Is the Languedoc the new Côte d'Azur?
With a glorious Mediterranean climate, unspoilt beaches, beautiful countryside and growing business areas, it is not surprising that the Languedoc-Roussillon is attracting investors and holiday-home buyers in their droves. With house prices rising at one of the fastest rates in France, now is the time to consider property in the Languedoc before it reaches the higher prices currently seen along the neighbouring Côte d'Azur.
The varied landscape of the Languedoc-Roussillon incorporates a large range of stunning features. From the extended sandy beaches along the coast, to the rolling vineyards inland and the snow-capped Pyrénées dominating the South, the Languedoc really does have something to offer everyone. Boasting over 300 days of sunshine a year, the Languedoc is the second warmest region of France behind Corsica.
Aside from this diversity, there is the ever-growing population, due to the arrival of international businesses in key cities such as Montpellier, Nimes and Perpignan. As such, the property industry is booming in the area as developers rush to meet the demand of this influx.
The Languedoc is currently undergoing the fastest regional growth in France. Figures by the FNAIM (the French Federation of Estate Agents) show a healthy and consistent increase of 7% per year, with the national increase in 2007 averaging only 3.8%.
The Languedoc is becoming increasingly accessible, with cheap flights from all over the UK and Ireland to Carcassonne, Béziers Montpellier and Perpignan. The extension of the TGV line is well underway, with the Montpellier-Figueres line opening in February next year.
