Searching the Côte d'Azur from Sea to Mont

View of the Sea in CannesThe beach in Cannes View from Mont Boron The Old Port in NiceMap of the search area

“Le Matisse” had its first guest last week, who took the entire week to look at properties for sale all along the Côte d’Azur. H
er goal: to find a one to two bedroom pied-à-terre for 350,000€ or less that would be a haven for about six months a year — maybe even longer. The entire coastline was open territory, as the buyer/client (aka CME) was unsure what type of situation would suit her and her husband best: urban living (Nice), hilltop (with views of the ocean) or seaside (on the water). She also wanted to explore the nature of each of the towns, as each is so different in personality and attributes.

Our Search Consultant (aka VS) worked with a variety of agencies and resources lining up 15 properties for CME to visit. They had the fortunate use of VS’s car and an abundance of time. (Note: unlike in Paris, where one can Métro or bus just about anywhere for ‘peanuts,’ in the case of extended geographic travel like this, the buyer/client pays the transportation expense — gas, tolls, etc.)

VS accounted for four to five hours of visiting property virtually every day of the week and remarked that “Visiting apartments with gorgeous views overlooking the turquoise Mediterranean Sea, in areas that most would die to just be able to visit, is a great pleasure.” The search took them to the best areas of Cannes, the hills of Mont Boron with its panoramic views, Nice Centre and it’s charming bourgeois properties with apartments overlooking majestic courtyards or great pedestrian streets (although, a few places were not fit for anyone and overlooked the occasional messy balcony of a possible future neighbor!)

VS concluded that “Those who are willing to pay for the search services, can now grab hold of a valuable piece of paradise along the beautiful Côte d’Azur, which is less expensive than Paris and many other parts of France.” Here’s a list of what they visited together…and are properties on the market now:

#1 Cannes: sector Banane, 3 rooms, 70m2, renovated with beautiful appointments, last floor of 3, open kitchen to the living room, sunny, no particular view, great location near rue d’Antibes.

Asking Price 399,000€, negotiable to 350,000€

#2 Cannes: sector Palm Beach, 2 rooms, 47m2, close to all amenities and “la Croisette” and the beach in a building of high standing, calm, spacious, west-facing terrace of 20m2, separate kitchen, equipped, separate toilet, cellar.

Asking Price 375,000€

#3 Cannes: sector Palm Beach, spacious 2/3 rooms, 54m2, last floor, panoramic sea view, east-west orientation, American kitchen, calm, ideal pied-à-terre or vacation apartment.

Asking price 550,000€

#4 Cannes: sector Basse Californie, first floor, 3 large rooms, 90m2, beautiful terrace south-facing and balcony north-facing, view of the sea and greenery, private exterior parking, charges 200€/month, all included.

Asking Price 399,000€, negotiable to 375,000€

#5 Cannes: Centre, 2 rooms, view of the sea, 5 minutes walk from the Marché Forvile and Palais des Festivals, 3rd floor, 45m2, terrace of 14m2, southern exposure with magnificent view of the sea and the quartier du Suquet. Ideal for investment.

Asking price 339,000€

#6 Cannes: sector Montfleury (aveue Isola Bella), 2 rooms, 52m2, terrace of 8m2, 5th floor, year of construction 1992, luxurious, in a good condition, southern exposure, pool and guardian, view of the parc, cellar (4m2), closed private parking in the basement, impeccable.

Asking Price 371,000€

#7 Cannes: on “la Croisette” in the Grand Hotel, a prestigious address
2 rooms.

Asking Price 362,000€

#8 Cannes:  on “la Croisette” in the Grand Hotel, a prestigious address
2 rooms, completely renovated with quality.

Asking Price 500,000€

#9 Cannes: 12 rue de Madrid (Le Cannet) 3 rooms 63m2, last floor 3, terrace 15m2, completely renovated, exceptional city view, parking & cave.

Asking Price 380,000€

#10 Nice: Centre, superb 2 rooms, unobstructed view, 73m2 w/mezzanine of 9m2, balcony with southern exposure, lots of character but needs major renovation.

Asking Price 330,000€

#11 Nice: sector Mont Boron, magnificent 2 rooms, 60m2 on the ground floor, loft style with contemporary renovation of a high quality. Calm, sunny, splendid panoramic view on the sea and city, terrace of 30m2, large cellar, parking for two cars.

Asking Price 340,000 €

#12 Nice: Nice sector Mont Boron, 1 room/studio, 38m2, terrace of 38,40m2, calm, view on the Baie des Anges, superb condition, southwest exposure, garage, cellar.

Asking Price 380,000€

#13 Nice: Centre, an apartment in the Palais Liberté, rue Joseph Brès.

#14 Nice: Centre, rue Pastorelli, terrace, already renovated with lots of taste.

#15 Nice: Centre, rue Berlioz, musician area, beautiful, view, renovated.

The one property that CME loved the most was in Mont Boron with a gorgeous view. Her only hesitance was the uphill climb for an aging couple that might not be as much fun in later years. She left the Riviera without purchasing, but a much better idea of what kinds of areas and properties might suit her and her husband’s goals.

I will be in Nice next weekend for the last weekend of Carnaval and will bring you more news from the Riviera.

A bientôt,

Adrian Leeds
Editor, French Property Insider

(at last year’s Carnival de Nice)

Email: [email protected]

 

 P.S. For those of you interested in any of these properties, make note that the purchase will incur a finder’s fee of 3%. Or you can choose to contract for your own search and let VS find the apartment or home of your dreams anywhere along the blue coast. Email us at [email protected] for more information.