Despite an autumn slowdown, property markets in three coveted French Riviera cities—Antibes, Cannes and Nice—showed resilience in October, with demand and prices continuing to rise.
The real estate market in France has experienced a slight autumn lull. The national market, which had been on a slow upward track since the economic recovery of early 2024, contracted slightly by 0.1% in October, yet there are reasons for optimism.
According to the Meilleurs Agents and SeLoger barometers, apartment prices fell in many areas, but rose in 22 of the 50 largest cities.
The marginal October decline of 0.1%, much smaller than last year’s drop of 0.7%, is typical for the season. Autumn generally brings a cooling in activity after the peak in spring and early summer, with many buyers now pausing purchases in anticipation of potential rate cuts in 2025.
“If we compare the current dynamic to that of last year, we see that the downward cycle is over, but the recovery will take a few more months and will not go at the same speed depending on the municipality,” clarifies Thomas Lefebvre, Scientific Director of Meilleurs Agents.
However, price trends vary significantly by location, and some cities are impervious to seasonal fluctuations. Several Côte d’Azur cities, including Antibes, Cannes and Nice, experienced price increases in October, rising by 0.9%, 0.4% and 0.5% respectively, while Paris, Strasbourg and Rennes noted comparative declines.
These three Côte d’Azur cities, traditionally driven by high tourist interest and second-home investments, can also lay claim to having the highest prices per square metre of all cities in France outside Paris. They have also seen impressive annual price growth: 4.21% in Antibes, 3.66% in Cannes and 3% in Nice. As of 1st November, properties in Nice, according to SeLoger, demand an average of €5,175 per square metre.
The Côte d’Azur’s enduring appeal, supported by strong demand from both domestic and international buyers, underpins the area’s resilience and competitive nature in the current market climate. The region’s unique combination of scenic allure, lifestyle appeal and investment opportunities makes it a distinctive segment within the broader French real estate market.
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