Appealing addresses in country style

Radia Amar - 01 December 2022

With well-preserved natural areas as their common feature, La Drôme Provençale, Le Vaucluse and Le Luberon open out to Provence and draw fans for their charm, peacefulness, and safety. The communes with which they rub shoulders offer historic charm.

Based for over 20 years in La Drôme Provençale, Solis Immobilier run by Denis Allouche focuses on sales of properties of character in an area encompassing La Drôme Provençale, the southern Ardèche, the northern parts of Le Gard and Le Vaucluse.

“Our clientele is mainly comprised of French buyers from the region around Lyon, Paris and eastern France, as well as north Europeans, particularly from Belgium, Switzerland and Luxembourg. Just recently, a few English buyers have shown a more active interest in our area.”

Fond of old stone, these clients are in search of good-sized village houses with gardens or large properties in the country. Aiming for a holiday home with potential to become a permanent residence when they retire, these clients appreciate the lovely communes in this area for their charm, tranquillity and strategic location - usually less than 30 minutes from an entrance to the motorway or a train station, and less than 1 hr 30 from an airport.

“A house that has not been renovated at all can be acquired from 500,000 €, while outstanding properties range from 1.2 to 2 million euros. Over the past 18 months, demand has exceeded supply. Today, it would seem that the market is evening out,” says Denis Allouche, also announcing that a new agency will open in January, 2023, in the historic centre of the delightful commune of Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, a fortified old town set in a plain of vineyards. Since 2019, the CIMM agencies in Le Thor and Mazan run by Christelle Lacoste and Joris Bonneaud have specialized in sales, rentals and rental management for all kinds of properties in an area covering Le Vaucluse and Le Luberon.

Offering a property portfolio with a majority of detached houses and villas, the 13 members of this go-ahead team cater for a clientele in search of pleasant year-round homes, but also those looking for a delightful holiday residence, especially in the Luberon. These buyers from eastern France, Belgium and large French towns such as Marseille and Lyon usually aim for a large property in the country, in a quiet, natural setting.

“As everyone knows, our market took off after the successive lockdowns. It is now, however, more stable, prices again make sense, and our offerings are increasing in number thanks, in particular, to regular rotation of properties,”

explains Joris Bonneaud. The starting-price ? “Excluding the Luberon, an initial budget of 300,000 € is required to set one’s sights on a 3-bedroomed house in large grounds with a pool, lots of privacy, and a peaceful environment.” The agency also presents prestigious properties such as a magnificent house of 343 m² offering a panoramic view of Mount Ventoux. In grounds of 2,800 m², in Crillon le Brave, it benefits from 4 large suites, a lounge/living-room of 70 m², a gym, a study, a garage of 44 m², not forgetting an outdoor kitchen of 36 m² next to the heated pool. It is up for sale at 1,270,000 €