From Les Issambres to Antheor
All persuasive arguments in favour of Fréjus, Saint-Raphaël, Agay...
A coastline not overly built-up, a quality world for golfers and good road and rail services – all persuasive arguments in favour of Les Issambres, Fréjus, Saint-Raphaël, Agay and Anthéor.
The population is rising due to pressure from “grand-daddies” in search of retirement in the sun. Constantly improved access encourages buyers of holiday homes from Paris and Lyon, and foreigners also appreciate the proximity of the Nice Côte d’Azur International Airport. Yet this part of the coast in the Var is still rather wild with towns on a human scale.
According to Jean-Jacques Cauquil of the Agence du Cap, the buyer looking for a villa makes Valescure his priority, if he can afford it. The new neighbourhood built 4.5 km from the Mediterranean, around a golf-course, offers a price-range starting at 700,000 € (130 m2 with grounds of 1,000 m2) and rising to 2 million €, save for a few exceptions. The average is 1.1 million € (250 m2 in grounds of 1,500 m2), with a starting price for a scenic sea view at 1.2 million €. Prices at Boulouris are explained by its older houses, offered between 700,000 and 900,000 €, with peaks at 1.2 million €. The neighbourhood with the best views turns out to be close to the centre of Saint-Raphaël and the sea. Notre-Dame, 500 m from the heart of town, is home to properties built in the early 20th century. For 1.2 million €, locals can acquire a very lovely villa with sea view. The Parc Santa-Lucia proposes the highly-prized criteria of a gated estate and proximity to the Mediterranean. It boasts houses at the water’s edge and homes built in the 1960s, just 100 m from the shore. Expect price-tags from 1 to 2.5 million €. At Agay and Anthéor, most of the properties look out to the sea, cost from 1 to 1.5 million € and are 50 % holiday homes. The Germans, Danes and Dutch are fond of this area. Properties at Les Issambres post the same features but are less popular. Ranging from 900,000 to 1.2 million €, they suffer from heavy summer traffic conditions. Catherine Albert and Bernard Guerrero of the agency La Villa say that there’s a scarcity of offerings at Agay. “Owners are not keen to sell, as bricks and mortar are still a better investment than anything else. Only divorces and successions give rise to any movement on the market. Views and houses facing south-west are in demand, but are difficult to find.” Development of Anthéor speeded up as soon as Agay reached saturation point. Its orientation is less appealing, which shows in the prices.
Apartments do not pursue the same logic in terms of areas. “Valescure and Boulouris head the list,” says Jean-Jacques Cauquil. The purchaser’s interests separate the two localities. Golfers choose the first, fans of sea views opt for the second. 100 m2 with a scenic view of the Med costs from 800,000 to 1 million €. Fréjus-Plage is the most popular address for vacationers, at prices ranging from 5,000 to 6,000 € per m2. The new developments, Bleu Azur and Bleu Horizon, have just been sold on plans at 7,500 €/m2. Small apartments go for identical prices at Port-Fréjus, popular among the Italians and Belgians. The harbour explains the presence of sailing fans. The centre of Saint-Raphaël features some sound values, at prices hardly any lower than at Valescure or Boulouris. The reason being that the TGV train station has put Paris just 4 hrs 30 from this seaside resort.
“The top end of the market is be found at Valescure,” adds Eric Gennet from the Immo Golf agency. The Romans called the site “Valiscurans”, the valley that heals, probably because of its micro-climat ; English doctors gave it a new start in the 19th century. The golf area came into being, under its current form, following urbanisation of the Alpes-Maritimes. On the strength of that example, planners have to comply with Draconian specifications based on respect for the environment. The Provençal style takes pride of place and vegetation is preserved. Outstanding properties cost close on 2.2 million € : a 1-storey villa of 350 m2 in grounds of 2,500 m2 with a Japanese garden, or smaller living space in grounds of 4,000 m2 benefitting from a sweeping view. For identical homes, being on the edge of the greens raises the price by 30 %, just like a view of the sea. Clients are 85 % French, though from outside the region. There are 2,500 homes, 40 % apartments. Among the most highly-sought residences one finds L’Albatros with its large living areas and terraces overlooking the golf-course and Estérel hills, and Le Drive with its 17 apartments at the Cap Fairways crossroad. As per the trend observed over the entire region, the market is beginning to be stretched. Stocks of new accommodation are almost sold out, interest is slackening off and middle-range products suffer.
Catherine Albert and Bernard Guerrero strike a warning note : locals can no longer find accommodation. The sluggish market is naturally explained by an imbalance between supply and demand. In the 1990s, there were very few clients, today they don’t have the necessary budgets. Price differences compared to Cannes are diminishing, and this area in the Var now has to face the competition. Some sellers are criticized for their tendency to over-estimate values. A sign that a more dynamic approach could win the day : fairly priced, a property doesn’t stay long in the agency’s window. Realisation of the fact is the only way to get the market moving again.
In this classified area, unblocking of building land requires significant investment, related to waste water treatment. Catherine Albert and Bernard Guerrero nevertheless mention a few new developments. On the hills above Saint-Raphaël, 150 apartments, with views down to the sea, are selling at over 5,000 €/m2. The project’s attributes ? A lovely park, swimming pool and fitness room, but above large surface areas. A desire on the part of the municipality to encourage main residences and restrict the “closed shutter” phenomenon. Commercialisation of 100 lots, shared out in two apartment blocks at Valescure, should commence in 2007. Then there’s the second phase of Port-Fréjus, expected to cost 5,000-6,000 €/m2. Jean-Jacques Cauquil notes that apartments are also replacing old villas which are torn down to meet ever-growing needs. One thing is sure, 30 year-olds from the area have no other solution than to rent. It seems that this sector, a 20-minute drive from Cannes and a 45-minute boat ride from Saint-Tropez, has become a victim of its own success.
By Laetitia Rossi - Photos : Edith Andreotta
