Looking for property for sale in Bordeaux

Whether you are considering the purchase of a second home, looking for an investment opportunity, or thinking about relocating to France on a permanent basis, you would do well to extend your property search to Bordeaux.

Situated in the South-West of France, Bordeaux is the capital of the Aquitaine region and with a population of over 500,000 it is the sixth largest city in France.

It is also one of France’s most architecturally splendid cities and is home to one of Europe’s largest 18th century metropolitan areas. Indeed the old part of the town is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Area.

It is also a city well known for its shopping and the Rue Sainte-Catherine, a 1.2 km pedestrian avenue lined with some of the city’s most exclusive shops, is classed as Europe’s longest shopping street.

One cannot talk about Bordeaux however, without mentioning the wine that bears its name. Curiously it is the English who helped to establish the region as a wine producing area, and it was during their stewardship of the city, between 1154 and 1453, that the distinctive taste of Claret was developed to suit their palate.

The rest, of course, is history and the region remains one of the world’s foremost producers of wine. The statistics are truly impressive and the region around the city boasts 117,000 hectares of vineyards, 9,000 wine-producing chateaus, 13,000 grape growers, and the production of 700 million bottles of wine a year.

Aside from the joys of wine tasting there is also plenty to do in the region around Bordeaux. The city is extremely close to the Atlantic and the town of Arcachon, not only provides the city with its closest beach, but the whole of Europe with its largest stretch of sand. The beaches of Aquitaine are also regarded as the home to the best surf in Europe.

All of these factors contribute to making Bordeaux a wonderful city to live in and it is unsurprising to learn that there has been a long tradition of property investment in Bordeaux. As a result Bordeaux property prices have risen sharply in relation to other French cities; and in 2005 prices rose by 15% as opposed to 6% in Paris.

Bordeaux properties have been particular popular with British buyers who have tended to buy in the Bordeaux suburbs. This has naturally led to an increase in prices for suburban properties and amongst properties in the region surrounding Bordeaux. Particular popular is the mediaeval village of St Emilion which is located 35km to the north-east of Bordeaux.

Those looking for more affordable Bordeaux property for sale should consider investing in city-centre locations. To date the city centre has mostly been occupied by the French who have tended to live and work centrally. This is an ideal location not only for those who enjoy the ‘buzz’ of city living, but also for those looking to invest in the low-maintenance long-term rental market.

Although city-centre properties in Bordeaux have not experienced the same increase in prices as their sub-urban counterparts, this is likely to change as President Sarkozy encourages the French people to invest in their own property rather than continuing to rent.

Although there has been a recent stagnation in the French property market as a whole, the signs are that prices in Bordeaux will continue to rise as transport links, from all around Europe, continue to improve. This is a great time to invest in Bordeaux properties.