Hossegor : for fans of sport and nature
A seaside resort well-known for its surfing spots and one of Europe’s loveliest golf-courses, Hossegor benefits from a wonderful natural heritage. Its holiday atmosphere characterizes a property market almost exclusively comprised of second residences. Focus on a commune which is also very popular among foreign buyers…
Sea, lake, forests, the commune of Hossegor offers a charming environment, a treasure-trove of natural beauty much appreciated by a well-heeled French and foreign clientele since the early 20th century. “Hossegor draws lots of tourists, it is a commune which focuses on holiday homes,” explains Serge Pilke of Terres et Océan. “It developed in the 1920’s and 1930’s with the arrival of Parisian artists who chose it for its pleasant life-style. In those days, lovely residences in Basco-Landaise style were built by renowned regional architects in areas which are still highly-prized today.” The golf-course area, Casino neighbourhood, and the area between lake and ocean are among the most widely sought-after, as described by our specialist : “These three neighbourhoods are prime locations, especially the area between the lake and ocean, which sees steady demand and fetches the highest prices. One property we currently have up for sale is located here. Typical of the 1930’s Basco-Landaise style, this lovely residence faces the marine lake on the first row, and is just a few hundred metres from the town centre. There is strong demand for this style of home offering timeless charm, and now becoming scarce. This one has already drawn the attention of serious and very keen buyers”. Alongside these imposing properties, one also finds other kinds of more recent homes in Hossegor which also find favour with numerous clients. “Availabilities in Hossegor also include more modest houses with simpler architecture : built in the 1950’s and 60’s, they adopt some of the characteristics of Basco-Landaise homes,” adds Serge Pilke. “Then, more recently, we have noticed enthusiasm for contemporary residences or those designed by architects. The municipality and “Architectes des Bâtiments de France” nevertheless take care to preserve the Basco-Landaise style as much as possible by imposing restrictions on highly contemporary constructions. Overall, Hossegor is a lively property market. In the case of our agency, 65% of the transactions completed in this commune consist of holiday homes, and we are constantly searching for properties of charm and character, and large contemporary villas for our clients.”
Nicknamed “the Hawaii of Europe”, the commune of Hossegor has attracted surfers from all over the world since the 1960’s. Fans of golf, walks in the forest and bike rides also find what they’re looking for here. This elegant address is one of France’s most popular seaside resorts, particularly acclaimed by an international clientele, as explained by Philippe Thomine Desmazures of the Barnes agency : “In Hossegor, you especially come across people from the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK and Switzerland. They love its holiday atmosphere, natural environment and sports facilities. This is a clientele one does not find elsewhere on the Basque Coast, giving precedence to surroundings dominated by nature rather than an urban setting. In Hossegor, there are few year-round residences : those who have elected domicile here are mostly retirees. The price bracket is rather wide, with closeness to the beach or lake inevitably accounting for higher price-tags. The worth of a house of 200 m2 on the front row will be estimated by the seller to be 2 to 2.5 million euros, though market reality is sometimes lower. These are prices one also finds for houses in Basco-Landaise style, intemporal and always highly sought-after. Houses on the golf-course comprise another kind of market. They are rather contemporary in style and, above all, more affordable, ranging from 600,000 to 900,000 € on average. A mid-upper range, accounting for sales with a clientele of classic buyers and a good flow of activity. Hossegor is nevertheless a niche market which chalks up few transactions year-round, as compared to Biarritz. In Hossegor’s highly-prized areas, the market for properties of around 2 million euros is extremely confidential, while the market for more reasonable homes on the golf-course is naturally much more active”.
