Real estate careers in Côte d'Azur

The market in Côte d'Azur

Antibes apartments rose 4.9% in a year to 6,529 € per sqm in September 2026, and the Alpes-Maritimes kept its transfer taxes at about 5.81%, below the 6.31% paid in most of France.

The Côte d'Azur, in the Alpes-Maritimes département, is France's most international resale market, from Nice and its Carré d'Or to Cannes, Antibes and Juan-les-Pins. Asking-price barometers for September 2026 put apartments at 6,529 € per sqm in Antibes (up 4.9% in a year), 6,064 € in Cannes (down 1.1%) and 5,219 € in Nice (down 1.4%), with houses in Nice at 6,427 € (Actual-Immo, October 2026). Portal estimates at 1 October 2026 gave Nice 5,245 € per sqm for apartments and 6,365 € for houses (MeilleursAgents). The Alpes-Maritimes did not raise its transfer taxes in 2025, so buyers pay about 5.81% rather than the 6.31% of most of France, and total buying costs came to about 7.19% on a 340,000 € resale. International brands such as Michaël Zingraf Christie's, Côte d'Azur Sotheby's, John Taylor, Engel & Völkers and Barnes lead the luxury segment.

Foreign buyers

The Alpes-Maritimes is where foreign buyers matter most in France. An older notaires study found that non-resident foreigners made about 7% of purchases in the département, led by British, Belgian and German buyers (2017 data, Journal de l'Agence, 2019), and the département was reported to receive about 13% of all non-resident purchases in France (MonChasseurImmo, June 2025, indicative). Agents who add English, Italian, Russian or Arabic to their French have a real advantage with this clientele.

Main neighbourhoods

Nice Carré d'OrVieux-NiceNice PortMont BoronCimiezCannes CroisetteCannes CalifornieLe SuquetAntibes old townCap d'AntibesJuan-les-PinsMougins

Carte professionnelle

Anyone who, as a habitual activity, negotiates, sells, lets or manages property for others must hold a carte professionnelle. It carries a mention for each activity: T for transactions, G for property management and S for co-ownership management (syndic), with one card per company. The card is issued by the CCI on form Cerfa 15312 and is valid for 3 years; the renewal must be requested 2 months before it expires. The applicant must prove professional aptitude, good character, professional liability insurance (RCP) and, where the agency holds client money, a financial guarantee; a transaction agency that declares on honour that it holds no funds, effects or securities for clients does not need the guarantee. Aptitude means a degree at bac+3 level in law, economics or business, a BTS Professions immobilières or an equivalent level 6 title, or experience: 3 years as an employee of a card holder with the baccalauréat, or 10 years without it, cut to 4 years in a management role. At CCI Bretagne a first card cost 160 € and a renewal 130 € in October 2026; other CCIs may charge slightly different amounts. To renew, the holder and everyone who negotiates for the agency must prove 14 hours of continuing training a year, or 42 hours over the 3 years, including at least 2 hours of ethics and 2 hours on non-discrimination in access to housing. The full guide