An apartment in Biarritz

A highly-prized address and the most illustrious town on the Basque coast, Biarritz is the subject of steady demand from buyers looking for apartments. They focus on its lively centre with lots of shops, where everything can be done on foot, and its art of living still acts like a magnet on Parisians and other city-dwellers from elsewhere in Europe.

A seaside resort with an international aura which owes its reputation to its magnificent environment, its elegance and delightful lifestyle, Biarritz offers lots of assets and, despite a tense context at global level, continues to chalk up lots of activity. As explained by Mathieu Lacrouts of the Emile Garcin agency : “Biarritz is a town which is lively year-round and offers a highly sought-after setting. Its protected environment, its beaches popular among families and sports enthusiasts, its busy centre and cultural life, all make it a first-class address. Its property market has put up strong resistance, and demand is steady, especially for apartments. Almost exclusively French this year, our buyers present two different profiles. The first are looking for surface areas from 50 to 100 m2, corresponding to holiday homes or investments aimed at seasonal rentals. The second are in search of family apartments, ie. of over 100 m2, mainly concerning clients wanting to settle permanently in Biarritz. They are more demanding when it comes to appointments and a property’s precise location. They also show a strong preference for the neighbourhoods of Les Halles and Impérial, in order to be close to amenities. In this sector of the market, however, availabilities do not suffice to meet demand”.

Central neighbourhoods in Biarritz are indeed coveted by buyers who account for this strong demand, as confirmed by Julie Lamboley of the Lofts & Associés agency : “Local clients and even Parisians looking for a pied-à-terre all set their hearts on an apartment in the hyper-centre of Biarritz. In the neighbourhoods of Les Halles and Espagne or Le Parc Mazon, prices are around 6,000 € per sq. metre on average. On the outskirts, in the Saint Martin neighbourhood, Avenue de la Marne or the Serrano area, prices are lower, ranging on average from 4,000 to 4,500 € per sqm. The ideal property in Biarritz is seen as an apartment in the hyper-centre with a parking place and outdoor area, even small, like a balcony. As soon as we advertise this type of property, it sells almost immediately. To acquire a property with these amenities, one can expect to pay at least 6,000 € per sqm, though prices can easily soar to 10,000 € per sqm. for high-end apartments with a view of the sea. After only two visits, we recently sold an apartment of 62 m2 in a listed building in the Saint Charles neighbourhood, with a small balcony and parking place, for 380,000 €. In the case of local buyers, demand is high for 2-bedroomed apartments, ideal for families and couples. For this type of apartment in the town centre, steady demand keeps prices high”.

In a highly-prized neighbourhood in Biarritz, a few minutes’ walk to shops and the beaches, this superb apartment offers a fabulous sea view and a lovely terrace of 25 m2. Its living space of 120 m2 is comprised of bright rooms with generous volumes (two bedrooms including a suite). Parking place. From 2,3 to 5 M €. Emile Garcin Biarritz (05 59 01 59 59).

In an elegant building in Biarritz Plage, this loft of 101 m2, fully rehabilitated by an architect, stands out for its smartness and contemporary decor. Bathed in light, its generous volumes consist of a superb living-room overlooked by two bedrooms with their own bathrooms. 845 000 €. Ateliers lofts & Associés (05 59 24 67 48).

On the top floor of a superb listed building on the front row facing the ocean, this outstanding apartment of 160 m2 offers very luxurious appointments. It benefits from three bedrooms and a magnificent sunny patio prolonging a lounge framed by picture windows. A parking place completes the property. 2.120.000 €. Sotheby’s Biarritz (05 59 22 04 22).

Boasting elegant architecture and prestigious addresses in former palaces, Biarritz offers real gems of apartments enjoying superb views of the ocean, one of the top criteria for buyers in search of holiday homes. According to Patricia Biondi of Sotheby’s in Biarritz : “Apartments with sea views are the properties most sought-after by buyers with comfortable budgets looking for second residences. In the case of a year-round home, a view of the ocean is less important, whereas a terrace becomes highly-prized, together with the possibility of reaching everything on foot : shops, the market of Les Halles, beaches, entertainment... A downtown location guarantees real freedom for all members of the family. For apartments proposing same surface areas, a sea view will double the price, and thus requires a hefty budget. We recently sold a fully renovated 3-bedroomed apartment of 104 m2, ideally located at the very heart of town, with a small balcony, priced at 690,000 €. Another apartment of 160 m2 that we currently have on offer, in a prestigious building and offering a superb ocean view, is priced at 2,000,000 €. In our agency, 90% of our transactions concern holiday homes, and a view of the sea is almost a systematic request on the part of our clients”.