The South of France Or Costa Doubta?

The South of France has always been the most alluring destination for the sophisticated buyer but now those that would traditionally have bought on the Costas of Southern Spain are fast become converts, not least because of the lack of security in the market that the Spanish government is allowing.

Spain has mainly attracted property buyers for the sun, the golf and it's low prices. It still has those three factors but the government has allowed greedy developers to grab land AND allowed them to make the owners (often ex-pats) of that land pay for the infrastructure necessary for the developers newbuilds. Many ex-pats have lost a fortune and for this reason many now will no longer take the risk and the property market has bust because of it and the recession.

Many of those potential buyers are now looking for a new destination (or even an old sophisticated one!).

Believe it or not, you can actually locate beachfront property of amazing beauty for sale along the Southern French Mediterranean coast, even today.

Especially for Europeans and residents of Great Britain, the South of France has become an even hotter property market than Spain's Costa del Sol region and especially the Cote d'Azur where there are fantastic golfing opportunities for even the keenest scratch player..

According to the International Living Web site, some careful research and advice will reveal valuable beachfront real estate in Provence-Alpes-Côte d' Azur with prices and, due to their rarity value and the stable French property market, these are great investments in turbulent times....

To be sure, acquiring investment property in the South of France will let you also enjoy the beaches of your dreams when you are not renting out and earning top dollar. You'll enjoy the pleasures of strolling in the gentle lapping waves on the French Riviera shore.

In the history of French properties and French real estate, no other area has continually attracted so many celebrities, tourists, retirees, vacationers and world travelers as South France's Riviera. Stretching from Hyères to the Italian border, 26 notable resorts can be found on this azure coast with its clay-red colored cliffs.

Although prices have risen in the last few years, (especially luxury immobilier in Saint Tropez ), there are still Southern French properties for sale at reasonable prices, or even at bargain rates, upon close study of the French real estate market.

Although popular opinion prevails that available properties in France with affordable prices are hard to come by, it is still possible to locate comfortable studio apartments on the Riviera for just under US$ 150,000 (€ 111,552 / £ 86,985.8).

Just imagine taking a leisurely walk along the stylish oceanside esplanade of Nice's Promenade des Anglais as a resident French property owner in the area. Then visit nearby Cannes with its stream of celebs and paparazzi. And for those of relatively high net worth, Cap Ferrat is still a getaway retreat from the harried "rest of the world." Then, a mere five-minute train ride will bring you to Villefranche-sur-Mer.

If you're a movie buff, you'll remember Deborah Kerr and Cary Grant paying a visit to his grandmother here in "An Affair to Remember," - and that's a perfect phrase to describe the charming village, itself. As a fishing village now 700 years of age, Villefranche is near both Monaco and Cannes.

From its nonchalant and seductive perch on the top of a sharp incline overlooking the Mediterranean coastline, Villefrance-sur-Mer is one of the most serene and soothing natural harbors in existence. And, just six miles away is Monte Carlo, home of the wealthy, but friendly and welcoming to all its visitors.

To get a good idea of the range of properties and prices across the South of France then take a visit to the Riviera Home Finders web site at http://www.French-Real-Estate-For-Sale.co.uk where they have well over a thousand temptations just waiting for you.

In Marseilles, the regional capital city of Provence-Alpes-Côte d' Azur, the last few years have seen the process of a major makeover. Here, a newly renovated one-bedroom apartment of 450 square feet with an ocean view can be purchased for US$ 137,000. Meanwhile, back in the center of Nice, you can locate slightly more spacious French property-three rooms with a balcony and sea view priced at US$ 529,200. Similar space in the Quartier Fleurs is going for US$ 617,400.

And, if you're in the French investment property market with a mood for more spacious lodging with a touch of history, in Grasse-St. Jacques (15 miles north of Cannes), you'll find an utterly charming and authentic 19th century farm house in a peaceful, scenic setting (five bedrooms and two baths) at the reasonable cost of € 875,000.

While, in France, real estate values and rates may be widely varied, you would expect that any French real estate agent would be competent and could direct you to the right French property to meet your dreams and needs?

You need to be very careful in your choice as, even though they are all capable of selling you something, not all will give you a quality of service that fits the International buyers requirements.

The fact remains that confidence has been lost in the Spanish market and there is much evidence whoing that those who can sell there are moving to the safer haven of the South of France instead.