What if I told you that there is an area of France, close to the Mediterranean coast, where you can still buy property at very reasonable prices and potentially earn a gross rental yield of 7–10% a year? Sounds too good to be true? Well, let me give you some food for thought.
First, I am going to let you into a little secret. Some of the best property investment opportunities in France are not necessarily in the places you might expect. And the most beautiful house is not always the one that will make you the most money.
I have lived in the South of France for over 20 years and spent much of that time working in real estate. I have set up and run a holiday rentals website and I have also built a successful long term rentals business. During this time, I have seen which properties rent successfully, which ones struggle and some of the expensive mistakes people make when buying a house in France.
So I am going to share some of that experience with you. This is not a conventional guide to buying a holiday home. I am approaching it from a Property investment business perspective: where should you buy, what type of property should you look for, and how can you generate rental income throughout the year? A lot of the advice is still relevant if you are simply interested in buying a property in France as a second home (or relocating permanently). But the main focus is on buying a property at a decent price and then earning a good rental yield.
These are my personal opinions, based on experience rather than financial advice. I am just giving you some food for thought. You obviously need to do your own research, check the figures and take professional advice before committing to a purchase.
Why France is an attractive property investment
France has one enormous advantage over many other countries: people love coming here.
It remains the world's most visited country, welcoming around 100 million international visitors annually. They come for the culture, the beaches, the beautiful countryside, the food, the wine (of course the wine) and the historic towns. For property owners, this creates a large potential market for holiday accommodation.
But there is another rental market that many overseas property buyers overlook: people who want to spend several months living in France.
Every year, France issues hundreds of thousands of long-stay visas to people looking to move or establish a new life here. In 2025, France issued around 290,772 long stay visas. Many are retirees, remote workers and overseas house hunters looking for furnished accommodation for several months.
This creates an interesting opportunity for property investors. Instead of relying entirely on the summer holiday season, you can combine 8–10 weeks of summer holiday rentals with 6–8 months of longer-term winter lets. And when you do this, our experience shows that you should be able to achieve gross rental yields of 7–10% per year. That is not a guaranteed return, and it depends heavily on what you buy, how much you pay and how you manage it. But it is a realistic investment objective for the right property.
Why invest in property in the South of France?
You can buy beautiful houses all over France. Brittany, Normandy, the Loire Valley and the Dordogne all have their attractions, and some offer excellent value for money. However, if I were buying a property primarily to generate rental income, I would concentrate on the South of France.
The South of France hugs the Mediterranean coast and has its own distinct culture compared to the rest of France. It is generally associated with three distinct areas: the French Riviera (Côte d'Azur), Provence and the Languedoc. All three are beautiful, but for different reasons.
The French Riviera is famous for the glitz and glamour of its coastal resorts, 300+ days of sunshine and elegant towns such as Nice, Cannes and Antibes. Provence is known for its picturesque hilltop villages, lavender fields, olive groves, traditional markets and wonderful countryside. And then there is the Languedoc, with its long sandy beaches, vineyards, historic towns, Mediterranean fishing villages and spectacular landscapes.
So why would I concentrate on the South of France?
The first reason is the climate. The Mediterranean coast benefits from long, warm summers and generally milder winters. This makes it attractive for both summer holidaymakers and people looking to escape the colder months in Northern Europe.
The second reason is accessibility. The South of France has an excellent network of airports, motorways and high-speed rail connections. Montpellier, Béziers, Carcassonne, Perpignan, Nîmes, Marseille and Nice provide access to destinations across Europe, while the TGV connects the region with Paris and other major French cities.
In my experience, accessibility makes an enormous difference to rental demand. People want to reach their holiday home quickly and easily. They don't necessarily want a two-hour drive from the airport after arriving in France.
And finally, there is the lifestyle. Mediterranean beaches, vineyards, lively market towns, restaurants, festivals and historic villages give people plenty of reasons to visit. Importantly, many of these places remain active throughout the winter rather than closing completely at the end of the tourist season.
