Barnes Île de Ré : a luxury market

Opened in 2014 by Germain and Lisa Tournoys, the Barnes Ile de Ré agency covers this bastion of French investment drawing a good number of clients with high purchasing power. Characterized by a high-end property market focusing on the prestige of old stone, the Île de Ré benefits from its growing appeal among French families, either ex-pats or wanting to settle here permanently.

Blessed with well-preserved nature and extraordinary panoramic views, the Île de Ré and its ten villages between sky and sea offer a highly coveted lifestyle. “The buyer profile for the island has evolved considerably over the past few years,” says Germain Tournoys. “Twenty years ago, you mainly found families coming here to spend two months of holidays in their second residences. Today, the development of means of transport and communication has enabled these families to benefit from their properties all year round, or to live here permanently while working in Paris. With this new boost, the Île de Ré is now also lively in winter.” Also attracting an international clientele in search of holiday homes - Belgian, British, but also German, American and Swiss -, the island is highly sought-after and posts well-sustained prices : “Demand mostly focuses on houses with 4 to 6 bedrooms and gardens of 500 to 800 m2. For this type of property, one needs a budget of 900,000 to 1.5 million euros, all addresses combined. The most popular villages are Saint Martin, La Flotte and Le Bois-Plage, though here the property itself is the priority for buyers who are prepared to change communes if they fall for a particular house. The market on the Île de Ré is shared out among fishermen’s houses, village houses and luxury properties ; it is a stable market, clearly marked by scarce availabilities. The desire to protect the island’s outstanding natural environment restricts new construction. Which makes it a micro-territory where investments are seen as very sound. The simple fact of being a home-owner here is by definition a luxury”.

Barnes Ile de Ré, 19 cours Félix Faure, La Flotte en Ré (05 46 69 66 71)

In Le Bois-Plage, this old house surrounded by a lovely garden with a pool has been treated to high-quality renovation giving a perfect blend of traditional character and modern comfort. Including a guest cottage, its living space of 400 m2 is comprised of six bedrooms, six bath/shower rooms, a hammam and gym. A large garage completes the property. 2.500.000 €

In Les Trois Portes, this superb property built in 1998 benefits from direct access to the beach. Prolonged by a covered winter terrace, the house of 300 m2 offers seven bedrooms (three offering a sweeping view of the sea), vast living rooms, a Charentaise kitchen, and an artist's studio. A wild garden overlooking the sea, a landscaped garden, and a double garage complete this property in grounds of 2,010 m2. 3.900.000 €.

Manager of the Barnes Ile de Ré agency since 2014, Germain Tournoys benefits from 17 years of expertise on the Île de Ré market, and also runs the Victoria Keys Immobilier agency.