The Languedoc Property Market
Languedoc underwent a property boom from about 2002 – 2008. Since then, the market has cooled and prices have levelled off. Property is still great value here, being quite a bit cheaper than Provence. The general trend has been for local, poorer families to move out of centre-village houses into new-build homes in developments, offering them superior electrics, water and comfort. Northern Europeans, Americans and Antipodeans then buy these properties up, renovating them. Thus estate agents tend to fall into two groups – French-based agents catering to the French market, and selling mostly new-build homes. And more internationally-based agents (such as Real Estate Languedoc) who understand the needs of non-French buyers.
Properties in Languedoc fall into a few main groupings. Village houses, generally made of stone covered in ‘créppie’, that sometimes have small gardens or roof terraces. These make perfect holiday homes, as they rent well. Detached houses, mostly on the edge of villages and towns, are often converted farm buildings – offering tons of character in the form of wood beams and exposed-stone walls. These usually come with some garden – although the dominance of vineyards in the area mean that huge plots of land are rare. You can also find larger ‘Maisons de Maitre’ in villages, more ornate houses built during the wine boom, that offer period features and gardens.
Generally – the closer you are to Montpellier and the coast, the higher prices are. Hérault and Gard departments are slightly pricer than the Aude and Pyrénées-Orientales. Certain towns and the areas around them are particular popular – such as Pézenas, Marseillan and Sète.
