

After many years of growth, the real estate market on the French Riviera has also slowed down somewhat due to global events. Despite this, property prices - particularly on the Côte d'Azur - have proven to be very stable in value. While prices in the rest of France fell by around 3.9 percent in 2023, prices on the coast fell by just 2.7 percent. This is partly due to the fact that the three most expensive municipalities in France are located here: Ramatuelle is the most expensive at around €16,083/m², followed by Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat at €15,819/m² and Saint-Tropez at an average of €14,400/m². In these three municipalities, prices actually rose by almost 6 percent in 2023.

Are there any special features of the buying process that international buyers should be aware of?

MARC SEBASTIAN ANIANSSON

The most important thing for prospective international buyers is to have a professional and competent estate agent at their side who knows the market down to the micro-locations and can assess the price level of the respective region very well. Furthermore, many real estate offers on the French Riviera - especially those in the high-price segment - are not publicly listed but marketed in secret sales. It is therefore essential to use a real estate agent who has an excellent network and access to a large number of properties. The buying process is also somewhat more protracted than in other countries. Once an offer has been accepted, it usually takes three months for the transaction to be finalized. However, buyers benefit from a high degree of security in their transaction.

And how exactly do you support prospective buyers in their property search on the Côte d'Azur?

MARC SEBASTIAN ANIANSSON

We at VON POLL REAL ESTATE Cannes have a proven network of notaries, building contractors, architects and even landscape gardeners. This makes even the purchase of a property in need of renovation or a construction project a real option - even for inexperienced buyers. Of course, we also take care of permits and offer our clients a wide range of services that not only guarantee a flawless brokerage, but also make it easier to settle into life in France.

After almost 20 years in the real estate business on the Côte d'Azur, we are very familiar with the market. From day one, we have worked with an international clientele and know how to respond to the different needs of our clients. Thanks to our international team of real estate experts, we can usually even support our clients in their own language, ensuring a transparent and smooth brokerage process.

Dear Mr. Aniansson, thank you very much for the interesting conversation.

Further information about the team around Martina Aniansson and Marc Sebastian Aniansson from VON POLL REAL ESTATE Cannes as well as the current real estate offer on site, contact details and much more can be found at: www.von-poll.com/de/immobilienmakler/cannes