The magnetic appeal of Bordeaux
The Sleeping Beauty has finally woken up, shooting to second place in the 2016 real-estate rankings of towns in which to invest. Bordeaux has very persuasive assets, including the one most impatiently awaited : the LGV railway line which, as from 2017, will take passengers to and from Paris in less than two hours. Taken by storm, the city centre and its surrounding area are overwhelmed by demand - and prices are, of course, rising !
Borne along by remarkable transformation which has particularly embellished its centre, Bordeaux has created a new identity for itself while preserving its pleasant lifestyle. France's new "beating heart", this elegant city in the Gironde is attracting many Parisians fascinated by its centre, an area where prices are posting a rather spectacular rise, as explained by Marie-Charlotte de Demandolx of the Agence Marie-Charlotte D : "The entire centre of Bordeaux has now been up-graded, and all types of properties are finding takers. The city has been looking forward to the arrival of the LGV line for the past two years, and prices have risen significantly, like nowhere else in France, over the past 12 months. The clientele mainly consists of Parisians, though we are also seeing an increasing number of foreigners, especially from England, Scotland, Ireland and the USA. Those now hunting for a property in Bordeaux are not put off by renovation work ; they are not at all set back by old buildings or apartments. Most of the buyers are looking for year-round homes, with self-employed professionals largely represented. You also find a small number of clients on this market wanting to invest for their retirement or aiming for a sound long-term investment. In the city centre, the most highly-prized neighbourhoods are the Golden Triangle (Cours Clémenceau, Cours de l’Intendance and Allée du Tourny), Saint Pierre, Saint Michel and, of course, Les Chartrons. Anything up for sale in these areas is snapped up very quickly. On average, the price per sq. metre ranges from 5,000 to 6,000 €, though it can attain 9,000 € for outstanding properties, a level unheard of two years ago".
While the centre of Bordeaux is the main focus of buyers' interest, its immediate outskirts are also exercising wide appeal with their houses surrounded by gardens. The actively employed opt for this comfortable lifestyle, as confirmed by Pierre de Luzan, director of the Mercure Bordeaux agency : "Today, the appeal of Bordeaux has spread to the nearby region. Up to 30 minutes from the city centre, the market has put up good resistance and prices have even risen, though they are substantially lower than in the hyper-centre, which now excludes certain buyers who can no longer keep up with the pace. For the working population, the immediate outskirts of Bordeaux offer lots of advantages, including that of benefiting from nature, one's own garden and pool, while still enjoying easy access to the centre. Popular towns and neighbourhoods include Bouliac, Latresnes, Quinsac, bordering on the countryside, where you can find pretty detached houses for about 3,000 € per sq. metre. Buyers also appreciate Pessac, Léognan and Cestas, posting prices from 2,500 to 3,500 € per sqm. This market 30 minutes from Bordeaux is undergoing real expansion, and there is strong demand. Beyond 30 minutes, it is not the same clientele, with most enquiries coming from retirees or people who can work from home, and those wanting to acquire a second residence. Foreigners are also very keen on the countryside around Bordeaux, more focused on the region's leisure activities. These clients find houses an hour's drive from the centre of Bordeaux perfectly suitable".
