Description:

Property focus on Haute-Garonne department of the Midi-Pyrenees

Location

The Haute-Garonne is a department of the Midi-Pyrenees region in South West France.  Its capital, Toulouse, is also the capital of the region.

The Midi-Pyrenees region is very rural and Haute-Garonne is generally no exception, apart from around Toulouse.  Toulouse is the fourth largest city in France and has a population of just under 450,000, making it by far the most populous area of the Midi-Pyrenees.

More details about Haute-Garonne and Toulouse are available in our regional information pages.

Diversity

The Haute-Garonne stretches from the Pyrenees Mountains at its very southern extreme, north through the heart of the region, with boundaries to five other departments, making it a very diverse department.

With its large population, university and hi-tech industries such as Airbus, Toulouse is a vibrant and busy city at odds to the sleepy nature of the rest of the area.  It also has a distinct micro market with regards to property.

In recent years, Airbus Industries have made a significant number of redundencies and being such a large player in the employment market, this has had a knock on effect in confidence in the area.

Property prices

Property in and around Toulouse is markedly more expensive than the surrounding countryside.  The suburbs offer much better value for money.  Not surprisingly, there is a large commuting workforce, travelling into Toulouse from up to an hour away.

Matching the different landscapes of the department, the rolling hills of the north with the Toulouse influence is more expensive than the mountainous southern areas.  However, there are pockets of expensive property in the south, noticeably, Bagneres de Luchon.  This old spa resort town also has a large ski resort, Superbagneres, giving a two season tourist trade, greater demand and therefore higher prices.

The general rule to remember, which applies widely across the region, is that as you move away from towns and cities, the prices can fall significantly.  Gone are the days of picking up a very cheap renovation project, partly because many have already been sold but also the fact that owners are prepared to wait for the right buyer.

Have a look at our current selection of properties in the Haute-Garonne, but don’t forget to check out the neighbouring departments, using the search toolbar.

Summary

As mentioned, the department is very diverse, offers a great deal and some great value property.  It also contains the liveliest city of the region and this alone may influence your choice.  The cost of living in the department is about average for France, but property prices vary depending on how close it is to Toulouse. 

Property prices are set to start rising again this year, with renewed buyer confidence, however Toulouse has suffered job losses in the hi-tech industries in recent years and may not increase as rapidly as before.

Now is a good time to buy, with a recovering market and prices low.  Sellers are still prepared to negotiate, so a good deal can be found.

Like this story? Why not use our RSS feed and receive updates as soon as they are posted? Or join us as a member and receive a monthly newsletter.

Check out Guide2MidiPyrenees for Property in Midi-Pyrenees, Events, News, Classifieds, Places to Stay, Midi-Pyrenees Attractions and Business Directory.