Second home buyers list convenient flight routes as top priority
- Convenience now top of many buyers’ lists
- Bordeaux to benefit from new Ryanair base from summer 2019
- Property prices in famous wine region rose 16% in 2017
Specialist French property agents FrenchEntrée have revealed that buyers are increasingly putting convenient flight routes at the top of their priority list when it comes to seeking out the perfect second home. In the latest such instance, a couple with a budget of €500,000 for a gîte business have made ease of access to Bordeaux the primary focus of their search. The news comes just as Ryanair has announced that it is to launch to new French bases for summer 2019: at Bordeaux and Marseilles.
For the couple in question, convenient flight routes to Bordeaux mean that their business will appeal to a wider customer base. However, it is not just those with business plans in mind who are prioritising easy air travel. According to the FrenchEntrée team, those buying second homes for personal use are also increasingly keeping an eye on flight routes.
“Convenience definitely seems to be making its way up the priority list of late. Buyers are looking to minimise the time they spend travelling, in order to get maximum use from their second home. That means that flight routes and distances from local airports are often top of buyers’ minds when they’re looking at potential properties.”
Alistair Lockhart, Property Director, FrenchEntrée
Ryanair’s new base will make Bordeaux more easily accessible from the UK, as one of 24 locations that the airline will offer from the French city. With a population of just over half a million, Bordeaux is located in the Aquitaine region of south west France. It is known around the world for its outstanding wines and also has a lively spirits industry. The surrounding area offers everything from country pursuits to surfing – Aquitaine’s Atlantic coast is considered to be the best surfing spot in Europe and is home to Europe’s largest beach at the Bassin d’Arcachon, a natural inland sea.
As well as appealing to tourists and second home owners, Bordeaux is a thriving working city. It is home to some 60,000 students and a number of large corporates have recently relocated their international hubs to the city. High-tech industries such as aeronautics are particularly prevalent.
“The influx of large groups of professionals and their families has had a notable impact on the Bordeaux property market, with the waves of new residents driving up prices. The extensive regeneration work that has taken place of late, with millions of euros dedicated to urban redevelopment, has also made its mark.”
Alistair Lockhart, Property Director, FrenchEntrée
British buyers have also played a role in pushing up prices, opting for spacious second homes in the suburbs and surrounding countryside, just as demand from French professionals and their families has pushed up prices in the centre. According to data from the Notaries de France, Bordeaux has experienced higher property price rises than any other French city over the past 20 years. House prices have risen by 215% over that period, while apartment prices have risen by 248%.
In 2017 alone, Bordeaux prices shot up by a staggering 16%. Many attribute the sharp rise to the opening of the high-speed TVG train connection with Paris (a journey that now takes just two hours). In terms of those all-important international connections, British buyers can now enjoy regular flights to Bordeaux with British Airways, flybe, easyJet and bmibaby, as well as the new Ryanair offering.
Beautiful Bordeaux properties for sale
Buyers looking for their own slice of one of the world’s most famous wine-making regions will love this beautiful chateau with 25 hectares of vines in the Côtes de Bordeaux AOC, which comes complete with tennis court, heated pool, vaulted cellars and guardian house.
For those who prefer to drink wine rather than make it, this spacious villa with large swimming pool and extensive garden is sure to appeal. The stylish property comes complete with a double garage, wine cellar and separate pool house.
And for those looking to enjoy Ryanair’s new routes to and from France’s second largest city, Marseille, this stunning contemporary townhouse offers something truly unique. The property has been designed across three levels, to deliver a feeling of being out at sea. Terraces off the bedroom and bathroom offer uninterrupted views across the sea to the islands of Frioul.
For further information, contact FrenchEntrée on +44 (0)1225 463752 or propertysales@frenchentree.com. You can also visit https://www.frenchentree.com/property-for-sale/.