Barnes Biarritz agencies : 10 years of on-going success

Biarritz, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Hossegor, the three Barnes agencies highlight the region’s leading addresses and have secured a prime position on the high-end market over the past decade. Director Philippe Thomine-Desmazures is backed by 15 team members upholding shared values.

Confronted by the coronavirus crisis, the real estate sector has had to adapt and come up with inventiveness. For Philippe Thomine-Desmazures, this is not the first time : “When I launched the Barnes Biarritz agency in 2010, the first years were complicated due to the economic and political context. But in just three years, we managed to weather the storm. The health crisis we have been living through since March has obliged us to introduce new procedures respecting confinement and social distancing. We have scanned a large part of our properties to offer virtual tours to future buyers and, during the confinement, that enabled us to sign four sales agreements”. Innovating is one of the keys to the success of the Barnes agencies and their development : “We are celebrating our first decade. Ten years of a wonderful human adventure with our clients and teams. Hard work, communication, assistance and follow-up for our clientele have all played their part in our success”. On the subject of the market on the Basque coast and in Les Landes, Philippe Thomine-Desmazures explains : “Many owners came here for the confirment, some are in fact still here. Due to Covid-19 and thanks to working from home, some families are thinking about settling permanently in the region, while others are taking the plunge of acquiring a second residence. More than ever, bricks and mortar provide a safe haven. In parallel, the crisis has affected the seasonal rental market adversely as, since the confinement, owners of houses and apartments have been occupying their properties. Few of them remained available for rent when demand flocked in : we received hundreds of calls in March and even had a client who rented a house for three months, for over 100,000 euros ! Previously, freedom was a rental offering the option to change one’s mind, today, it is property itself which has become a priority. A real change in mindsets, which should be confirmed over the coming months”.

Barnes Biarritz, 2 place Bellevue, 64200 Biarritz (05 59 51 00 00), Hossegor

Set at the heart of a wooded 3.7-acre park with a swimming pool, this superb house in an elavated position in Bidart offers an enchanting view of the sea in the distance, the mountains and pines. Its living space of 570 m2 is comprised of vast living rooms and 6 bedrooms including a master suite. A caretakers’ house of 80 m2 with its own entrance and outdoor parking space for 2 cars complete the property. Sold, more than 3 M €.

Set at the heart of a wooded 3.7-acre park with a swimming pool, this superb house in an elavated position in Bidart offers an enchanting view of the sea in the distance, the mountains and pines. Its living space of 570 m2 is comprised of vast living rooms and 6 bedrooms including a master suite. A caretakers’ house of 80 m2 with its own entrance and outdoor parking space for 2 cars complete the property. Sold, more than 3 M €.

Following business school and 10 years in consultancy and marketing in Paris and Switzerland, Philippe Tomine-Desmazures settled in Biarritz in 2010 and created the Barnes Biarritz agency with his mother-in-law. Two more branches were opened in 2017 and 2018, one in Saint Jean- de-Luz, the other in Hossegor, confirming the development of this prestige agency.

Following business school and 10 years in consultancy and marketing in Paris and Switzerland, Philippe Tomine-Desmazures settled in Biarritz in 2010 and created the Barnes Biarritz agency with his mother-in-law. Two more branches were opened in 2017 and 2018, one in Saint Jean- de-Luz, the other in Hossegor, confirming the development of this prestige agency.

At the very heart of the centre of Biarritz, this substantial, fully restored house of 450 m2 is surrounded by grounds of 1,160 m2 with a lovely heated infinity pool and a pool-house with a summer kitchen and bathroom. On three floors reached by a fine staircase, the house offers a double lounge with fireplace, a dining-room, a kitchen with central island, 7 bedrooms including a master suite, a vast converted attic, an auditorium, recreation room... Sold, more than 3 M €.

At the very heart of the centre of Biarritz, this substantial, fully restored house of 450 m2 is surrounded by grounds of 1,160 m2 with a lovely heated infinity pool and a pool-house with a summer kitchen and bathroom. On three floors reached by a fine staircase, the house offers a double lounge with fireplace, a dining-room, a kitchen with central island, 7 bedrooms including a master suite, a vast converted attic, an auditorium, recreation room... Sold, more than 3 M €.

(05 58 71 77 14), Saint-Jean-de-Luz (05 59 51 00 08).