Buying in France:A marina development near a walled city in the south of France and a leaseback scheme in the Alps go on sale here this week. Kate McMorrowreports
THE OFF-PLANS launch of two French property developments by the Dublin-based France First agency takes place in Dublin and Cork over the coming weeks. One is a marina development on the Mediterranean coast, the other a collection of chalets high in the French Alps.
Picturesque Quai St Louis will form a new part of Aigues-Mortes and will mirror typical Mediterranean quayside villages such as Port Grimaud. Francois Spoerry, architect for Port Grimaud, consulted on the Quai St Louis development.
Townhouses will be painted pink, terracotta and white, with blue, grey, white and green shutters and iron fretwork balconies will overlook the water. Rental potential should be good.
Two-bedroom townhouses range in price from €218,000 to €402,917 for 74-105sq m (797-1,130sq ft) of space. Three-beds of 106-157sq m (1,141-1,690sq ft) cost from €333,000 to €432,357. Four-bedroom townhouses with 153-180sq m (1,647-1,938sq ft) are priced from €441,000 to €527,676.
The houses will open to a terrace and small garden which will stretch to the water's edge. Most houses will come with a private berth for a boat, incurring an annual mooring charge of €1,525 to €2,153. An outdoor pool will be provided for residents' use.
Aigues-Mortes is surrounded by ancient castle walls and has a fine 13th century inheritance. Within the walls are winding medieval streets of the old town, now lined with boutiques and cafés. Montpellier is about 30 minutes away and Marseilles is around an hour 15 minutes by car.
Completions are scheduled for the first half of 2008. As usual in France, the houses do not come furnished nor with kitchens installed. Kitchen packs can be arranged for €7,996-€9,410 depending on size, while furniture packs are available from €5,567 to €9,389. Notary fees are levied at 4.5 per cent of the purchase price.
The other development, Superdevoluy, is an established ski resort set in the southern French Alps catering for skiers and snowboarders at all levels. The small new leaseback development of 14 semi-detached chalets is designed in Alpine-style and will be built beside the ski station servicing the pistes. The three-bedroom chalets will come with large private terraces and a balcony, and will be set within landscaped gardens with Alpine views. Interiors of traditional wood will be furnished and will include parking.
Prices range from €205,211 to €207,887 for the 78.36sq m (843sq ft) chalets, which will provide a guaranteed return of 4.4 per cent over 11 years, with personal use options. The development will be managed by Transmontagne, a leading ski resort management company.
Superdevoluy and nearby La Joue de Loup offer green, blue, red and black ski runs for all levels. There are 100kms of pistes, three free-ride areas and a large snow park. Off-piste is also available with guides.
The resort also has a variety of aprés-ski amenities and a good selection of shops and restaurants. Superdevoluy is a popular summer destination for hiking, canoeing and fishing. Ryanair has announced a new route from Dublin to Grenoble, which is within easy reach of Superdevoluy.
The Irish launches will take place in Jury's Hotel, Ballsbridge on January 20th and 21st, and at Maryborough House Hotel, Cork on January 27th and 28th.
www.francefirst.ie
Properties in the Languedoc Roussillon area of France will be showcased at property shows in Cork and Dublin this weekend by BidsinFrance.com. The company, run by sisters Suzanne and Karen O'Reilly, finds properties - ranging from €40,000 studios to villas from €2m-plus - from local agents for Irish buyers. They say prices in the region are buoyant, especially near Perpignan, which like Carcassonne, is well served by budget airlines. The high speed TGV train service between Barcelona and Perpignan -- a 40-minute journey - will be ready two years from now. Properties will be exhibited at Jury's Hotel in cork on Friday, and in the Burlington Hotel in Dublin on Sunday.
www.bidsinfrance.com
