Do you dream of having a small house by the sea? More and more of you want to invest in a property with your feet in the water. But be careful, before going to sign at the notary, there are several aspects to take into account. Because a purchase of this size is not done with your eyes closed and you will have to take into account several important criteria. In this article, you will find all our advice to ensure that your purchase is as well prepared as possible.
Determine the reason for your purchase
With more than 5,000 km of coastline and a multitude of different landscapes, France has a lot to appeal to people who want to invest by the sea. Whether you're looking for a property in Narbonne or Deauville, you need to know exactly what you want to do with it. Once you have decided on the location of your investment, consider taking advice from a local real estate agency.
Before you start looking through real estate ads to find the property that really fits your needs, you need to define its purpose. Will it be dedicated to your primary residence? Do you want to invest in a house or an apartment to have a second home? Do you intend to rent it out? These criteria are important because depending on your decision, you will not choose the same type of property.
If you wish to invest in a property to live in all year round, you will first have to like the house or the apartment. On the other hand, if you want to invest in real estate to build up your assets and you are looking for a property with a high yield, then you will have to make sure that you buy a property that is suitable for you. Then you will have to make sure that you acquire a property that will be highly sought after by seasonal tenants.
Another possibility is to acquire a property that you will keep as a pied-à-terre for extended weekends or vacations or family gatherings. In this case, you will need to make sure that the property is practical and well laid out.
Criteria to consider
You may not have this first criterion in mind, but keep in mind that when you invest in a house by the sea, you will have more expenses regarding the shell and the frames. Indeed, salt and sand, combined with the wind, will cause more corrosion on your property, especially if it is located a few dozen meters from the ocean.
In addition, don't forget that the acquisition of a property means taxes. Remember to make your calculations carefully so that your investment is profitable.
Another criterion to take into account, and not the least, is the reason why you want to buy a property by the sea. Indeed, depending on whether you want to live there or rent it out, you will not be looking for the same type of apartment or house.
Do you want to buy to rent out your property on a seasonal basis? Then you will have to look for a property located in a very touristy city with many amenities. A lively city that offers restaurants, bars, theaters, etc., which will allow your guests to go out in the evening.
You should also make sure that your apartment or house is extremely well equipped. Basic appliances (oven, microwave, television, washing machine, etc.) will be essential, but if you are able to add extra amenities (dishwasher, dryer and ideally, parking space) that make life easier for your guests, then you can upgrade your property and rent it out at a higher price.
The cost of a seaside property
The cost of a beachfront property varies greatly depending on its location, the reputation of the city and the amenities it offers.
The further south you go, the more you'll have to pay. For example, in the smaller, lesser-known towns in the beautiful department of La Manche, you can still find properties starting at €1,200 per square meter. This price rises to about 1,300 € for the no less beautiful Brittany and can soar to 5,000 € per square meter on the Mediterranean coast. And we are not talking about the indecent prices in Saint-Tropez...
Without any surprise, properties located in the immediate vicinity of the beaches (less than 10 minutes walk) are much more expensive than properties located a little further away.
If you want to invest in world-famous cities and/or cities that host famous events, expect much higher prices. This is the case in Deauville, La Baule, Cannes for example.
The good news is that there are good deals to be had in some departments. This is particularly true of real estate in the Aude, which enjoys a pleasant climate and still affordable prices.
Places that are popular for investing in real estate
A mild climate all year round attracts... Therefore, the South Atlantic as well as the Mediterranean coast are very sought after. But the prices of the properties are also clearly higher there.
Generally speaking, note that the further south you go, the more expensive the prices per square meter will be. For the moment, the Aude department remains very accessible in terms of price per square meter. Whether you want to settle down or invest in Gruissan, Leucate, Carcassonne or Narbonne, prices vary between 1,800 and 2,000 €/square meter. That's enough to acquire an interesting property without breaking the bank.
If you want to buy a property in the Aude, contact a real estate professional who will be able to guide you according to what you are looking for. Whether you want to live there all year long, offer yourself a second home or invest in order to rent the property afterwards, your professional real estate agent will be able to guide you towards the offers that are most adapted to your needs and your budget.