Why I would buy in the Languedoc rather than Provence or the Côte d'Azur
Now, here is where I think the real investment opportunity lies.
Provence and the Côte d'Azur are beautiful, but property prices are quite steep. If you are buying primarily for your own enjoyment, that may not matter. But if you want to generate a good rental return, the purchase price makes an enormous difference.
The Languedoc offers many of the same attractions: Mediterranean beaches, historic towns, vineyards, excellent restaurants and a wonderful climate. Yet outside the more expensive areas around Montpellier and certain coastal resorts, property prices can be substantially lower.
Take the example of Béziers, the ancient capital of the Languedoc wine region. Beziers lies just 10km from the Mediterranean coast, it has its own airport, a TGV train station and 2 motorways converge just west of the city. The centre of Beziers has also undergone an extensive refurbishment, smartening up the facades of the beautiful buildings. So it has everything going for it. But when you look at the house prices, Beziers becomes very interesting. Compared with Nice and Cannes, property prices in in Beziers are around 65% lower. In January 2026, estimated apartment prices averaged €1,971 per m² in Béziers, compared with €5,274 in Nice and €6,130 in Cannes.
Of course, the rental rates are different too. But a lower purchase price means you don't necessarily need to charge Côte d'Azur rental prices to achieve an attractive percentage return.
And this is the key point: don't just look at how much rent a property might generate. Look at how much you have to invest to generate that income. For me, that is why the Languedoc remains one of the most interesting places to buy an investment property in France in 2027.
My 5 golden rules for buying investment property in France
I have developed five simple rules for buying an investment property in the South of France. These are based on what I have seen work successfully, as well as some expensive mistakes I have seen other people make.
1. You make your money when you buy, not when you sell
This is probably the most important rule. Buy at the right price and don't overspend on refurbishment.
I would aim to keep the refurbishment budget to a maximum of 10% of the purchase price. Obviously, this rules out properties needing major structural work, but that is precisely the point. If you are buying a rental investment, you want to start generating income as quickly as possible, not spend two years renovating it.
Don't assume that every euro you spend improving a house will be reflected in its resale value. It won't. The real opportunity is to buy a good property at a sensible price, make some carefully targeted improvements and start earning rental income.
2. Modern properties rent more easily than old ones
This might surprise people who dream of owning a traditional French stone farmhouse, but in my experience, modern villas generally rent more successfully than older properties. Holidaymakers want comfortable bedrooms, modern bathrooms, air conditioning, a private pool, good outdoor space and somewhere convenient to park. Longer-term tenants also appreciate central heating, good insulation, reliable internet and manageable utility bills.
A beautiful old stone house can certainly be a successful rental, but don't confuse architectural character with rental appeal. Buy what your customers want, not necessarily what you would choose for yourself.
3. Location, location, location
Yes, it is a bit of a cliché, but it is very true, especially for France. People don't just rent a house. They rent the experience of staying somewhere.
They want to walk to the boulangerie for their morning baguettes, visit the weekly market, enjoy a meal at a local restaurant and explore the surrounding area. In the South of France, being within easy reach of the Mediterranean beaches is another major attraction. In my experience, properties which are more than 30 minutes to the coast, will be much harder to rent than those under 30 mins to the beach. Even if clients don't go to the beach themselves, they like the idea of being close to the coast.
The other important consideration is being within 50 mins of a local airport, with regular flights to the UK, Ireland, Scandinavia (and also internal flights to Paris or Nice for transatlantic flights).
My ideal investment property would be in or close to a lively town or village with shops, restaurants and a proper year-round community. A good location can attract both summer holidaymakers and people looking for somewhere to spend several months during the winter.
4. Don't be seduced by a bargain or a beautiful house
I have seen this happen so many times. Someone finds a beautiful house at an apparently fantastic price and falls in love with it. The problem is that they have bought the house rather than the location. You will always find a bargain property in France (because there are so many old crumbling properties that need a modern touch). You will also always find cheap properties in France (because the Owner has passed away and the family want to liquidate the asset). But that doesn't mean you have to buy them!
