Thinking of adding a new luxury property to your portfolio in 2021? Whether you’re seeking a holiday home or simply a rental property to boost your income streams, there are few places in the world that offer quite such a chic and sophisticated range of choice as the French Riviera.
A playground of the rich and famous, properties here certainly don’t come cheap, but that, of course, is all part of its charm. From the glamour of Nice to the drama of Cannes, this part of France is dotted with the kind of opulent towns, villages and cities that attract an affluent crowd on board luxury yachts, and a wealthy breed of expats ready and willing to spend their money on a champagne and caviar lifestyle.
As an area that basks in warm and sunny weather almost year-round and is home to a range of historic sights, beautiful beaches and, of course, plenty of designer boutiques for shopping, it has plenty to offer investors of all kinds, with rental properties here increasingly in demand as more Europeans than ever opt to relocate here in search of a slice of the good life.
With so many spectacular locations to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to boosting your portfolio, so we asked the experts at luxury real estate agency Hermitage Riviera, who are accustomed to dealing with high-net-worth customers from across the globe, to share their top picks. Whether you’re looking for a quaint hideaway and the ultimate privacy or the height of glamour and sophistication, you’ll have no trouble finding it on the Cote d’Azur.
Nice
One of the busiest cities on the French Riviera, but still one of the most charming, Nice is the place to invest if you’re eager to be in the thick of all the action. From its charming Old Town, which is punctuated with narrow, winding streets and quaint eateries, to the glamorous Promenade des Anglaise, which is lined with trendy beachfront cabanas, luxury hotels and casinos – and the city’s marina, which is filled with luxury yachts – there’s a lot to love about Nice. There is little wonder it has become such a popular destination amongst both tourists and expats from around the world.
With this in mind, it’s unsurprising that property here is in high demand, so if you’re investing with a view to making your luxury real estate a rental property, then you’ll have no trouble finding the perfect tenants here.
Menton
Often dubbed ‘the pearl of France’, Menton sits in a privileged location upon the French-Italian border, and enjoys a temperate micro-climate that makes it one of the warmest destinations on the French Riviera year-round.
Its pretty streets are lined with orange and lemon trees, and the town is home to a number of perfectly manicured parks and gardens. The old town, perched high upon a hill, comprises a maze of narrow streets and attractive historic buildings, with ornate fronted mansions from the Belle Epoque era and pristine penthouse apartments lining its shady boulevards.
Foodies flock to Menton to sample some of the finest food on the Riviera at Mirazur – a lavish, two Michelin star restaurant which offers breath-taking views of the bay and beach. If you’re looking for a holiday home or are considering becoming a permanent expat yourself then you’ll find everything you could possibly want within easy reach.
Beaulieu-sur-Mer
If you’re looking for some prime luxury real estate on the Cote d’Azur, then you’ll find a host of dream villas in Beaulieu-sur-Mer that are certain to pique your excitement. This pretty seaside village, located between Nice and Monaco, is often overlooked by tourists visiting the area, which is all part of its charm – as it remains a quiet and upmarket location enjoyed by only those ‘in the know’.
Bordering the communes of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Èze, and Villefranche-sur-Mer, this chic seaside resort became popular amongst European royalty during the 19th century and continues to attract clients who are searching for the finer things in life. With its breath-taking period architecture and Belle Epoque waterfront villas, property here unsurprisingly comes at a premium, but with prices almost perpetually on the rise, it’s a great place to invest.
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Home to one of France’s most beautiful bays, Villefranche-sur-Mer is a charming waterfront town punctuated with colourful buildings and spectacular views as standard.
With a beautiful historic centre, within which the Citadel is a focal point, you’ll find medieval buildings and a seafront lined with upmarket seafood restaurants. Chic, sophisticated and oozing glamour at every turn, it’s hard not to fall head over heels in love with Villefranche – and from luxury residences with private pools to opulent townhouses in the historic centre, the luxury real estate here will make you want to invest multiple times over.
The bottom line
Whatever kind of luxury real estate you’re looking for, you’ll have little trouble finding your perfect match on the French Riviera, and wherever you buy, you can be certain of making a tidy profit – whether that’s later down the line, when you opt to sell, or immediately through rental income. When it comes to the most beautiful investment destinations in Europe, it really doesn’t get much better than the Cote d’Azur, and here, you can guarantee that you’ll feel utterly spoilt for choice.
