Reasonable prices, around 2,500 to 3,000 euros per square meter, the possibility of enjoying the sea and a dynamic city center are among the advantages of Le Havre (Seine-Maritime). It takes 4,000 euros per square meter in Honfleur (Calvados), for example, located on the other bank of the Seine. Almost razed during the Second World War, Le Havre was completely rebuilt by the architect Auguste Perret (1874-1954) in reinforced concrete, and its architectural unity earned it a UNESCO World Heritage listing.
The city has 170,000 inhabitants, a coastal promenade of 7 kilometers and claims 35 square meters of green space per inhabitant. It is, moreover, economically dynamic with all the activities linked to the port and includes a university which welcomes 13,000 students. But its industrial vocation, its architectural particularities have contributed to limiting the rise in prices. These are currently stable and the market is calm without being sluggish.
“There is no real shortage of properties for sale, unlike other seaside towns”believes Cyril Maupas, head of Sotheby’s International Realty for Normandy.
Rare houses in the city center
However, there may be a scarcity of certain properties, especially in the city center. Located by the sea and bringing together all the administrative and cultural life with the town hall or Le Volcan, the national scene of Le Havre, it is the most sought-after sector. “You should not want a house in the center, they are extremely rare. On the other hand, lovers of Auguste Perret’s architecture can have a field day and some apartments have been very well renovated, particularly with regard to soundproofing”says Caroline Nicolosi, director of the Stéphane Plaza Immobilier agency in Le Havre.
Rue du Perrey, it takes 178,000 euros for a 58 square meter apartment in an Auguste Perret building, but the entry ticket for the few houses in the area exceeds 800,000 euros. This is particularly the case for this house of 290 square meters dating from the 19the century, currently on sale at 875,000 euros. On average, in the center, prices per square meter are 3,000 euros but, with a sea view, they can go up much more and reach 5,000 euros per square meter.
Another district requested: Sanvic. Built on the heights to the north of the city center and near the “hanging gardens”, laid out in an old fort. There are houses there, at prices between 300,000 and 400,000 euros. The Bien Ici ad site recalls, in fact, that Le Havre is very marked by geography: the northern part of the city, residential and less urbanized than the lower part, is located on a plateau of a hundred meters of altitude and offers an often spectacular view. This is particularly the case of the Dollemard district, with its cliffs, located north of the city near the small seaside resort of Sainte-Adresse. In this sector, it is necessary to count between 3,000 and 5,000 euros per square meter, especially if it is a house with a view of the sea located on the heights, but there are few properties for sale.
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