Our main business is long term rentals for international clients, a good portion of whom are looking to buy property in France. What happens a lot is that customers rent a house for 12 months and then after 2-3 months, they announce that they have bought a house in France. The warning signs are when they say
" . . . it has been on the market for a while . . . it needs some work doing to it . . . it has so much character . . . my partner just fell in love with it . . .".
They then spend the next 6 months convincing themselves that the surrounding village is charming, even though it may be a fairly ordinary working French village with few shops, restaurants or attractions. For the first six months, they maintain that enthusiasm. Then the reality begins to sink in.
They realise that they don't particularly enjoy living there, their friends and family are less than enthusiastic about the 2 hour car journey to the local airport and they themselves are discovering nicer towns in the wider area.
Selling can then become another problem. In a less desirable location, it might take one or two years to find a buyer, potentially at a price below what they originally paid plus the refurbishment costs.
A bargain is only a bargain if other people will want to buy or rent it too.
5. Always ask: why would someone want to come here?
Before buying any property, ask yourself two questions:
- Why would someone choose to spend their holiday or several months living here?
- Why would someone want to buy this property from me in five or ten years time?
If you cannot come up with convincing answers, think very carefully before proceeding.
Look at the property through the eyes of your future customers, not just your own. Consider its location, accessibility, facilities, running costs and the type of people it will attract.
The best rental investments are not necessarily the most beautiful houses. They are properties that appeal to a broad market, generate reliable rental income and will still be attractive to another buyer when you eventually decide to sell.
Best places to buy investment property 2027
Well there are lots of places in the Languedoc, so I have tried to narrow it down to places that I would consider living in. My criteria in compiling this list have centred around 7 things:
- is it a nice looking location
- the village has some life to it (both in the summer and the winter)
- is it easy to get to
- the village an 'open' place (i.e., is it welcoming of foreigners)
- there some soul to the place - history, culture, etc;
- there plenty of things nearby to visit and experience
- there is good opportunity to get a return on investment from summer holiday rentals and winter lets
I know that renting out your property may not be the highest item on your reasons for buying a house in the South of France, but if you can get someone else to pay your mortgage and you can still enjoy the villa yourself, then it suddenly becomes quite an interesting investment proposition.
You will find a much more detailed analysis here (Buy to Let Holiday Rentals), but in short, a decent 4 bed villa in the Languedoc with a private pool, should be able to earn you around €25-30k per year from high season weekly rentals and one or two monthly rentals over the winter period. Similarly, a coastal apartment with 2 beds and a terrace, will also likely net you around a 9% rental yield if you manage it properly.
#1 Best places to buy investment property France: Sete
Sete is a beautiful coastal town located in between Beziers and Montpellier on the Mediterranean sea. Sete is a large port town and around the outskirts it is a bit scruffy. But the centre of Sete has a lovely network of canals and old town houses.
Sete has a large percentage of Italian immigrants (mainly poor fishermen) who have settled here over the last 2 centuries. In fact nearly 60% of the population of Sete can trace back ancestors to just 2 fishing villages on the Naples coast in Italy.
Sete was originally called Cette and it didn't change its name to Sète, until 1928. Sete was also the birthplace of the famous French singer, Georges Brassens and the French poet, Paul Valéry.
The other fact I love about Sete, is that in the 1930's it had one of the best football teams in France. Sete won the French first division league twice in 1934 and 1939 and they also won the French cup twice during the 1930's
Near to Sete there is over 20kms of golden sandy beaches along a narrow headland which separates the Mediterranean from the inland lake, the Etang du Thau. The Etang du Thau produces the best oysters and mussels in France, with many ending up in the Michelin starred restaurants in Paris.
