The Virus Influence. How the French Real Estate Market is Changing

Traffic with Pauses

The French real estate market started the year optimistically. In 2019, the number of transactions increased by 10.4%, prices in Paris increased by 6.6%, and in a number of major cities, the growth exceeded 10%. One of the factors that "warmed up" the market was called the upcoming Brexit. Apartments were clearly in higher demand than houses.

However, in March the situation began to change. About 16% of Paris real estate transactions were made by foreigners, and the absence of one of the largest groups of Chinese buyers was already beginning to affect the overall figures. But that was just the beginning.

In March, the pandemic covered all of Europe, France began a two-month lockdown and the real estate market was almost paralyzed. Notaries were self-isolated in their homes, and without their participation, the transaction cannot take place according to the law. However, quite quickly they had the option to continue working without visiting the office. The country approved the use of a secure online system that allowed the transaction to be verified remotely. However, this helped those who were already at the finish line – in the design stage-to a greater extent. There were still a few people who wanted to buy a house without seeing it with their own eyes.

In May, the market got a break: the quarantine was lifted, and the deals started to flow. Agencies were opened, site views started again. At the same time, new trends became noticeable: as throughout Europe, buyers reduced their interest in megacities and increased their interest in homes outside the city. The greatest excitement was observed in the region of Ile-de-France surrounding the capital, but the popularity of small cities across the country also increased significantly.

However, a little away from the hardships of quarantine life, the French did not significantly invest more in suburban real estate. At the same time, owners of rental apartments who have made money on Airbnb in recent years have switched to long-term rentals: in Paris, by September, the rental offer increased by 64%.

In autumn, during the second wave of the pandemic, the country closed for lockdown again. The French will be locked up until the end of November, and in the best case, free movement will be allowed from the beginning of December. Signing contracts is still possible, notaries use the system introduced in the spring. However, without the possibility of views, the market got up for the second time. It got to the point that 10 major real estate market players operating in the country appealed to the government for assistance. They asked to allow views to avoid further complications of the industry state. However, at the end of November, virtual visits were the only way to show property to a client.

Market professionals have no doubt that the number of transactions in 2020 will be catastrophically less than in recent years. However, a drop in the number of transactions does not mean a drop in prices.

What you can buy now in Paris and the suburbs:

615 000 €

Flat in Paris, France

90 sq.m 3

Beautiful building in 1930 PDT high floor apartment includes living room facing south, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, cave.Proche all amenities, public areas renovated. Rooms: 3 Bedrooms: 1 Living area: 80 m2 Carrez: 80 m2 Living room: 23 m2 Kitchen: equipped bathroom: 1st Floor: 4 Heating: Radiator heating: Collective Heating: gas Hot...

Sol Costa Blanca

2 200 000 €

Apartment in Paris, France

180 sq.m 5

Paris The apartment is 5 minutes from the Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Elysees Apartments with a purely Parisian charm in a beautiful building of the late XIX century in the city center. A rare location. Stucco, high ceilings. Area 180 m2: front hall, living room with fireplace, dining room, equipped kitchen, 2 spacious bedrooms, 2...

INDOM

3 400 000 €

Apartment in Paris, France

170 sq.m 4

France , Paris Apartments opposite the GEORGE V Hotel Apartments in a beautiful Ottoman house in the "Golden Triangle" of Paris opposite the chic GEORGE V 5* hotel. The area of the apartment is 170m2: a large corner very bright living room, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, an office (you can make another bedroom). High ceilings, stucco,...

INDOM

25 000 000 €

Apartment in Paris, France

500 sq.m

France , Paris Apartments in the "Golden Triangle" Unique duplex apartment on Avenue Montaigne in the "Golden Triangle" of Paris. One of the most prestigious addresses in Paris! The design of the apartments is the latest work of the famous French decorator Jacques Garcie on the famous Avenue Montaigne, the concept of the "royal...

INDOM

2 960 000 €

Apartment in Paris, France

303 sq.m

France , Paris Apartments in the 16th arrondissement of Paris Classic apartment on the 4th floor in a beautiful building of the late 19th century. Excellent location: Avenue Victor Hugo, the prestigious 16th quarter of Paris. The area of the apartment is 303m2, including a separate studio apartment for staff. High ceilings, parquet,...

INDOM

6 950 000 €

Apartment in Paris, France

437 sq.m

France , Paris Apartments on Avenue Henri Martin Elegant apartment in one of the most beautiful buildings of the early XX century on the prestigious Avenue Henri Martin in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, next to the Trocadero Square. The area of the apartment is 437m2: 4 bedrooms with private bathrooms and dressing rooms, a spacious...

