Spot on a region: Alpes-Maritimes

The Alpes-Maritimes region takes residence on the south-eastern edge of France, next to the Italian border. Boasting some mesmerizing landscapes from the Alps to Côte d’Azur, it earned the title of one of the most attractive leisure destinations in France. 320 sunny days per year solidified the lifestyle in these lands into a never-ending, paced vacation. The French Riviera is world-famous with its beaches, high-quality service, and the luxurious life of celebrities. On the other side of the region, fascinating Alps take up circa 80% of the territory and provide the visitors with more active vacation options in the mountains and ski resorts. And as a cherry on top, the drive from the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea to the snow-capped alpine landscapes takes a little over one hour.

Inland sights and entertainment

Pristine nature, breathtaking landscapes, winding roads, and frozen-in-time villages outline a wonderful itinerary of inland sights. On the way, one can also enjoy the lush beauty of lavender fields “du Provence”. From mid-July to mid-August, during the bloom season, these fields turn into purple seas that emanate the sweet scent of endless summer. Getting closer to the mountains, you will enter the territory of the “Parc National du Mercantour”. This park stretches out for 68,500 hectares, featuring a total of 600 km of marked trails. The charming flora of holm oaks, olive trees, Swiss pines, and firs together with no less fascinating fauna of chamois, marmots, ibex, mouflon, and golden eagles is represented all around the lakes and mountains of the Valley of Marvels – for you to explore.

Cities and their attractions

The overall population in Alpes-Maritimes is ca 1 081 000 people. The biggest and most famous cities in the region are located along Côte d’Azur. While they all share a common prominent feature of supreme beach spots, every city has unique gems in its crown. Cannes became a hotspot for showbiz celebrities, with spellbinding film festivals and the unbeatable atmosphere of high festivities. Antibes offers a vast array of fascinating museums, such as the Museum of Pablo Picasso and Musee National Fernand-Leger. And Nice – the administrative center of the region – pleases the eye with a combination of old historic sights and modern business centers. A sovereign city-state of Monaco deserves a special mention. The second-smallest country in the world greets its visitors with wonderful panoramas and the famous gambling zone. In addition to the year-round resort life and delectable cuisine, the cities of Alpes-Maritimes often host prominent events and festivals such as Juan-les-Pins and Nice annual jazz festivals or Grand Prix Monaco.

Real estate market in the region

The economic core of the region is tourism with around 73% of jobs in the service sector with 75 000 employees in the resort system. Nice alone carves out 12% – 13% of the tourism share turnover of the whole travel market in France. Therefore, this region is a great opportunity to invest in housing to benefit from the tourism industry. For instance, the price of a median apartment starts at €3720 in Nice and €4540 in Cannes for a square meter. On the other hand, this region offers top-notch real estate for private customers who seek new or second homes. Becoming a happy owner of an estate in small and cozy towns like Grasse and Carros will cost you 390,000 € – 412,000 €, on average. Due to the high demand for property in the region, overall prices are significantly higher than in other parts of France. Nevertheless, a reliable company can help you find unique places with a better deal than in Paris, or even Bordeaux.

The first three months of 2019 average prices for houses fell by 4.3% – apartments did do better this period.

There are plenty of tourism-heavy spots for buying property in France. However, if you want more than just a getaway house but a place to indulge in a paced life of warm days and endless vacation, the Alpes-Maritimes region is certainly for you.

Fynis International Mortgages offers international buyers a customised mortgage service for French properties: a holiday home or rental investment.

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