Assetz^® News » HOME | FEED | LIST ALL ARTICLES | ASSETZ HOMEPAGE

Assetz^® Property News Service

A Nice opportunity for buy-to-let

---

The South of France has long since been a popular holiday destination for UK holidaymakers and has emerged as a prime destination for retired Brits looking for a second home, drawn to the Cote D'Azur and surrounding regions by the promise of sun and a sense of glamour.

Somewhat unsurprisingly, the majority (60 per cent) of the region's property market in the £700,000 - £1.4 million bracket is accounted for by British buyers. Younger investors are taking their lead from the older generation with growing frequency, taking advantage of the emergence of relatively cheep properties in the region over recent years, while wealthy, mature buyers continue to target much coveted existing properties. Prime locations continue to appreciate in value, drawing those property investors looking for that extra level of exclusivity and tradition.

However, as we move further into the 21st century the motivation for investing in the South of France is leaning closer towards the buy-to-let market, opening new opportunities for those who don't quite fall into the category of 'super-rich'.

According to recent trends a rising number of young executives are securing buy-to-let apartments in Nice and other parts of the Cote D'Azur and leasing them back to management companies. Technological advances have turned the prospect of working remotely into a feasible reality, while improved transport links have made it possible to regularly commute from the region to international cities. Similarly a burgeoning trend has been identified whereby buy-to-let properties in Nice are rented out to local students during term time and holidaymakers in the high season, promising year-round revenues and consistent demand.

Estimates from VEF French Property state that a one-bedroom property in Nice could be obtainable for as little as £120,000, an attractive prospect for those looking for more modest property investments. Furthermore the strong appeal of the region, coupled with high demand from would-be tenants, means that rental yields are likely to hover around four or five per cent, perhaps reaching six or seven per cent in some cases.

In all of this, it is clear that the South of France remains a property hotspot, likely to continue attracting new investors as long as demand for holiday homes and rental homes remains strong. However, it has been warned that the development of new properties is becoming more unlikely with time. This is good news for current property owners in the region, who can rest assured that their properties will retain exclusivity and thus avoid depreciation, but for those of us considering a place in the sun in the future, opportunities in that part of the world look to be dwindling.

---

Accessing the news service

You can view all of the Assetz® UK, International and UK Property Investment Articles and News here.

We also provide an Feed of the news service, or you can view all articles. Click here to view more information on RSS readers and how they make reading online news more convenient.

Terms of content usage:
XML and other types of publication of this article title and the URL of this page are permitted using the RSS feed or other methods.
Article content strictly prohibited from duplication on any other site directly other than first paragraph included in the XML feed.

Copyright © 2001-2012 Assetz® News Limited. All Rights Reserved | Company Information | Assetz® Homepage
Assetz House, Newby Road, Hazel Grove, Stockport, Cheshire, SK7 5DA
TEL (UK): 0161 456 4000 FAX: 0161 482 7588
TEL (International): +44 161 456 4000 FAX: +44 161 482 7588