INDOM

3 675 000 €

Apartment in Paris, France

216 sq.m

France , Paris, 7th arrondissement Apartments at the foot of the Eiffel Tower A rare offer on the real estate market!!! Elegant apartment in the prestigious 7th arrondissement of Paris, at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, in a beautiful building of the late XIX century, overlooking the Eiffel Tower. The area of the...

INDOM

2 600 000 €

Apartment in Paris, France

135 sq.m

France , Paris, 6th arrondissement Apartments near the Luxembourg Garden Rare apartment 50m from the Luxembourg Garden in the prestigious 6th arrondissement of Paris. 6th floor of a beautiful building of the beginning of the XX century. View of the Eiffel Tower, the Disabled and the Luxembourg Garden. The area of the...

INDOM

12 800 000 €

Mansion in Paris, France

650 sq.m

France , Paris The mansion is 5 minutes from the Champs-Elysees A beautiful mansion after a high-quality expensive renovation just 5 minutes drive from the Champs-Elysees - at the beginning of the elite Neuilly-sur-Seine district, opposite the Bois de Boulogne. The living area of the mansion is 650m2: 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms,...

INDOM

13 000 000 €

Apartment in Paris, France

370 sq.m

France , Paris, 16th arrondissement Apartment with a beautiful view A very rare offer! Luxury apartment on Avenue Jena, between the Louvre and Alma Square. High floor, beautiful view of the sights of the center of Paris. Very expensive and high-quality finishing with the use of the latest technologies The latest...

INDOM

12 800 000 €

Apartment in Paris, France

600 sq.m

France , Paris, 16th arrondissement Three-level penthouse with garden An exceptional three-level penthouse in the palace style, with a garden in full ownership, in a closed, guarded elite residence just a stone's throw from the Trocadero in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. The area of the penthouse is 600m2, 3 levels: 2...

INDOM

1 450 000 €

Apartment in Paris, France

110 sq.m 4

France , Paris, 7th arrondissement Apartment in the 7th arrondissement A rare offer in terms of price/quality! 7th arrondissement of Paris, prestigious address - near the Disabled Apartment in a beautiful house of the late XIX century with a front entrance. Apartment after high-quality renovation Area 110m2: spacious...

INDOM

26 780 000 €

Mansion in Paris, France

1050 sq.m

France , Paris 1050m2 mansion with garden An elegant mansion a few meters from the Bois de Boulogne, in the prestigious Neuilly quarter. The area of the mansion is 1050m2, 5 levels: - 2nd level - technical floor; - 1st level - swimming pool, gym, massage room, hairdresser, 2 offices, laundry, 1 room and studio apartment...

INDOM

2 750 000 €

Apartment in Paris, France

130 sq.m 4

France , Paris, 8th arrondissement Apartment in the "Golden Triangle" A great option for investors: apartment for long-term/ short-term rental. The ideal location of the apartment, which is very popular for rent, is the Golden Triangle, 1 min walk from George V Avenue. Bright, elegant, corner apartment with one...

INDOM

15 200 000 €

Mansion in Paris, France

675 sq.m

France , Paris Beautiful mansion with garden Exclusive private mansion with garden in a prestigious location in Neuilly-sur-Seine, just a 10-minute drive from the Champs-Elysees. The living area of the mansion is 675m2: spacious living room with access to the terrace and garden, dining room, fully equipped kitchen, study,...

INDOM

5 450 000 €

Mansion in Paris, France

580 sq.m

France , Paris Department of Hauts-de-Seine A mansion in the suburbs of Paris An elegant mansion after a high-quality renovation in the nearest elite, green suburb of Paris Saint-Cloud, opposite the Bois de Boulogne, just 10 km from the center of Paris. The area of the mansion is 580 m2: spacious and cozy living...

INDOM

3 400 000 €

Apartment in Paris, France

120 sq.m

France , Paris, 7th arrondissement Apartments in the Saint-Germain quarter Apartment with a unique terrace overlooking all the monuments of Paris in the prestigious 7th arrondissement, in the Saint-Germain-des-Pres quarter. The area of the apartment is 120 m2, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Apartments after an expensive...

INDOM

17 000 000 €

Apartment in Paris, France

622 sq.m

France , Paris Penthouse on the Champs-Elysees A unique penthouse with a huge terrace with panoramic views of the entire historical center of Paris and all the main monuments. 7-8 floors The penthouse participated in the filming of many films! Living area 302m2 + terrace 320m2 4 bedrooms, each with bathroom and dressing room,...