There are 4 reasons I put Sete down as the #1 place to invest in Property in France:
- Sete has a mainline train link to Montpellier (less than 20 mins)
- Property prices are considerably lower in Sete than Montpellier
- Sete has an international reputation on account of its 2 Music festivals and the summer Water Jousting festivals. These events attract thousands of visitors each year and accommodation is at a premium
- The lovely beaches nearby will attract visitors during the summer
I know a lot of people who are starting to buy apartments in Sete. One of the things that strikes me about them, is that when you talk to them about living in Sete, they all say more or less the same thing " . . . I couldn't live anywhere else, I have the sun, the sea, the seafood and the fun . . .". Obviously, not everyone I have spoken to has said exactly that, but equally, I cannot see any of them moving anywhere else in France.
#2 Best places to buy investment property France: Marseillan
Marseillan is located on the shores of the Etang du Thau, over-looking the town of Sete. It has a lovely old port area, with lots of bars and restaurants. Marseillan is also very close to the sea, with Marseillan plage just up the road is probably one of the best beaches in Languedoc.
The real estate market in Marseillan is very dynamic, with a lot of inward investment over the last 10 years. This has resulted in a lot of the old town houses being refurbished and the local town hall has invested heavily in upgrading the streets and the port area. The holiday rental 'season' in Marseillan is quite long, stretching from late April through into October. Even town houses with small roof terraces manage to achieve 18 weeks rentals per year.
The main reason I would recommend Marseillan is that it is a place that always has a bit of life about it (summer and winter). We like going here in the winter for a meal (Table d'Emilie is a fantastic restaurant). We like to have a walk down by the port afterwards. Marseillan is a big place, but it has a close-knit feel about it. The Marseillans are very proud of their town. It is also the original location of the Noilly Prat distillery.
Close-by to Marseillan there is the lively seaside resort of Cap d'Agde and the city of Agde, which provideds a number of hypermarkets, big DIY stores and other services. Marseillan is the sort of place that you can get about on a bike. You can ride down to the beach or into town. There is a regular bus service from Beziers airport straight to Marseillan and there is a TGV train station in Agde.
It is easy to reach Marseillan in under 2 hours from the UK, Ireland, Scandinavia and Germany. Paris is just a 1 hour flight or a leisurely 4 hour train journey.
In short, Marseillan is the perfect place to buy a holiday home or to live in South France. Here we explain why Marseillan has become the most enduring property hot spot in South France.
#3 Best places to buy investment property France: Pezenas
In the Languedoc, there are 5 really beautiful towns to visit: Uzes, Aigues-Mortes, Sommieres, Mirepoix and Pezenas. We live near Pezenas and we absolutely love the place. Pezenas has some beautiful old streets unchanged over the last 5 centuries. It is also an important arts centre, with many arts festivals, theatre productions and antique fairs taking place throughout the year. Pezenas is also a short drive to the coast. It is surrounded by vineyards and has excellent transport connections. Pezenas is definitely my top tip as a place to buy a house in Languedoc. Properties in Pezenas rent most of the year and if you are able to find a villa closeby with a pool, then you are almost guaranteed 12 weeks summer holiday rentals.
Pezenas has a good range of shops, supermarkets, banks, restaurants, pharmacies, etc and there is an active social scene all year around. Pezenas has a well respected wine cooperative. There is definitely a 'Pezenas premium' on house prices, but you can still pick up a property at a reasonable rate.
In my opinion, there are 4 villages surrounding Pezenas that you should also consider if you are looking for Languedoc real eastate: Caux, Tourbes, Nezignan l'Eveque and Neffies.
Caux is probably the largest village out of the 4. It has a lovely old hilltop centre (they call these villages Circulades in France on account of the circular streets that wind up the hill). There is a bar, shop, cafe and I think a restaurant in Caux. Cuax has a lovely setting, vineyards all around and close to Pezenas as well.
