Anglet : a highly-prized address
Ideally situated between Bayonne and Biarritz, this vast commune occupying an area of 27 km2 is characterized by properties of quality and a wonderful environment between beaches and the forest. Fuelled by extensive development and lots of freedom in terms of architecture, Anglet has won its place on the podium of the most sought-after addresses in the Basque Country.
Almost three times larger than the town of Biarritz, the commune of Anglet covers a vast territory edged by the ocean and forests with a wide diversity of neighbourhoods, as explained by Benoit Verdet of the Agence Prestant : “Anglet is a mosaic of very different areas. First there’s Chiberta, the epitome of a seaside address with holiday homes offering immediate proximity to the beaches, golf-course, tennis courts and riding club, just five minutes from Biarritz. It is the most expensive part of Anglet where properties are highly-prized and prices very stable. Buyers here are looking for personal enjoyment, their aim is not to settle here, but to find a house ensuring easy living so that they can benefit from it on weekends and for their holidays. The area called Les Cinq Cantons, also very popular, has a more urban atmosphere with lots of shops. Near the ocean, it offers a perfect blend of town and seaside. As for Anglet Centre and particularly the market of Le Quintaou, this very lively neighbourhood benefits from a strategic position, equi-distant from Biarritz and Bayonne. It is a neighbourhood popular among the local clientele and, in fact, a market consisting almost exclusively of permanent homes. Finally, there is Anglet-Sutar, a neighbour to the communes of Bassussarry and Arcangues, an area in the country offering very lovely views of the Pyrenees, quietness and lots of space. Anglet-Sutar is also very well connected and enjoys a good location at the gateways to Bayonne and Biarritz. Overall, Anglet is popular because it is a modern commune : we don’t have the historic character of Bayonne or Biarritz, but instead a contemporary art of living which today’s buyers find very appealing”.
On the strength of this fine art of living and forward-looking development, Anglet’s property market is extremely lively. According to Stanislas de Roumefort of Côte Ouest Christies : “Anglet has undertaken extensive development over the past few years and now offers real estate of rather remarkable quality, a high level of comfort and modern appointments corresponding to buyers’ requirements. On the outskirts of Biarritz, Anglet occupies a vast area, and is a strategic commune backed by dual demand for both year-round and second residences. The market is very buoyant as it appeals to all kinds of clients. Chiberta posts the highest prices, though there are other niche markets such as the neighbourhoods of Parc d’Hiver and Brindos, residential pockets mainly comprised of contemporary villas whose starting prices easily attain 1 million euros. We recently sold a contemporary house of 300 m2 in Chiberta, surrounded by grounds of 1,700 m2 with a pool, priced at 2.5 million euros. Anglet also benefits from lots of latitude in terms of architecture, allowing for this kind of modern construction. It is a market which has developed significantly over just a few years, with lots of new homes, but also great opportunities still be found in the form of old houses to renovate”.
An address which clearly has the wind in its sails, Anglet appeals just as much to local buyers as international clients, as explained by Pierre Deglaire, manager of the Coldwell Banker agency in Biarritz : “At the beginning of 2016, Anglet had already chalked up a good number of transactions. It is a lively market, underpinned by interest in both old and new properties. We see both local buyers already living and working here year-round, enjoying a very pleasant lifestyle in which everthing can easily be done on foot, and French or foreign clients looking for holiday homes who appreciate the commune’s seaside aspect and its wide array of infrastructures. British, Spanish, Scandinavian buyers, and a clientele from Eastern Europe - now rare, but still present -, are showing interest in Anglet. Some neighbourhoods are seeing strong demand, such as Chambre d’Amour, Chiberta and Les Cinq Cantons, where buyers are in search of opportunities. We recently sold an apartment of 130 m2 with a terrace in Anglet at 5,500 € per sq. metre. Average prices are around 5,000 € per sqm., though in the upper bracket one quickly attains 8,000-10,000 € per sqm., even more for outstanding properties in very desirable locations. Such was the case for a house to renovate, which we recently sold in Chiberta, offering direct access to the golf-course and a very beautiful view of the ocean. It found a taker at 12,000 € per sqm”.