INDOM

1 950 000 €

Apartment in Paris, France

116 sq.m

France , Paris, 16th arrondissement Apartments on Trocadero Ideal apartments for luxury comfort lovers and connoisseurs of design sophistication.The prestigious 16th arrondissement of Paris. The 4th floor of a modern luxury residence, decorated by a famous French designer. The area of the apartment is 116m2: an elegant...

INDOM

450 000 €

Flat in Paris, France

31 sq.m 1 1

Wonderful and unique in its design, this residence offers a vegetative landscape that allows residents to reconnect with nature. The complex offers views of the Seine River. Near the complex there is all the necessary infrastructure: supermarkets, shops, cafes, restaurants, schools, public transport.

NF Group

See more 127 similar properties

What They Sell, What They Buy. Market Reviews

Alexander Matsulevich, Director of the company group ServiceAzur

While the whole world is recovering from the first wave of the crisis and preparing for the second, probably more powerful, the French Riviera real estate market remains one of the most liquid and interesting for investment. In March, when there was a collapse in the securities market, many investors decided to go the proven way and invested in residential and commercial real estate on the Cote d'Azur.

At the moment, the premium segment is in a waiting position: most owners of luxury real estate have chosen to temporarily withdraw it from sale. This is explained by the precariousness of the current situation, despite the fact that, as our almost 20-year practice shows, keeping your assets in real estate on the Cote d'Azur and Monaco is an almost infallible decision.

Our company works mainly with Russian-speaking clients, and this year, due to restrictive measures and closed borders, in March we moved more than 80% of reservations for renting villas and apartments from our compatriots to the summer season of 2021. However, we constantly received requests from the French clients, citizens of neighboring European countries. The French were "locked up" on the territory of their own country, and many of them decided to spend their summer holidays by the sea.

The same growth in demand from the French is also observed in real estate transactions. This year we see an increase in interest in properties worth from €200,000 to €1 million. Most of the new owners of real estate in this segment are Parisians and residents of neighboring countries: Switzerland, Germany and others.

There are no promotions or discounts right now. As we have already said, the Cote d'Azur real estate market remains unshakeable even in the face of a pandemic. Demand for investment properties is high and is only gaining momentum. In our catalog, you can still note a decrease in the price of 10-20 objects, but we do not associate this with the general situation on the market, rather it is just the circumstances that have developed this way or owners have a desire to sell the property faster. The general situation suggests quite the opposite: increased interest and a limited number of real estate objects only strengthen the position of the Cote d'Azur.

Examples of real estate on the Cote d'Azur:

1 800 000 €

Apartment in Cannes, France

140 sq.m 3 3

Offering panoramic sea and city views, this apartment is located in the Super Cannes area. The apartment includes 3 bedrooms with bathrooms, a spacious living room, a kitchen. In a private garden of 1000 sq. m. There is an infinity pool nearby. Technical equipment includes air conditioning system, smart home system, elevator, video surveillance.

NF Group

Price on request

Villa in Antibes, France

600 sq.m 9 9

Luxury villa on Cap d'Antibes a few meters from the sea, near the famous Eden Roc hotel, overlooking the sea and the Esterel mountains, with a well-maintained park of 8,200 sq.m., swimming pool and tennis court. The villa has an area of 600 sq.m. It includes on the lower level: an entrance hall, a kitchen and a dining room, a double living room...

SERVICEAZUR

Price on request

Villa in Antibes, France

260 sq.m 4 4

Beautiful well-maintained villa, conveniently located near Garup beach. Quiet side street, nice sea view from the floor. The upper floor is completely given over to a large master suite with 2 dressing rooms and 2 bathrooms. 3 guest bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, a spacious living room with access to a wide sunny terrace, a separate kitchen. An...

SERVICEAZUR

5 950 000 €

Villa in Theoule-sur-Mer, France

650 sq.m 7 6

Spacious villa in a gated domain on the hill of Traias, Teul-sur-Mer, with panoramic views of the sea and the Esterel mountains, extending to the Maritime Alps. - With a living area of 600 sq.m., the villa includes a double living room with high ceilings and a fireplace, 7 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms, a study, a professionally equipped kitchen, a...

