According to a survey of the Orpi real estate network revealed by Europe 1, the French are more and more attracted by the purchase of a second home. More than half of potential buyers want to settle by the sea, according to this study.

INFO EUROPE 1

Having an outdoor space, a room suitable for teleworking or moving away from big cities… Since the coronavirus crisis and the deconfinement, new trends are emerging in the real estate sector. One of them is manifested by the renewed interest in second homes. According to a survey of the Orpi real estate network revealed on Friday by Europe 1, just over one in four French people now plans to buy a second home.

"Come and breathe in an iodized air"

Among the highly prized places, according to this survey, is La Rochelle. In this city of around 75,000 inhabitants, the second home market was already functioning very well before the crisis and has been performing even better since the deconfinement. The requests for information accumulate besides in one of the local agencies of Orpi, located on the old-port. "We feel a craze in sectors like the historic city center, on small surfaces - rather studios or even F2", describes one of the managers, Mickaël Gauduchon.

>> Find all of Europe 1's editorial newspapers in replay and podcast here

"There, we will have an even greater demand than before," continues the professional. "Customers will come to see us to find a rental investment and also a personal investment to come from the seaside, have a good time and come to air in an iodized air." It should be noted that 54% of potential buyers want to settle by the sea, according to this study.

A source of income?

It is also in this that the second home is revitalized. It is no longer simply the pied-à-terre where you only spend your holidays, but becomes a source of income when it is rented. This solution is popular with young people, who are more and more interested in it. According to the Orpi survey, almost 30% of applicants for the purchase of a second home are under the age of 39 and 11% are even under the age of 30.