Nezignan L'Eveque is actually where we live, so I am biased. But, I would also point out 4 main attractions: it is just 3kms from Pezenas, a 15 mins drive to the coast, it has a gorgeous centre to the village and there is always something going on. Our local mayor, Dr Siccard, has in my opinion done a fantastic job. The village is beautifully maintained. The main street is an avenue with palm trees lining the way. The summer festivals during July are excellent. But above all, the village has a really nice feel to it. Very friendly and open. There is an excellent restaurant at the hotel and the local Pizzeria is fantastic. The local bar is a bit of a let down, but the shop is well stocked and there is also a tabac, beauty salon, boulangerie, post office and hairdresser. The houses in Nezignan l'Eveque are more expensive than other villages, but I suppose the items above explain the reason for this.
Tourbes is real up and coming village. The bar has just been taken over by new owners and they are really keen to book live bands and host art exhibitions in the upstairs room. There is also a good restaurant (La Maison) and a really good bistro at the Cave Cooperative. Like Nezignan, Tourbes is a friendly place and it is close to Pezenas as well.
Neffies is another of the Circulade villages close to Pezenas that you should consider buying in. There is a really good restaurant here and the local bar is great in the summer. There is a lovely terrace where you can look out over the rooftops and the vineyards beyond. It is not a big place, but there is still a local shop and tabac and you have Roujan just up the road which has all the shops you will need. Pezenas is just a short drive away.
#4 Best places to buy investment property France: Collioure
Collioure should really be higher up this list, but I get the impression that property here is a bit expensive. But there is a good reason for that. Collioure is simply beautiful and I love visiting the town - winter or summer. Collioure is a coastal town south of Perpignan. It was visited by a whole range of famous painters (Derain, Matisse and Picasso).
The location of Collioure is magnificent. The sheltered harbour, the lovely mazy streets by the port, the famous church and the mountains behind; all make Collioure special.
We have a number of apartments to rent in Collioure and they are always very popular. I think if you bought in Collioure you could expect to rent out your property for 25-35 weeks a year very easily.
Collioure is just 30 mins drive from Perpignan airport and just over an hour to Girona airport in Northern Spain. This makes it very handy to reach Collioure from Northern Europe, UK and Ireland.
Collioure also has its own train station, with regular services to Perpignan city centre and down along the coast to Banyuls, Port Vendres and Spain.
Collioure has a good range of restaurants - which, for a coastal resort - are not too expensive. In fact, I would say they are surprisingly cheap. There is also a lovely art trail that you can take around the town. There are empty picture frames mounted on posts, which you can look through and see the same view as the artist originally saw. Next to the picture frames, there are reproductions of the famous artwork (now worth millions), painted by the impoverished artist.
Given its connection with famous artists, there is also a very good art museum in Collioure (La Maison du Fauvisme), which celebrates some of the famous art works from the Fauvism period.
To be honest, I am not one of those people that enjoys going back to the same place year after year. But with Collioure, I have a different view on it. Every time I visit the town, I come away with a different impressions, experience something new or just feel rejuvenated. It is a hard thing to put into words. Collioure is just one of those special places. If you bought a house or apartment in Collioure, then you are not going to lose money. In fact, you will make yourself a tidy little sum from renting it out. But that is really besides the point. The whole point of buying property in Collioure, is that you can return time and time again and the view will be the same, but the experience will be different.
#5 Best places to buy investment property France: Meze
Meze is coastal town located on the Etang du Thau. Meze and the nearby fishing village of Bouzigues is known throughout France as the capital of oyster and mussle production. Huitres de Bouzigues oysters are found in the best Parisian restaurants. There are also some excellent seafood restaurants on the shoreline and harbour in Meze.
There is a lovely beach in Meze, which has lovely views out over the lake across to the town of Sete.
Meze is located just 15 mins south of Montpellier - which remains the fastest growing conurbation in France.
Meze has an enviable access to the local transport network. Montpellier airport is just 20 mins easy drive and the fast-developing airport in Beziers is just 25 mins to the south. Both airports feature regular flights to Paris, as well as a number of low cost routes to Ireland, UK and Northern Europe. The nearby towns of Agde and Sete both have TGV train stations, providing connections to all the major cities in France. Also, from Meze, it just takes 2 minutes to join the A9 autoroute, which is the main thoroughfare running down from Lyon to the South of France and Northern Spain.
