Antibes: A French Property Buying Hotspot

Who wouldn’t want to live on the glamorous Côte d’Azur with its sunny weather, Mediterranean lifestyle and film star reputation? Here you can choose from beautiful stretches of coastline or hillier landscapes inland. The resort of Antibes offers both and is a more affordable option than nearby Nice and Cannes. Much of it is located on a peninsula, which means it has more beaches than you can shake a stick at – 25km of them: from long sandy stretches to deckchair-lined shingle and rocky coves.

The quality of the light here has long attracted artists: Picasso famously spent time painting here in 1946. Château Grimaldi has a museum of some of his works with a fabulous view of the bay of Antibes as a backdrop. Nearby is the Cours Masséna, home to the traditional covered market. Annual events such as the Cannes film festival and Monaco Grand Prix also draw the holidaymakers to Antibes.

The forested Cap d’Antibes peninsula, which juts out into the Mediterranean, is home to many private, exclusive estates, with penthouse flats costing upwards of €1.5 million. Recent years have seen a plethora of new builds from apartments to architect-designed villas spring up with eye-watering price tags, but you can head into Antibes’ old town for an apartment or townhouse, painted in the warm ochre colours typical of the region.

It’s worth bearing in mind that well-maintained properties within easy access of the coast and amenities will always have great rental potential. And the market in Antibes enjoys an extended rental period because of the excellent weather. One-bedroom apartments here can start from €250,000 and will increase with sea views. A two-bedroom apartment in a shared residence within walking distance of the beach can start from as little as €350,000.

If you are looking outside Antibes, try the adjoining seaside town of Juan-les-Pins for apartments, and pretty hillside villages such as Biot and Vallauris for stone houses. Getting here couldn’t be easier. Antibes is just a short drive from Nice’s Côte d’Azur airport and there is a railway station with TGV connections to Marseille, Nice and Paris. And, of course, with Italy just a short drive away, it’s a good base for exploring the rest of Southern Europe. With so much going for it, it’s no wonder Antibes is top of many buyers’ wish lists.

Further Information:

antibesjuanlespins.com

provence-alpes-cotedazur.com