SERVICEAZUR

Price on request

Apartment in Nice, France

200 sq.m 3 3

Spacious apartments on the first line near the sea in Saint-Laurent-du-Var. The living area is 200 sq.m., 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, an equipped open-plan kitchen, as well as a large terrace with sea views. The apartment is located on the 3rd floor in a building with an elevator in a prestigious residence. The apartments are equipped with air...

SERVICEAZUR

2 100 000 €

Villa in Theoule-sur-Mer, France

475 sq.m 6 5

Sole agent. Situated on the hills of the delightful seafront Théoule-sur-Mer village, this family home benefits from a dominant position facing the sea and the mountains, bordering the Esterel natural park. 475 sqm of floor space ( 333 sqm Loi Carrez ) the house is built in 1992 and is arranged over three floors with an elevator. It sits on over...

SERVICEAZUR

24 000 000 €

Villa in Saint-Tropez, France

500 sq.m 5

Credit 0.85-1.85%

Protected area of ​​the Saint-Tropez parks. In one of the most popular locations in Saint-Tropez, exceptional property with a large landscaped park of over one hectare, with a private walkway leading to a corner of paradise on the waterfront, with a terrace and a balcony overlooking the sea. A new prestigious villa of more than 500 m2, including...

RFC ESTATE

3 950 000 €

Villa in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France

200 sq.m 5 4 4

Credit 0.85-1.85%

In a quiet area, a few minutes from Monaco, a new modern style stone villa surrounded by Mediterranean vegetation with breathtaking sea views. Private swimming pool, spacious terraces and several parking spaces. INFORMATION Plot: 1890 m² Area: 200 m² Exposure: South, Southwest View: Panoramic, Sea Heating: Electric individual air...

RFC ESTATE

1 040 000 €

Apartment in Beausoleil, France

105 sq.m 3 2 2

Credit 0.85-1.85%

Elegant and modern residence located in Beausoleil and very close to Monaco, built recently in 2020. Consists of 149 luxury apartments with high quality finishes, including 11 duplexes with a rooftop terrace and private pools. Each apartment has excellent solar lighting and has a spacious terrace with panoramic views of the sea, city and...

RFC ESTATE

765 000 €

Apartment in Menton, France

105 sq.m 3 3

New apartments, from two to four rooms, in a brand new residence under construction in Menton, a picturesque town on the border with Italy, 30 km from Nice and 10 km from Monaco. The house, which includes 11 apartments of modern architecture in bright colors and large sunny terraces, is ideally located about 1 km from the sea (15-20 minutes...

SERVICEAZUR

888 000 €

Apartment in Nice, France

112 sq.m 5 3 2

Nice Carré D'or is a 4/5 room apartment located in an ancient palace in the heart of the city. 112 m2 with triple exposure, sea view, with great charm, stucco, parquet floors and high ceilings. It consists of a double living room, a separate kitchen, two bedrooms, one of which is about 20 m2 and an office, bathroom, toilet, dressing room,...

IMMOPS, Groupe AVS

590 000 €

Apartment in Nice, France

82 sq.m 3 2 1

NICE. 3-room apartment of 70 m2 +balcony + 12 m2 + Basement and bicycle storage is located in the Musicians area, on the fourth floor (with elevator) of a building from the 1930s. This is a corner apartment, the entrance of which leads to a bright living room with high ceilings and stucco molding from the 1930s. On one side of the living room...

IMMOPS, Groupe AVS

1 400 000 €

Apartment in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France

92 sq.m 3 2 2

Credit 0.85-1.85%

Magnificent high floor apartment with a spacious terrace and private garden, located directly above the beaches, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the sea, the cape and Monaco in a newly built residence with a swimming pool. The apartment has a large terrace and a private garden of 40 m², consists of an entrance hall with an armored...

RFC ESTATE

1 190 000 €

Apartment in Nice, France

93 sq.m 2 2

Credit 0.85-1.85%

In a gated community, this villa apartment is in excellent condition, with a round private garden and deep terraces (approx. 270 m2). Looking calmly to the south, you will have a panorama of the Bay of Angels and the Esterel Massif. Consists of: a large living room with a built-in modern kitchen, two bedrooms with bath / WC and shower room, a...

RFC ESTATE

1 350 000 €

Apartment in Villefranche-sur-Mer, France

102 sq.m 3 2 2

Credit 0.85-1.85%

In a luxury residence with concierge and pool, a large 100 m² 3-room apartment overlooking the harbor and practically the waterfront, while remaining within walking distance of the center and shops. The apartment consists of an entrance hall, a living room opening onto a large terrace of 27 m² with magnificent sea views, a separate...

