The popularity of Valbonne and its surrounding area
The reputation of this old village in a pleasant setting goes well beyond the boundaries of France. And not solely because it plays host to the technopolis of Sophia-Antipolis…
Valbonne is home to 13,000 residents. The 16th-century village laid out around the Place des Arcades tips its hat to the science and technology park created in the 1970’s in the midst of the woodlands. A development that explains the fact that the population then quadrupled in the area. A population which is relatively young : only 12 % of the residents are aged over 60, a ratio 50 % lower than the national average. A village of contrasts, Valbonne blends its old architectural legacy with a modern thrust, inherent to the site of Sophia-Antipolis.
“Valbonne stands out for its quality living conditions, set well back from the bustle down on the coast, yet so close to the Nice Côte d’Azur international airport, reached in about 20 minutes,” says Chantal Agier of the Agence de l’Olivier, based here since 1982. An airy central square, shops, schools, large public car-parks, a busy calendar of events… Here, a friendly atmosphere goes hand in hand with a sense of good neighbourliness. The village is in immediate proximity to the hills of the hinterland, providing elevated views and secret gardens. While buyers are mostly foreign, 20 to 30 % of the clientele is comprised of French buyers with budgets up to 2 M €. An observation that goes some way to explaining the declining prices of the past few years. The market for houses of charm, either old or more modern, priced from 1.5 to 2.5 M €, still holds promise. Beyond that level, sales are thinner on the ground. Even so, an exceptional property - ie. one offering a very desirable location, high-quality construction and self-evident value for money - will always find a taker. While it is hard to ignore the crise of confidence caused by a still uncertain international economy and a rather dissuasive tax set-up, the hinterland is nevertheless still seen as a safe-haven investment.
A position readily endorsed by Georges Fassone of the John Taylor agency, covering Valbonne, Châteauneuf-de-Grasse, Opio, Roquefort-les-Pins, Le Rouret and Mougins. “The area offers a genuine social life, excellent restaurants, cultural and sports activities, starting with golf and tennis. It draws people working in Sophia-Antipolis, employed by one of its 1,400 companies or so, residents of Monaco delighted to spend their weekends in a country setting, and nationalities from outside the euro zone, ie. the UK, Switzerland and Norway, who benefit here from an advantageous exchange rate as well as renowned international schools. Prepared to pay 1 to 3.5 M €, most of them are looking for houses with at least four bedrooms in grounds of at least 3,000 m2, with a sunny orientation and near shops. A Danish client recently acquired from a British owner two buildings offering living space of 300 m2 in good condition, on almost 2.5 acres of land, for 2.8 M €. The market is currently rather active. In 2015, the turnover chalked up by the John Taylor agency rose, as did the volume and number of sales. We receive lots of requests for information. A steady pace, also observed in the case of seasonal rentals. In fact, many people start with holidays in the hinterland before taking the plunge of acquiring a property.”
“Traditionally a rather quiet period, the start of this year is in fact turning out to be really promising,” confirms Cubby Wolf of Riviera Realty. Even so, buyers are still looking for bargains and making particularly bold offers, even in the prestige sector. Specializing in the top end of the market, Cubby Wolf recently handled the sale of a “Belle Epoque” property of 950 m2 on 1.73 acres of land, within walking distance of the village, which sold close to its initial asking price of around 4.5 M €. Looking for a holiday home, the British buyer already owned a villa in Cannes but wanted more space. In the luxury sector, properties at reasonable prices still find takers. Unusual, high-quality properties usually meet their new owners through a solid network of foreign partners. And these days, in order to raise interest, sellers are obliged to show real pragmatism with regard to their pretensions.
