Holiday Homes: Keith Perry searches for affordable second homes on the Cap d’Antibes
As the superyachts glide across the gulf of Juan-les-Pins and vintage Porsches roll out of the multimillion pound villas on the Cap d’Antibes, it’s not hard to see how F Scott Fitzgerald found the inspiration for The Great Gatsby while looking out to sea from one of these beautiful villas.
Avenues of pine trees lead to the famous Cote d’Azur sea and from here visitors can glimpse film festival Cannes and the Estoril mountains.
Despite a property slump in the rest of France, prices here seem resilient. The Cap d’Antibes is second only to nearby Cap Ferrat for the sky-high prices properties can command.
There are about 2,000 homes on the Cap with 10 per cent typically for sale at any one time. At Billionaires’ Bay – also known as l’Anse de l’Argent Faux (‘bay of false money’), a property sold for €180m (£162m) in 2006, and you will also find the estates of the Russian oligarchs Roman Abramovich, Suleiman Kerimov and Andrey Melnichenko. Other neighbours are the Heineken family and the Warner brothers.
A room with a view at Parc du Cap
But come away from the Cap towards the resort town of Antibes itself and stunning sea views come at a far more affordable price. Parc du Cap in Antibe, a new development of 88 apartments, has homes on the market from £472,800 and owner – UK-based telecommunications billionaire John Caudwell – says it’s already attracting British buyers.
As well as this project and two more in Mayfair, the Caudwell Collection has four forthcoming residential schemes around Antibes including a super villa on the Cap itself. One of them is Le Provencal, a local landmark and former hotel counting Charlie Chaplin and Joan Collins as guests.
The newly completed Parc du Cap can lay claim to being on the Cap itself with Juan-les-Pins just a five minute walk away. Parc du Cap comprises 88 apartments ranging from one to four bedroom apartments. Located 200m from the 'Pinède' in Juan Les Pins, the two five storey buildings are set in landscaped gardens surrounding the outdoor swimming pool. The homes are also ideally situated for popular beaches and the Juan-les-Pins jazz festival.
Apart from one English buyer, interest has also come from Sweden, France, Russia and Germany.
“I can’t pretend Brexit hasn’t slowed down the market somewhat – customers are inevitably concerned about the uncertainty and how Brexit will affect living in Europe,” says Matthew Murison, chief executive of Caudwell Collection.
“But despite this, we have already had a lot of interest from buyers looking for a lock-up-and-leave holiday home with top class facilities, as well as empty nesters wanting to relocate to the south of Cote d’Azur.”
Monthly service charges start from £240
Call Savills on 020 7016 3740