Christmas: an excellent time to acquire a property!

The end-of-year festivities bring specific concerns, accompanied by sometimes time-consuming activities: searching for gifts, organising celebrations, inviting relatives, and so on. In short, property projects tend to manifest in January, once the mind is freed from these wonderful moments and fond memories bring forth new desires.

Do not be mistaken, however: it is precisely in December that as a buyer, you have everything to gain by positioning yourself! We explain why, and since Christmas is also synonymous with holidays, we present the 5 cities of the moment where it is pleasant to acquire a secondary residence.

Buying in December: a powerful idea!

If acquiring a property at the end of September allows for a visit to the notary during the festive period – a quieter time for these professionals – reserving this period for research and signing a preliminary contract brings even more benefits.

Sellers are eager to sell

First and foremost, the festivities always mean a busy schedule, and to fully enjoy them, families want to rid themselves of their stressful concerns. A property for sale is one of them!
Visiting in December gives you a real chance to negotiate the price of your dream property, without having to argue about any potential defects.

The market is quieter

The same sellers will certainly note that the period is less conducive to sale: contacts are rarer for the reasons mentioned above. This is another opportunity to lower the price, faced with owners concerned about the attractiveness of their property.

The tax perspective

This is about assessing your own tax context, to determine whether a purchase would be wiser before or after the year-end. The impact can be significant on your tax return, particularly if it is a buy-to-let investment and you are purchasing with a view to tax relief through one of the existing schemes. If there is renovation, also check whether your income from the relevant period is compatible with financial aid schemes; if necessary, delay your purchase.

Your schedule can become more flexible

If your organisation is optimised, the festivities can provide a few quieter days to carry out all the administrative procedures related to a property purchase, and if applicable, to its rental.

Schedule for year-end: the preliminary contract signing appointment, requests at the town hall for various useful documents, the posting of your rental advertisement if it is useful to publish it in advance, and so on.

Banks can be more flexible

Obtaining a loan is generally an inseparable step in a property acquisition, and depending on the quality of your file, it will prove more or less straightforward and the conditions offered, more or less advantageous.

The end of the year is delicate for any bank that has not reached its loan granting target set by its group. No doubt you will find increased ease in getting your project accepted, and perhaps an interest rate that defies all competition.

It is certain that December looks set to be a fruitful period for your investment: happy searching!

The 5 best spots for buying a secondary residence

As promised, we guide you with our ideas on the perfect place to acquire a holiday property or, indeed, a property for seasonal rental. Here is our top 5 of cities where it is good to buy a secondary residence!

1. Arcachon

Do not let the tragic events of summer 2022 put you off the beauty still offered by the Gironde! The Bordeaux region, with its dynamism and easy access 2.5 hours by TGV from Paris, probably offers a perfect path south.
Arcachon in particular offers a pleasant quality of life and a thousand varied activities, in summer as in winter. The property market there is very dynamic and the demand for short-term rentals is strong. As you will see, new-build programmes also abound there, to the extent that Arcachon is one of the best locations for acquiring a secondary residence!
In terms of prices, you will still need to pay, on average, €8,000 per square metre to become the owner of your dream property.

2. Deauville

A turn north takes us to Normandy and more precisely, to the timeless Deauville. A safe place to invest, as the appeal of this town is unlikely to wane and its beach, one of the finest in the region, is not the only contributor!
In Deauville, you may spot film stars during the Film Festival, try your luck at the casino, or let your passion for horses speak during the horse races. An ideal place for a weekend, only 2.5 hours from Paris by car.
A property purchase in this city will cost you on average just under €7,000 per square metre.

3. Île de Ré

Reverse direction towards the Atlantic coast! Île de Ré, highly sought after by tourists and its permanent population for its wild setting, offers lovely assets for holidays as for rental investment. If a property transaction is negotiated at a high price – around €7,600 per square metre – the risk of rental vacancy is practically nil.
For your own holidays, you will only need to climb the 257 steps of the Phare des Baleines to benefit from an incomparable panorama over the western part of the island and probably fall in love with this piece of land off our coast. The network of cycle paths, developed over 110 km, delights all slow tourism enthusiasts: it is up to you to set off and discover this preserved nature!

4. Sainte-Maxime

Let us head south and the Côte d’Azur and, to suit all tastes, this time stop in the very lively Sainte-Maxime. The largest commune in the Saint-Tropez golf area, the attractiveness of the location is not to be debated. Walks on the beach, on the harbour and in the town will have something to satisfy your family or your tenants, and you will also find many local interests: the casino, the covered market, the botanical garden and all the attractions of peaceful southern life.
In terms of property, the square metre is currently selling for a little over €6,000, making Sainte-Maxime a rather interesting spot in the heart of the Côte d’Azur.

5. Cassis

We conclude our journey further west but still by the Mediterranean, not far from Marseille. Those who appreciate simplicity will greatly enjoy Cassis and can enjoy fresh air and remarkable calm. The famous Calanques are nearby, and excursions by sea kayak as on the many hiking paths providing access to wild nature will undoubtedly leave unforgettable memories.
The pretty pastel colours of the harbour and the old castle overlooking the town make Cassis a pearl also sought after by the entire population. This tranquility has a price: around €7,700 per square metre.

If reading our topic has sparked wanderlust in your mind, the message is clear: do not hesitate to make it a reality quickly!