The property market in Montpellier is starting to over-heat. It is the fastest growing city in France and recently overtook Strasbourg as the 7th biggest city in France. With property prices continuing to rise above the level of affordability, outer-lying towns and villages like Bouzigues and Meze, will attract more house buyers looking for an easy commute into Montpellier.
Therefore, Meze could be a very smart place to make a property investment in 2027 and enjoy the benefits of rising property prices and good rental yields over the next 10-15 years.
#6 Best places to buy investment property France: Carcassonne
The countryside around the Southern French town of Carcassonne, has proved to be a very popular place finding a property to buy in the last couple of years. Carcassonne is located in the Aude department and traditionally, house prices in the Aude are much lower than in the neighbouring departments of Herault, the Gard and Pyrenees-Orientales.
The Aude is one of the poorest departments in France. You will not notice this. It is not like you have beggars on the street or discarded shopping trolleys in doorways. It is just that the Aude is predominantly an agricultural area and there is not much industry. As a result, the average wages in the Aude tend to be low.
The Aude also depends for a lot of its income on tourism - primarily from the Castle at Carcassonne, the second most-visited historical monument in France. In addition to this, you have the Canal du Midi, the Cathar monuments and the Mediterranean beaches near to Narbonne.
The other good thing about Carcassonne, is that its local airport has year round Ryanair flights to the UK and Ireland. This is especially important if you want to get the your property and also for renters to reach your property easily.
The picturesque town of Carcassonne is located between the Mediterranean coast, the city of Toulouse and the Pyrenees Mountains to the south. The landscape around Carcassonne is quite varied.
The Black Mountains are situated above Carcassonne and here you will find some lovely rural villages like Villardonnel, Saissac and Siran. On the Eastern side of Carcassonne the Canal du Midi flows through the Minervois wine region towards the town of Narbonne and the beaches of the Mediterranean. The countryside is mainly flat and dominated by vineyards.
On the Western side of Carcassonne, in the direction of Toulouse, the vineyards give way to more arable crops, including acres of sunflower fields. Here you will find some nice rural towns like Revel, Bram and Castelnaudary (home of the famous Cassoulet). The area south of Carcassonne slowly rises up to meet the Pyrenees. Here you will find some local market towns like Limoux, Quillan and the gorgeous town of Mirepoix.
Fanjeaux is a hilltop village close to Carcassonne. We have a rental property in Fanjeaux and it rents very easily. With Carcassonne airport just 15 mins up the road, as well as the famous citadel in Carcassonne itself, Fanjeaux is a great location. The A61 autoroute provides you with quick access to both Toulouse and the coast.
The medieval market square in Mirepoix is simply stunning. Mirepoix is a bit off-the-beaten track, but there is enough going on in the town for you to not feel like you are living at the end of the earth. The countryside surrounding Mirepoix is very beautiful - more cow country than vineyards - but you do have the town of Limoux just up the road which specialises in a local Champagne (which I think is the same if not better than the real Champagne - in fact it is made in exactly the same way).
#7 Best places to buy investment property France: Uzes (St Maximin and Castillon de Gard)
Uzes, France is a very pretty town in the Gard region of Southern France, close to Provence. In the centre of Uzes, there are lots of narrow streets with little boutiques arranged around the old Duchy. In the centre you will find a big square (Place aux Herbes), laid out with fountains and plenty of decent restaurants. Uzes and the surrounding region have a bit of a reputation as a foodies paradise as well as an art centre.
Uzes has a fabulous Saturday morning market, when the whole town comes alive with stallholders selling fresh local produce including truffles, herbs, olive oil and handmade preserves.
I like the Gard department, it is very picturesque, with lots of the buildings made from the same yellow-gold stone. There are lots of tree lined country roads, vineyards and scenic hills covered in the famous Garrigue (stubbly bushes) and Olive trees. It makes driving through the area very pleasant.
