French properties with balconies and terraces are more popular than ever

While once they might have been considered an added bonus, balconies and terraces have now become a must-have for househunters, and this precious outside space is pushing up apartment prices too

Properties with balconies and terraces have never been so popular. Demand has increased significantly as a result of the coronavirus lockdown, during which many people were confined to their homes with little or indeed no outside space. In large cities a property with a balcony or terrace is particularly attractive to buyers, and apartments with the added benefit of private outside space are now commanding considerably higher prices.

According to the results of a study by MeilleursAgents, which analysed 35,000 transactions since January 2019, a balcony or a terrace increases the price of an apartment by an average 8.8% in France’s 11 largest cities. This varies depending on an apartment’s position in the building, with prices rising the higher up you go. The average square metre price of an apartment with a balcony on the first to third floors, for example, would be 6.9% higher, while a garden terrace increases the price of a ground-floor apartment by an average 12.5%. Meanwhile, for those on the top floor the price could be as much as 14% more.

The size of a balcony also has an impact on the price – the larger it is, the more value it adds. Less than 10m2 could add 4.4% to the price while more than 50m2 could push it up by as much as 30%. The study also revealed that balconies and terraces are more desirable in France’s sunnier cities, which means a buyer could pay an average 15.9% more per square metre for an apartment with a balcony or terrace in Marseille in the south, while in Lille in the north the difference is considerably smaller at just 3.6%. So, buying an apartment with some outside space could prove to be a good investment, and here are a few examples currently on the market.

€199,949, Deux-Sèvres

On the first floor of a converted château, this two-bedroom apartment is packed with period features and has a large terrace overlooking the gardens and parkland. Owners have shared use of the communal areas within the château as well as of the swimming pool and tennis courts in the grounds, which over approx. 84,000m2. A 27-hole golf course with a bar/restaurant is just a five-minute walk away and is open to non-members. The journey to Poitiers and its airport and TGV station is 32km.

On the market with Allez Francais

From €97,000, Hérault

Currently being sold off-plan, this new development of studio to three-bedroom apartments is scheduled for completion in 2022. Set in landscaped gardens, the development overlooks the Etang de Thau and each apartment’s spacious terrace makes the most of the picture-postcard sea view.

On the market with Leggett Immobilier

€304,000, Savoie

This two-bedroom ski-in ski-out apartment is situated on the ski slopes of Crest-Voland, part of the Espace Diamant ski area. The large living room leads out to a terrace where you can enjoy an après-ski drink and take in the mountain views.

On the market with My Dream Home

€289,000, Pyrénées-Orientales

The newly renovated apartments in this traditional stone mas have two bedrooms, a fully fitted kitchen and a private terrace, while communal facilities include gardens, a sauna, gym and swimming pool. Each one also has its own storage unit and reserved parking space.

On the market with Artaxa

€389,000, Alpes-Maritimes

In a residence on a golf course and with access to facilities including a swimming pool and tennis court, this two-bedroom apartment is just five minutes from Sophia Antipolis and an international college. The open-plan living area leads out to a terrace with forest views, and the apartment can be sold fully furnished.

On the market with Sextant

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