BORDEAUX SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY

Founded by Anne-Valérie Colas, the Bordeaux, Pyla-sur-Mer and Cap Ferret agencies belonging to the prestigious Sotheby’s International Realty network operate in total synergy, meeting the requirements of a demanding French and international clientele. Interview with Carmen Geffrault Milcent, who now runs these three agencies.

Long specializing in country residences and vineyard estates, Anne-Valérie Colas’ agency in Bordeaux was retained in 2006 by the highly demanding Sotheby’s International Realty network. “Demand from clients naturally led to the creation of two more agencies, that of Pyla-sur-Mer which opened in 2012, and that of Cap Ferret in 2023,” explains Carmen Geffrault Milcent.

“The shared DNA of these three agencies is the type of properties presented for sale : we clearly focus on the upper end of the market, unique properties… We can thus invite potential clients to acquire a wooden cabin on the Bassin d’Arcachon. Our guideline is rarity.” The agencies work closely together, though they each have specific roles depending on the markets they cover :

On the prestigious Domaine de la Forêt in Pyla-sur-Mer, near the beach, this magnificent villa designed by an architect nestles in a landscaped garden of 1,000 m2 with a heated pool. Its living space of 223 m2 offers a majestic living-room with a fireplace and open kitchen, and 4 suites. A garage completes the property. 2.675.000 €.

After starting her career in events management with a member of the Comité Colbert in Paris, Carmen Geffrault Milcent turned her attention to real estate in 2008 and launched an agency in Le Bassin d’Arcachon. In 2019, she joined the Sotheby’s IR Bordeaux agency and now runs the group’s three agencies in the Gironde. Bordeaux Sotheby’s International Realty, 40 cours de Verdun, 33000 Bordeaux (05 56 79 63 62). www.bordeauxsothebysrealty.com

In the country near Saint-Émilion, 45 minutes from Bordeaux, this sumptuous 2.5-acre property offers stunning views. Impeccably renovated, its living space of 750 m2 is split in two parts, offering 7 bedrooms including 5 prestige suites, numerous reception and relaxation areas (lap pool, movie lounge, gym…). 1.995.000 €.

At the very heart of Cap Ferret, on the front row, this superb villa of 300 m2, particularly light and airy, nestles in a fabulous environment with private access to the beach, and ideally located a stone’s throw from the market. It offers 6 bedrooms and a large annex comprised of a 1-bedroom apartment, a studio, and a large garage. 8.925.000 €.

“In Bordeaux, we have three departments : urban (prized neighbourhoods in the city) and countryside (properties for enjoyment at the heart of the Gironde) which are both very active. The third involves vineyard properties, a market in itself, suffering more these days, with supply outstripping demand. In Le Pyla, demand is centered around prized sectors, though we also cover surrounding areas which are less well-known. On the market to the south of the Bassin, there is a fine balance between main homes and second residences, and these two markets are buoyant with prices that have ceased rising. As for the Cap Ferret peninsula, this is clearly a market for holiday homes with very marked seasonal factors. Today, it is a “stagnant” market in which buyers and sellers meet up less easily, and prices are substantial.”

And the future ? “We are very optimistic. 2023 was more complicated than the previous four years when circumstances drove demand to its highest level, though our fourth quarter 2023 was remarkable. We are seeing a “landing” phase in which markets are stabilizing and reinstating pre-2018 benchmarks.”