Near to Uzes you have the old Roman town of Nimes, the Pont du Gard - an amazing Roman aqueduct; and the beautiful city of Avignon.
There is a TGV train station in Nimes (just 15 mins drive) and Avignon (30 mins drive) and there is an international airport on the outskirts of Nimes, with services to the UK and Northern Europe.
St Maximin is a beautiful village located close to Uzes in the Gard department. We visited St Maximin very recently and it is a lovely old village. There is also plenty of building work going on in St Maximin with some of the old village houses being restored. There is a nice restaurant in St Maximin itself and plenty of good restaurants in the area. Uzes, is always a popular town to visit with tourists. You also have the Pont du Gard (Roman aqueduct) just down the road and Nimes is not too far away either. So all in all it is a great location to buy a house in France.
Close to Saint-Maximin is another very pretty village called Castillon du Gard. This village has also undergone a lot of careful refurbishment in recent years and it can give you a good indication of what St Maximin will eventually look like. This is also another good spot to buy. The Pont du Gard is on your doorstep, as well as Nimes, Avignon and Uzes.
#8 Best places to buy investment property France: Perpignan & Ceret
The Southern French city of Perpignan lies between the Mediterranean coast and the Pyrenees. It is just 20 kms from the Spanish border. With it's mild winters and long hot summers, it is the perfect destination for buying a property in in France, either as a second home or as an investment.
The city is the capital of Roussillon and it has a real Spanish feel to it. The old narrow streets towards the Palais des Rois de Majorque are a real pleasure to walk around.
Perpignan also has a real connection with art, with famous artists such as Picasso, Dufy, Maillol and Jean Cocteau all having studios in the City at one time or other. The surrounding countryside is very pretty. Wherever you go you will see vineyards set against the backdrop of the Pyrenees. There are some great local towns and villages such as Thuir, Collioure, Laroque-des-Alberes and Estagel. The area is well served by the transport network. The TGV stops in Perpignan and there is a new connection all the way to Barcelona. There is also an international airport on the outskirts of the city, with flights to the UKL and Northern Europe
Near to Perpignan you will find an amazing coastline and the city provides easy access to Barcelona, the ski resorts in the Pyrenees and the Cathar castles in the Corbieres hills.
Just 15 kms from Perpignan, there is the famous old town of Ceret. Ceret's position in the foothills of the Pyrenees, provides a dramatic back-drop to this lovely old town. For centuries the town has been famous because of it's local cherry crop (Cerise also lends its name to the town). Ceret is also the location of the Modern Art museum, on account of the many famous painters, including Picasso who have stayed in the town. The centre of Ceret has a lovely old historic quarter and the town is blessed with many excellent restaurants. In the winter, Ceret is close to the ski slopes of Font-Romeu and Les Angles. In the summer, the beaches of Argeles sur Mer and Collioure are also close at hand.
Property in Ceret is reasonably priced and it provides healthy returns from summer holiday rentals and long term winter lets.
#9 Best places to buy investment property France: around Beziers
In terms of a location for buying property in France, Beziers has everything going for it. It is just 10km from the Mediterranean coast. It has a great transport network - with an international airport, TGV train station and 2 motorways passing nearby. It has over 2,000 years of history and it is quickly regenerating itself for the 21st Century.
But over the last 30-40 years Beziers has had its problems, with declining industry and racial tensions with with immigrants who came to France after the Algerian war for independence.
But under a charesmatic Mayor (some would say authoritarian), Beziers is starting to get back on its feet. Slowly but surely, it is rediscovering its mojo.
As a result, money is pouring into Beziers - both from the local and central governments. The money has been spent on improve the range of facilities it offers and its physical appearance. The city has been spruced up, the central Square has been completely remodelled and residential properties are being refurbished. Property Investors are flocking into the town looking to capitalise on the relatively cheap property prices and the expected growth that will result from all of the investment.
