Prospering Property Market for France

Increased confidence and a booming Parisian market have sparked a fresh appetite for French real estate - specifically from overseas.

Provence - a perennial favourite of the British – has also seen 25% more enquiries from US-based buyers compared to 2016. This appears to be as a result of a more favourable exchange rate between USD/EUR, combined with the region’s accessibility from Marseille International airport. The ‘Golden Triangles’ of the Luberon and les Alpilles remain firm favourites, with the town of St Remy de Provence showing a significant increase in demand.

The Côte d’Azur - spanning Cannes to Monaco - remains a melting pot of nationalities looking for easy access via Nice airport on a globally adored coastline. With prices rising by 2.6% in 2016, this area is a hot-spot for Scandinavian and Benelux buyers looking for elegantly renovated villas. Cannes has been at the heart of this encouraging momentum, with Knight Frank completing more €8m sales in H1 2017 compared to the entirety of 2016 - involving buyers from the Middle East and Asia.

The Var coastline, which incorporates the globally renowned St Tropez peninsula, is picking up momentum with the core market showing strong signs of revival in the charming inland villages of Gassin, Grimaud, and La Garde-Freinet.

The Gers region of south west France has also attracted European and American buyers looking for value. Prices are down by 30% since 2007, but values are stabilising with the gap between asking and achieved prices narrowing significantly.

British buyers continue to be a dominant investor pool across the south, despite current political and economic uncertainty. The French presidential election and Macron’s consequent appointment has boosted confidence in France and had a positive impact on the property market.