Buying in Cote d'Azur: what overseas buyers should know
The Cote d'Azur, the French Riviera, is the coastal stretch of the South of France running east from Cannes towards the Italian border. It is one of Europe's most established prime property markets, drawing international buyers to towns such as Nice, Cannes, Antibes and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Buyers here look for sea views, coastal access and a year-round setting, and many purchase for holidays, investment or a permanent move. Property runs from waterfront apartments to hillside villas and prime estates behind the coast.
What buyers are looking for in Cote d'Azur
Demand along the Riviera is international and steady, with the best sea-view apartments and villas always in short supply. The coastal towns each have their own following, from the ports and old quarters to the exclusive caps and headlands. Inland, the hills above the coast offer villas with views and more space, often at a different price point. Given the range of addresses and the competition for the best of them, a local partner agent is essential to buying well.
Buying as an overseas buyer
UK buyers can own freely in France. Since Brexit, stays are limited to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area without a visa, with a long-stay visa for longer periods. A notaire oversees the purchase, with a deposit and a short cooling-off period, and the fees paid through the notaire are higher on older resale homes than on new-build. Ongoing costs include the annual taxe fonciere, plus taxe d'habitation on second homes, with a surcharge in some areas. French banks lend to non-residents, usually with a larger deposit than a resident would need. Take local advice on your position. Start your search to see property for sale in Cote d'Azur, or contact our team to be connected with a local partner agent.
Where to find property for sale in Cote d'Azur
The Riviera is a chain of distinct towns and headlands. Nice anchors the coast with its old town, seafront and airport, while Cannes to the west is known for La Croisette, its film festival and elegant apartments. Between them lie Antibes and Cap d'Antibes, with the exclusive peninsulas of Cap Ferrat and Cap Martin nearby. Further west, the peninsula of St. Tropez marks the coast's glamorous edge. Inland, hill villages such as Mougins and Valbonne offer villas with views.
Property types range from seafront and old-town apartments to Belle Epoque villas, modern homes with pools, and prime estates on the caps. Buyers weighing a lock-up-and-leave apartment against a villa with grounds will find both along this coast. Explore our collections to shortlist by the way you want to live.