Apart from looking at the quartier close to the Cathedral in Bezier, I would also recommend looking at a number of local villages around Beziers as good places to buy property:
- St Genies de Fontedit - this old wine-making village is situated 15 mins North-West of Beziers, in between the Mediterranean coast and the Black Mountains. The village is surrounded by vineyards and has lovely views over the hills. Next to the village there is a handy commercial centre with supermarkets, an exellent butcher, boulangerie, pharmacy. The D909 main road also provides easy access down to the coast, Beziers ariport and the A9 motorway
- Thezan-les-Beziers - a lot of investment has been made into this village in the last few years. The centre of the village has undergone a major facelift and there is a very smart shopping centre on the edge of the village. Thezan is just 5 mins drive from Beziers and is located on the old wine route through the Orb river valley.
- Lieuran-lès-Beziers - this is a very pretty village with the Libron river running through the centre.
- Cessenon-sur-Orb - another pretty village, slightly further inland from Beziers. The River Orb runs past the edge of the village and is a popular swimming spot.
- Abeilhan - the village was a former Roman settlement, which made use of its hilltop location for defence. Today the village is an important wine-making centre, with a number of popular vineyards.
- Magalas - this large village has a surprising range of facilities including 2 supermarkets, a DIY store, butchers, bakeries, a medical centre, 2 restaurants and a primary and secondary school. Magalas is very much a working village, but the vineyards surrounding the village are beautiful. It also has its own train station with services to Beziers.
#10 Best places to buy investment property France: Sommieres
As I have said above, there are 4 standout towns in Languedoc: Pezenas, Uzes, Mirepoix and Sommieres. All are very similar in looks. Lots of narrow streets, old buildings, lots of restaurants and always full of visitors.
Sommieres is located in between Montpellier and Nimes and was featured as the setting for the film Jean de Florette.
This lovely market town was originally founded by the Romans as a look-out fort. There is a beautiful river running through Sommieres and it also has a fabulous Saturday market.
Sommieres is just 25km from Montpellier and it is a popular commuting town. The town also provides easy access to Montpellier airport and the new TGV train station built on the edge of Montpellier.
The surrounding countryside is very pretty and you have some gorgeous villages and towns such as, Quissac, Corconne and Sauve. There is also the wonderful wine region of Pic St Loup, which produces some of the best wines in the South of France.
Property prices in Sommieres are affected by its proximity to Montpellier, but in a sense, that is part of the attraction. As long as house prices in Montpellier continue to go off the scale, it helps keep the house prices in Sommieres rising as well. Many young professionals seek out cheaper property in Sommieres, because they can no longer afford the prices of apartments and houses in central Montpellier. If you are looking at spending €350,000 in Montpellier then you could maybe afford a 2-3 bed apartment in a good area or a small house in a not-so-good area. That same money will get you a nice house or villa with a garden in Sommieres.
Thinking of buying an investment property in France . . . ?
I hope that I have given you some food for thought about considering the South of France as a destination for investing in property. If you would like to discuss the concept in more detail, please reach out to me on the contact details below. Further information on the French property market in South France can be found from the following resources:
These six guides explore the French property market, buy-to-let opportunities and the practicalities of owning and renting out a property in France.
Explore the French property market, house prices and whether current conditions offer opportunities for investors.
Discover the outlook for French mortgage rates in 2027, based on reasearch and forecasts from the Banque de France and leading mortgage brokers.
How to choose a holiday rental property, attract bookings and calculate potential rental income in France.
Discover how longer winter lets can complement summer holiday bookings and help generate income throughout the year.
Understand the main taxes associated with buying, owning and renting out property in France.
Advice on choosing the right region, town and type of property, whether buying for investment or personal use.
Our business partner, Artaxa RE/MAX, is an international real estate agency based in the Languedoc region of the South of France.
If you would like to discuss suitable towns and villages in the South of France for a property investment, then please call Jane Laverock on +33 6 95 50 19 21 or email her at Jane Laverock.
