Macron effect and prospering wine industry spark Property Boom in France

When it comes to the business of selling Châteaux and prestigious French properties, Sifex has been the go-to company since 1989. Director Sarah Francis shares her insights on the high-end property market in France for the upcoming year.

The ‘Macron factor’ has rekindled interest in France.  The arrival of the new President has resulted in property transactions returning to levels last seen before the banking crisis.

Emmanuel Macron’s vision of reform has boosted equity investment and renewed enthusiasm from high-net-worth investors to take advantage of the best value in years in the luxury property sector.

Investing in a historic French château is more affordable than ever with prices stabilising at their lowest level since 2000. The choice is extensive – though castles for renovation are scarcer than habitable or immaculate châteaux and estates.

One striking example on the market at the moment – which has just seen a price reduction - even has gardens by Le Nôtre of Versailles fame and a fountain garden based on the Petershof Palace at St Petersburg.

And of course the wine industry is playing its part. The Bordeaux property market is booming with the new TGV link to Paris, the 2017 Cité du Vin and 2015 and 2016 having produced two of the best vintages in living memory.

The vineyard market in general is extremely buoyant with neo-investors - primarily French buying for tax reasons - competing for market share with industry players. Financial incentives to roll over capital gain from selling a business are driving the market.

Global demand for wines outweighs production, leading to stiff competition for vineyard land to guarantee production. With this new era of ‘Macro-optimism’, 2018 must be a good time to take advantage of excellent opportunities before prices rise.

Sifex is known for its expertise, has discreet listings of many confidential vineyards and is seeing interest from all across the globe. To find out more about luxury homes on offer in France visit www.sifex.co.uk