The Haute-Vienne department ticks a lot of boxes for people looking for a place to live for their retirement. First of all, there is its central location in the territory, which allows you to easily travel almost anywhere in France. The temperate climate and rather protected from climatic hazards as well as the preserved living environment but without the hassle of forgotten territories, are also very attractive. It is not uncommon, according to real estate professionals, for people to discover the area during a tourist trip and decide, attracted, to settle there.
Added to this is an extremely wide range of prices which allows all budgets to find what they are looking for. Thus, according to professional estimates, transactions involving senior or young retired buyers represent almost a third of the market.
€280,000 for a charming villa with swimming pool
In the north of the department, near Bessines-sur-Gartempe or Le Dorat, for example, you can find small town houses for less than €100,000 and beautiful stone residences, a little outside for less than €150,000. €. You still have to agree to take your car to go shopping.
Similarly, in Bellac, a house of 200 m2, with 300 m2 of outbuildings, recently sold for €120,000. But, in the same town, there are also sumptuous stone residences, a stone's throw from all amenities, with land of 1,000 m2 and swimming pool, for less than €280,000.
The observation is quite similar in the south of the department, in the Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche sector, but at a slightly higher price level. A charming house nestled in the countryside, with its water point, sells for around €300,000.
A Limoges
In the Limoges sector, retirees often turn to popular towns on the immediate outskirts, such as Panazol or Feytiat. People who own a large house in the countryside, not necessarily very functional, seek to be closer to amenities, while preserving their comfort of life. They are therefore looking for houses of around a hundred square meters, with at least three bedrooms, without work and with, of course, a little land, but not too much. You need to count between €200 and €250,000 for this type of property. But, for products offering better performance, you can easily get between €350 and €400,000. Remember that these are very high values in a department where the median price of a house is around €175,000. (seloger.com, July 2024).
The expert's opinion: Josette Jayat, real estate agent
Why do retirees appreciate the Saint-Yrieix region so much?
It's a city that perfectly matches the quiet life you aspire to when you retire. There you will find all the essential services, including a hospital and quality shops. The fact of not being in a medical desert, while living in a quiet place, is very important for this clientele. Some come from the rural sector and want to be closer to amenities, others arrive from the southeast or a big city and are looking for a little haven of peace.
What are their main demands?
Most often, they are looking for a house close to the city, with a little land but not too much and which allows them to do their shopping in a maximum of five minutes by car. All this, of course, without any work required. People arriving from large metropolises can have fairly high budgets, up to €300,000, and position themselves for very beautiful houses, sometimes with a swimming pool. But there are also simpler pavilions, sold between 150 and 200,000 €.
Is there also a demand for the city center?
Yes, a townhouse with a garden is the alternative we are often given. In town, there are very few apartments, but you can indeed find a few houses. We are often asked about the Place de la Nation which is very pleasant. But sales there are very rare.
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