RFC ESTATE

23 950 000 €

Villa in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France

879 sq.m 12 12

Credit 0.85-1.85%

Situated in the privileged village of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, this exceptional villa offers privacy, luxury and an unrivaled lifestyle just steps away from the sea, idyllic beaches and first-class amenities. Domaine Mareeba offers three high-end villas, each with its own unique character, and a total of 12 spacious bedrooms providing a...

RFC ESTATE

21 000 000 €

Villa in Cannes, France

700 sq.m 7

Credit 0.85-1.85%

With stunning views of the sea, the Bay of Cannes and the Estérel mountains, 10 minutes drive from the Croisette, facing south-west, without any vis-à-vis, an impressive new modern style villa of 700 sq.m. with a landscaped garden of 3200 sq.m. with heated infinity pool. Advanced technology, amenities and finishes. Elevator, large...

RFC ESTATE

650 000 €

Apartment in Saint-Tropez, France

140 sq.m 4 2 2

In the city of Saint-Tropez, this beautiful duplex in a private residence with a swimming pool and private parking. This apartment will seduce you with its living area of 74.67 m2 and a terrace of 66 m2, including 2 beautiful bedrooms of 13.80 m2, each with an entrance to a superb living room of 23 m2, an open equipped kitchen, a bathroom and a...

IMMOPS, Groupe AVS

4 200 000 €

Villa in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France

200 sq.m 5 4 4

Credit 0.85-1.85%

In absolute tranquility and in a dominant position, with magical sea views from Cap Martin to Menton, a magnificent new modern villa of 200 m² with swimming pool, consisting of a large living room with semi-separate kitchen, 4 bedrooms including two main ones, numerous terraces and parking. Here you will find first-class services and...

RFC ESTATE

2 250 000 €

Villa in Mougins, France

250 sq.m 8 5 4

An exceptional country house with sea views in Mougins.This villa is located in the heart of the quiet and popular Mougins area. It offers spectacular views of the sea and the Esterel hills. On the ground level there is a cozy entrance, a bright living room, two spacious bedrooms, an office, a large kitchen and two bathrooms. On the lower level...

Selected Real Estate LLC

See more 633 similar properties

Maria Tsarfati, an expert of the company "Strana Plus"

At the moment, there is a high demand for real estate in France among the French-speaking residents of the European Union.

Buyers are interested in the entire range of real estate from small apartments to luxury properties, it is impossible to single out something specific. However, it should be noted that there is an increased demand for such options as an apartment with its own small garden or apartments with nice large terraces. Also, those who had not previously considered buying a house with their own plot, revised their views. Now buyers appreciate the opportunity to breathe fresh air without leaving their territory.

We also have no discounts. In general, real estate is not a collection of clothing that needs to be sold quickly. The real estate market is all right. There are plenty of buyers from France and the EU.

In the next year, I believe, everything will be the same until all restrictions are lifted. 

Irina Duport, managing partner of Immoconcept Agency

Immoconcept is doing worse than we expected last year, but better than we feared at the beginning of the crisis. We focused on popular products and strengthened our position on the Internet. In addition, we know how to sell new buildings, which are the safest and most guaranteed segment of real estate in France, and for this you do not need to come: viewing via Google Maps replaces the visit, the rest is supplemented with documents.

Well, developers and notaries themselves have implemented remote signature of documents, which greatly simplifies the processes.

People mostly buy what everyone needs and can afford: apartments with balconies in areas with good infrastructure. There is a demand for cheap houses in the provinces, in the wilderness, where you can buy housing for very little money. For the same budget, you can afford a large area and garden, that is, increase the level of comfort, especially since the transition to remote work and study has created a need for additional rooms for classes.

Has the demand from foreigners changed? Probably, but we don't feel it yet. Unfortunately, the situation is complicated everywhere. In addition, there are now two trends with the opposite sign, so the overall trend is still unclear. On the one hand, there are those whose business has collapsed due to the crisis: they are now cutting costs and selling expensive real estate, especially a second home. On the other hand, those who have completely switched to remote work and do not depend on the location. They want to buy a house in a convenient location with beautiful nature.

There are almost no discounts now, there are promotions for specific properties, the sale of which for some reason needs to be accelerated. Suddenly, banks were actively buying up real estate, creating competition for buyers. This is a signal of impending inflation, and at such a time, real estate is the best way to save capital.

What do we expect from the next year? Healthy and happy customers!

Quoting conditions of Prian.info materials