Normandy, the 21st district of Paris?

From Dieppe to Etretat, la côte d’Albâtre

White cliffs and sandy beaches is what you find on this coastline. Dieppe does not seem to appeal to the British but is very much appreciated by locals and popular with Parisiens. Its lively fishing port, pleasure boats and a unique seafront with a large green area between the beach and the town are its main attractions. Old properties here cost between 2,100 and 2,800 euros per square metre but, away from the seafront, prices drop below 2,000 euros per square metre. Slightly cheaper are neighbouring seaside resorts, such as Le Tréport. In Saint-Martin-Plage, small houses sold for 69,000 euros 5 years ago are now worth double that amount. 8 kilometres away from Dieppe, going down towards Saint-Valéry en Caux, the resort of Varengeville has luxurious villas and properties to offer making it very exclusive. The property market in Saint-Valéry-en-Caux is booming, with a large British and Dutch clientele, aswell as many Parisien buyers. Here, fisherman’s cottages are the most sought-after type of property. You need to allow 100,000 euros for a terraced cottage. For a similar property with a small bit of land and garage, prices rise to 122,000 euros. Not far from here, the small village of Veules-les-Roses is a little piece of paradise with the smallest river in France running through it, la Veules, which is less than a kilometre long! Here, there are lots of beautiful properties and villas but nothing for sale. When something does come up for sale, it is normally snatched up within a fortnight and for quite some price.

From Honfleur to Cabourg, la côte Fleurie

As you leave the Côte d’Albâtre near Le Havre and cross the famous Pont de Normandie bridge, la côte Fleurie stretches out in front of you. First port of call, Honfleur with its beautiful old harbour, winding cobbled streets and properties steeped in history. Allow 2,500 euros per square metre if you are looking to buy property here. Modern housing is scarce in this historic town. A little further on, Trouville is a lively seaside town that attracts large numbers at weekends and school holidays with its trendy restaurants and lively brasseries. Many actors and journalists have second homes here too. Prices have risen steadily over the last 3 years. Villas overlooking the sea are now incredibly expensive. Some of them have been converted in to apartments, and fetch 6,100 euros per square metre! The well-known Trouville Palace residence, which was a hotel in its previous life back in the 1930s, is now split up in to apartments. A small studio in the residence with seaview recently sold for 144,830 euros. Traditional fishermans cottages are in abundance in the town centre and around the port. However, although demand is extremely high, there are hardly any cottages on the market. When one does come up for sale, you’re looking at 90,000 euros for a cottage in need of renovation. A cottage in good condiditon with a small patio or courtyard would set you back around 130,000 euros. Again, very little modern housing to be found here, even in the surrounding area. On the other side of the river Touques, is Deauville. With its casino, chic boutiques and golf course, it really does attract the jetset. On the seafront, modern apartments built in traditional Norman style cost between 4,800 and 5,800 euros per square metre. Even in the surrounding streets, apartments with no seaview fetch more than 4,800 euros per square metre. To find something cheaper, you will have to be prepared to put up with traffic noise in rue Désiré le Hoc or rue de la République, where prices are around 2,300 to 2,700 euros per square metre.

Once you get to Blonville, prices drop considerably. Allow between 3,200 and 3,500 euros per square metre for an apartment on the seafront with a view. Houses are scarce here and cost around 183,000 euros for around an average-size house in need of renovation. In Villers, property prices vary alot but house prices have risen consistently across the board gaining at least 20% or 30% in value per year. There are two parts to the town, Villers 2000 and the old town, le vieux Villers. Villers 2000 has fairly modern properties built around 25 years ago. One-bedroomed apartments sell for between 55,000 euros and 61,000 euros. In the old town, prices are slightly higher but for older property, which often suffers from bad layout or lack of light. Newer apartments in the old town are considerably more expensive. A one-bedroomed apartment with balcony and seaview will probably set you back around 85,700 euros. The houses along the seafront fetch around 305,000 euros and are unique on this stretch of coast.

From Merville-Franceville to Courseulles: la côte de Nacre

La côte de Nacre has lots to offer: long sandy beaches, dunes, unspolit coastline and peaceful seaside towns offering property at very affordable prices. In Merville-Franceville, houses are in great demand. Only 20 minutes away from Caen, the seaside town is sought-after for its houses that are ofen permanent residences for those living in Caen. On the seafront, there are only 13 houses with direct access to the beach! Away from the seafront, older apartments cost around 2,000 to 2,300 euros per square metre. Modern apartments are more pricey. In Courseulles, traditional fisherman’s cottages are quite reasonably priced at 2,000 – 2,200 euros per square metre. Here, a modern one-bedroomed apartment will set you back around 100,000 euros and a two-bedroomed 150,000 euros.