Real estate: these cities where prices have skyrocketed

Laurent Bouly is the manager of the Nestenn real estate agency in Angers. He has no time to be bored, as customers parade through his house to find the Grail, a large house with a garden. This Angevin agent explained to us that at the end of 2019, for a house with 400m² of garden, 125m² of living space, three bedrooms and a garage, the average budget was 225,000 euros. Today, with the same amount, it’s a different story. You will have 90m² with a garden of the same size. It is almost the same place, except that this one is in need of renovation. In this case, you have to go on a budget of 300,000 euros.

In just two years, the price per square meter has increased significantly. Therefore, buyers have to reduce their area for the same budget. It’s unheard of in Angers. Available real estate is scarce. And as soon as some are released, they are gone in less than 24 hours. The reason, the arrival of Ile-de-France residents with significant purchasing power, but they are not the only ones to plebiscite the Angevin city. Indeed, according to Christophe Béchu, mayor of Angers, more and more Nantes and Rennais are choosing Angers. For two or three years, they have left cities of a larger size to go to a category of city on a human scale.

Another advantage is the proximity to the capital, which is an hour and thirty minutes away by TGV. Another city of the same size, but this time in the East, is also close to Paris, Reims. Prices have also gone up there even for apartments, close to the station. Thus, in some cities, prices have soared while they have stagnated in other agglomerations, such as Saint-Étienne, Montpellier or Nantes. And then finally, in cities like Marseille or Lyon, with the same budget, individuals can afford a few additional square meters.

T F1 | Reportage A. Barth, F.C. Géroult, M. Basma.