Take a leisurely stroll through the pretty cobbled streets of the old town before visiting the Verrerie de Biot to watch skilled glass-blowers make the famous bubbled glass and then enjoy a refreshing chilled beer at one of the bustling cafés in the historic Place des Arcades; enjoy a relaxing day of sunbathing on the terrace of your private luxury villa with splendid views of the surrounding countryside and then come into town for a leisurely dinner of freshly grilled sardines followed by salt crusted sea bass accompanied with glasses of chilled white wine; take a trip to the wonderful gardens of the Chèvre d'Or which pay homage to all things Italian and wander through century old olive trees, pebble terraces, bubbling fountains, orange tree lined paths, fields of Agapanthus and majestic Cypress trees. Located near Antibes, between Nice and Cannes and 4km from the coast, Biot is a pretty fortified hilltop town famous for pottery and glass-blowing. With Nice airport nearby and excellent train links to the rest of France, Biot property offers investors an excellent opportunity to own or rent property in this beautiful region of France.
With a history stretching back to the Celts and the Romans, Biot has also been inhabited by both the Knights Templar and the Knights of Malta and has been a pottery centre for centuries making clay jugs from the surrounding soil which is rich in sand, clay and manganese. Today it is well known for its glass-blowing industry, producing glasswork with distinctive ‘bubbles’ inside the glass. There is much to see and do in Biot. The old town is charming, its narrow streets crammed with pastel-coloured houses, flowering plants and artisan shops full of beautifully made objects and at its centre is the Place des Arcades – a narrow square with arcaded houses along both sides – with a charming 15th century church at the end. For culture visit the Fernand Leger museum which contains over 348 original artworks, drawings, oil paintings, stained-glass windows and mosaics by this modern artist covering his whole career from his early figurative paintings to his last great compositions. And don’t forget to visit the famous glass making factory!
There is a good choice of Biot property for sale ranging from luxury apartments in private residences, traditional stone houses with beautiful gardens to secluded villas with swimming pools and fabulous views. Biot property prices remain high and are likely to remain so as demand for Biot property is also very healthy due to the excellent year round rental opportunities, which are proving to be increasingly attractive to international investors.
Although apartments can be found in town, many are in private residences with shared facilities such as swimming pools, gym and parking. For example a two bedroom apartment built in the traditional Provencal style with shutters and terracotta tiles in a residential community with shared swimming pool would typically start at around 470,000 EUR and a three bedroom apartment with terrace onto a private garden would cost in the region of 900,000 EUR. Apartments in the historic centre of the town have a premium price so for example a three bedroom penthouse with panoramic views of the sea and surrounding countryside would be around 1.5m EUR. Townhouses typically start at around 900,000 EUR so for example a lovely turn of the century six bedroom townhouse in the historic town centre with two large sun terraces overlooking the town and distant countryside would be around 1m EUR.
Villas start at around 1m EUR for a four bedroom property in Biot with garden and swimming pool rising to over 2.5m EUR for beautifully renovated Provençal style villas set in lush gardens with huge sun terraces, swimming pools and wonderful views. There are also some wonderful architect designed contemporary villas on the market with floor to ceiling glass windows and open plan living with panoramic stone terraces looking onto landscaped gardens and fabulous far reaching views – these tend to start at around 2m EUR.
Whether you decide to buy a renovated Provençal style townhouse in the historic centre, a modern apartment with sun soaked terrace and panoramic views or a sleek stone and glass contemporary villa gazing out across to the sparkling Mediterranean Sea, Biot property provides investors with the perfect opportunity to buy property in an area rich in history and culture. The combination of a good wine, fabulous food and a relaxed approach to life makes Biot a perfect holiday and property investment destination.
Guide to the French Buying Process
1. Signing the Agreement (Compris)
On finding a property you wish to purchase you will need to negotiate the terms, price and conditions of the sale with the owner. The next step, once you are in agreement, is to sign the preliminary contract (Compromis de Vente). This is a legal document and after ten days will be binding on both parties. Rules change frequently in France and it is best to consult with your notary about when this period starts. Generally the compris will be signed in France with the Agent. Variants can be included in the compris, for example an Acte (clause) can be added if the name or names to go on the title deed have not been finalised. If a mortgage will be required to purchase the property, the details for this, including the name of the mortgage company, must be on the compris.
2. Paying the Deposit
Generally the deposit will be 10% of the agreed purchase price. This will normally be paid to the notaire. There are exceptions to this, if the agent holds a carte professionelle, is bonded and fully registered then you may pay them, but do not hand over the deposit to anyone else. If for some reason the purchase does not go through, for example, if you write to the notaire and the agent that you do not wish to go continue with the purchase before the contract is binding (within seven days of signing the compris), then your deposit would be repaid. This would also apply if a condition had not been met, or the mayor or S.A.F.E.R. (a government agency that has the right of first purchase on most rural property that comes onto the market in France) could oblige the purchaser to give way. If you decide after the seven days 'cooling off' period that you do not wish to complete the purchase and pull out of the sale you would lose your deposit. If however the vendor pulls out of the sale then you will receive your deposit back plus the same amount from the vendor.
3. On Completion
Generally it will take around two or three months to complete the purchase. During this time the balance of the purchase money must be paid into the account of the notaire, this must be done well ahead of the completion date. The notaire will prepare the documents, check that the deed of sale (Acte de Vente) is in order and have the legal title ready to be signed over. It is possible to have someone sign on your behalf if you give them power of attorney. An interpreter may be of use at this point if your French is not very good and many Notaires will suggest (or insist) that an interpreter is with you.
IMPORTANT - Disclaimer :
All information provided is believed to be current and provided free of charge. No liability can be accepted for the reliability of the information and statements made as this is obtained from 3rd parties. We always recommend you take legal advice from a fully qualified Lawyer or Notary before buying a property overseas.
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