Among the least expensive departments in France, Nièvre offers a very wide range of property prices to retired buyers who wish to settle there. From a small town house to a character property.
In the opinion of real estate professionals, the market is doing rather well in Nièvre.
In this type of sector where sales prices are low, deviations from market values do not occur. Too expensive, the goods do not sell. Here therefore, the correction in sales prices has indeed taken place over the last few months. The average drop recorded by the Fnaim barometer is only 3.2% (figures from June 2024) on average, but it can be more significant on the least popular properties.
Housing with a lot of work to be planned or an unfavorable DPE are those which suffer the most.
empty (empty)
Also, products that are at the top of the market, above €200,000, are currently less in demand. Some especially prized goods, however, are holding up. This is the case, for example, for beautiful residences of character in rural areas which have their clientele, even at high price levels.
Rare apartments
In Nevers, apartments that meet the criteria of senior customers are not the most numerous. Proximity to shops, elevator, quiet and secure residence… To bring all this together, you have to target the most recent constructions, which are traded above the average market price. A beautiful T4 of 110 m2, in the Arcades residence (former Ursuline convent), in the city center, was recently offered at €164,000, or almost €1,500/m2. This represents a 30% premium on the average price of an apartment in Nevers.
A single-storey house on the outskirts for €150,000
Those who have the means can also set their sights on one of the very beautiful residences found in the city center. But there, you will have to put on the table between 300 and more than 400,000 € depending on the services offered. Here again, we are well above departmental standards.
To find single-storey accommodation and a bit of land for a more reasonable budget, retirees are often led to plan for the very near outskirts of the city. For this type of property, in good condition, you need to count between €150 and 200,000.
A small house between €70 and €120,000
But it is possible to go even lower, by looking, for example, at a town house in a rural area. Here we find proximity to amenities and the small exterior. A small habitable house with a few renovations to plan, in a town like Luzy, for example, can be accessible for only €50,000. Prices which should not be surprising in a department where the heart of the market, for individual houses, is between €70 and 120,000.
Investing in rented accommodation, why is it profitable?
The expert's opinion: Sébastien Fromager, real estate agent (Remax)
What properties may interest retirees in Nevers?
In town, retirees often look for apartments without work, with an elevator and a small exterior, such as a balcony or terrace. They are also very attentive to the security of their residence. Proximity to shops is also very important. Often, it is the most recent residences that meet these criteria. Old buildings generally do not have an elevator.
And those who prefer a house?
These are positioned on the first periphery, on single-storey houses or with an independent ground floor and land of 500 to 1,500 m2, but no more. Beyond that, exterior maintenance starts to get a little scary. The most popular areas remain, for example, the municipalities of Coulanges or Varennes-Vauzelles. This type of property also exists in the center of Nevers, but they are often very beautiful houses which are positioned on fairly high budgets.
Are retirees abandoning rural areas?
No, we can't say that. In rural areas, they will tend to move closer to town centers and their businesses. We also see people buying a house in a rural area which will serve as their second home until retirement, then as their primary residence afterwards.
This editorial content is brought to you by one of our partners. The editorial staff did not take part in its design.
