Property in Antibes and on the Cote d'Azur in general is designed for respectable customers whose status obliges decorously and decently behavior, at least on public. "Cote d'Azur is not a place to live it up till the consciousness is lost," - says Natalia Geller from the French real estate agency Roi Soleil Immobilier.
- Your company is located in Antibes. What benefits has this city against such giants of the French Riviera as are Nice and Cannes?
- Nice is a big city with many people. Cannes - is more a resort area and at the same time that it’s an option for aged people. Antibes, located between them, is more attractive for active lifestyles, as there is the largest marina in Europe, the developed marine-related tourism industry and the city "lives" all year round.
Yachts in Antibes
- Cote d'Azur is famous for its extremely high real estate prices. How are the things going in Antibes today?
- The cheapest property in Antibes costs €150,000 and it will be the studio that is not near the sea. Buyers, looking for accommodation on the first line, may count on €8,000 per sq.m for apartments and €10,000 per sq.m for a studio.
Housing prices on the Cote d'Azur don’t decrease. There is a few vacant land plots for development and this factor cannot help but affects pricing. The demand is stable, along with this. The Riviera attracts adults from all over the world, among them are seniors, wishing to use the excellent medical care, living in a nice climate and environment infrastructure.
Resort of Juan les Pins
Luxury real estate on the French Riviera does not feel any crisis displays. Everything is sold as it used to. Another thing is that the market is now blocked, those who had bought a villa on the Cote d'Azur, 7-8 years ago in times of the crisis, now want to sell them, expecting to gain at least as much as they have spent but it is rarely possible. So not much of objects are offered for sale, but if you have money, you can buy almost any property. Prices on the coast are stable, but it’s the best time to sell out the apartments in residential areas of Nice: I do not think that prices will go up in that segment.
Old town of Antibes
- There was an article on our site about criminality spreading in neighborhoods of Nice and authorities who create "zones of special security priority" there. What do you think about all that?
- Policy of French authorities is aimed to avoid the appearance of such areas, where police cannot enter. Special zones are created in certain districts of some cities, so that the police worked thoroughly there and knew all the residents in the face to prevent the spread of the ghetto. As for places that are popular among the tourists, they are patrolled constantly on the Riviera, and there is no reason to worry.
- Cote d'Azur is one of the most prestigious places in the world. Can mere mortals freely pass along this coast or its development is not limited anymore?
- Of course, the sea cost belongs to everyone and the construction in the 70-meters coastal zone is prohibited. The coast cannot be partly closed; a person should always have an opportunity to come through along the coast. Moreover, the first line cannot be built up with houses consisting of more than 3 floors and those who want to overcome this limitation should be ready for long permit waiting period and resistance of environmental organizations.
- Who are the main overseas buyers of real estate on the Cote d'Azur today?
- The Russians traditionally buy a lot and this demand is still a reality, but the Scandinavians and the French themselves, mostly of retirement age have also came back today. Although France and is known for high taxes, they start with a certain amount. Luxury tax is paid by those, who own real estate costing more than €1.3 million.
In general, the Cote d'Azur population is international. All the foreigners behave decently there: their status is not enough and Cote d'Azur is not a place to live it up till the consciousness is lost.
Interview: Alexander Fetyukov, ee24.com