Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, a town on a human scale
In January, 2007, the territory of this commune with almost 10,700 inhabitants was classified by decree as part of the Regional Nature Park of the Alpilles. Already regarded as the little capit-al of the hilly area of Les Bouches-du-Rhône, Saint-Rémy certainly deserves its renown throughout Europe and even worldwide…
It is a real pleasure to stroll along its boulevards lined with plane-trees, lunch on its small squares with fountains, wander through its narrow streets with their art-galleries and studios. The most adventurous keep going as far as the gateways to the town, discovering the very special countryside within the protected park. In addition to agriculture, the area makes its living from tourism focusing on culture, relaxation and sports, with a very varied range of activities on offer. Furthermore, the vineyard and olive-growing estates hold regular tasting events. Growing numbers of visitors arrive by car, train or plane. The motorways A7 (Lyon-Marseille), A54 (Nîmes-Salon-de-Provence) and A9 (Orange-Montpellier-Perpignan) are just a few kilometres away. It takes 20 minutes to reach the Avignon TGV station, 45 minutes to the airports of Marignane or Nîmes. Nostradamus and Van Gogh made the town famous, HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco still holds the title of Lord of Saint-Rémy. In a more rural version, this lovely town in Provence has nothing to envy of Saint-Tropez, the country’s most jet-set destination. As evidenced by the attraction it exercises on artists and captains of industry, both French and foreign.
“Saint-Rémy’s property market is doing relatively well,” says Valérie Lucien of Actuel Immobilier. Most transactions revolve around 850,000 €. With this type of budget, fans of older properties must accept the inevitability of renovation or consider neighbouring addresses. For 850,000 €, they can acquire a traditional villa with 3 or 4 bedrooms in grounds of 1,000-2,000 m2. Others, capable of raising 450,000 €, hope for a pied-à-terre with a small garden in an urban area. In more modest numbers, some buyers invest 1.2 to 1.5 million euros in a “mas” of 250 m2, often requiring modernisation, with grounds of 5,000 m2 and more. Finally, clients ready to pay 2 million euros and beyond for homes of undeniable charm almost always insist on properties ready to move in. French and foreigners - from England, Belgium, Switzerland and Luxembourg - rub shoulders here. They are all demanding and anxious to recover their outlay over the medium term. Since the crisis, many of them are diversifying their assets, buying average-sized properties, fast and easy to sell if needed. Rather than a single, unique “mas” in the Alpilles, they prefer, for example, a less luxurious residence if they can add to their shopping basket a chalet in a skiing resort. 70 % are looking for holiday homes, 30 % a year-round home for the immediate or near future. The only reminder of the tension observed in 2008 and 2009 is a less regular pace of activity, despite a general trend which is rather encouraging.
“Saint-Rémy attracts three distinct purchaser profiles : fans of unspoilt scenery in the Regional Nature Park can opt indifferently for the capital of the Alpilles or another village : people relying on the TGV, including Parisians, generally make a bee-line for for Saint-Rémy, Eyragues or Maillane : the only buyers totally set on Saint-Rémy are real town-dwellers wanting to be near shops, amenities and entertainment,” explains Sandy Marquis of Acanthe Immo. The old “mas” of character still tops the bill. Living space of 300 m2 in perfect condition with a garden of at least 5,000 m2 attains or exceeds 1.5 million euros. It is, in fact, increasingly hard to unearth properties still awaiting restoration. 2011 could be just as promising as 2010 was dynamic, overthrowing all preconceived ideas regarding periods of activity and ratios between the number of visits and contracts actually signed. The first quarter looks promising, the second, calmer. Sometimes one contact is enough to clinch a deal, while ten are totally unproductive. On the holiday home market, estate-agents have to step up their efforts to hit the target, as such buyers are by nature more volatile.
Caroline of Monaco, Patricia Kaas, Amanda Lear and Pierre Bergé... Saint-Rémy no longer counts the personalities among its fans. “The village definitely has an international side, drawing fans of the countryside, but also nightlife, restaurants and cultural events,” comments Claude Segalin of the Michaël Zingraf group. The top end of the market, which is the agency’s flagship product, starts at 1.5 million euros in the case of village houses. Recently, an American client acquired one such example of 600 m2 to be refurbished, extended by a garden of 400 m2, at the very heart of town, for 2 million euros, before spending a further 1 million euros on the work. The prestige “mas” bears price-tags from 2.5 million euros. By way of example, one would need 2.6 million euros for a “mas” of 280 m2 of sound construction in a luxuriant setting of 5,000 m2. Another in need of total restoration, 5 minutes from Saint-Rémy, is pegged at close on 800,000 €. “Then, the stock available also contains outstanding homes, such as one property of 1,200 m2 with about 12.5 acres of grounds, pegged at 9.2 million euros. For properties over and above 4 million euros, the Alpilles offer very similar prices. Below that level, Maussane and Eygalières seem to be slightly more expensive than this town slightly to the north.”
By Laetitia Rossi
