Barnes Île de Ré, high visibility
Founded in 2014 by Lisa and Germain Tournoys, the Barnes Île de Ré agency in La Flotte was joined in the spring of 2019 by a second branch in Les Portes. Confirming its position as leader on this desirable market for French investors, the two agencies propose an array of quality properties including prestigious old buildings and residences, all to the taste of buyers in search of holiday homes.
A micro-territory benefiting from sublime nature and breathtaking panoramic views, the Île de Ré and its 10 villages are among the most highly acclaimed addresses in France : “The island’s property market is shared out between fishermen’s houses, village houses and luxury properties in a wide price range, from 500,000 to 5 million euros,” explains Germain Tournoys. “It is a stable market offering sound investments with a clientele split between second and semi-permanent homes. Most of our clients are from Paris or the A10 area, with a significant number of French ex-pats based in London, Brussels, Singapore or Hong Kong, plus, on the international scene, mainly English and Belgian buyers.” With the opening of its second branch in Les Portes, Barnes enjoys full visibility on the island, from north to south. Due to the coronavirus crisis, its market drew even more interest. “Over the past few weeks, the market has been very active on the island,” says Germain Tournoys. “Firstly, we have old clients who are validating their plans and, secondly, many new buyers approaching retirement and wanting to acquire a second residence. Working from home has produced new desires and is transforming homes into living and work places, with high demand for an extra room to serve as an office. We have just completed four sales at prices ranging from 800,000 to 2 million euros, one with a live video presentation. The Île de Ré is a unique place, accessible year-round thanks to the bridge, and clearly marked by a lack of available properties. I am optimistic for the future, though it is highly likely that we will see a slowdown in sales volume due to a scarcity of properties in the autumn. As for the summer season, it looks as if it will be busy as, instead of going abroad, all our owners will have time to study the market, to sell and maybe buy a property corresponding perfectly to their requirements and lifestyle.”
Barnes Île de Ré, 19 Cours Félix Faure, La Flotte en Ré (05 46 69 66 71) et 11 Place de la Liberté, Les Portes en Ré (05 46 56 18 03). www.barnes-iledere.com
