Steeve Beaudouin comes from a family also working in real estate, and has been putting his skills to good use in this sector for many years. He began his career with his family's real estate agency, founded in 1987 in the Paris region. Before settling permanently on the Costa Brava in Spain, he began his business on the French side of Catalonia in Perpignan. Today, Steeve Beaudouin is Managing Director of the N1 France Espagne Immobilier agency. A major real estate entity in the north of the Costa Brava, the agency is today considered to be the leading real estate network in the Roses, Empuriabrava, Santa Margarita, Figueres area... Steeve Beaudouin helps you to see more clearly the day-to-day workings of your search and is able to explain the difference between buying a property in France and Spain. He puts his skills at your service:
First of all, could you briefly introduce the N1 France Espagne Immobilier real estate agency?
Steeve Beaudouin: N1immo currently consists of a network of 4 agencies, with around ten employees, within a 10-kilometer radius north of the Costa Brava. This same area is also the one in which we work on a daily basis, guiding our customers in the purchase ofapartments, houses, villas with sea views or land, aimed at a predominantly French public. As you've probably guessed by now, we mainly target potential French-speaking homeowners. N1immo is registered as an API-approved real estate agency in Catalonia, making us a true Spanish entity, even if we are French!
What were your main motivations when you started your real estate business on the Costa Brava?
S.B: When I started N1immo, the first real estate agency on the Costa Brava, my idea was already very clear: to offer French people wishing to settle in this part of Spain a French real estate network large enough to give them a real choice. The aim was to reassure these expatriates that we knew the market inside out, and that they could rely on us for their real estate project on the Costa Brava.
But it wasn't all plain sailing from the start?
S.B: That's absolutely true. We had to build and set up our network. But the idea was well thought out, and we carried out a great deal of market research to determine whether our project was viable or, on the contrary, not so wise. Right from the start, we saw that the French were very interested in this part of Spain for a number of reasons, the main ones being the beauty of the Costa Brava and, above all, the much lower property prices than in France, particularly on the Côte d'Azur. We prepared ourselves and really believed that our support in setting up a real estate project on the Costa Brava for French people was of real interest. The years have gone by and we can be proud of having succeeded in bringing our project to fruition. Our forecasts were right. We're even proud of it!
Let's move on to the heart of your business. What's the usual process when a potential customer contacts you with their requirements and the property they want? What is your concrete role in a transaction, if there is one?
S.B: When a potential future buyer approaches us because they're particularly interested in investing in real estate on the Costa Brava, we follow a relatively straightforward process. First, customers define their various needs and expectations. Our network gives us access to a large number of listings, enabling us to respond effectively to this request. We then present them with a choice of between 2 and 5 properties to choose from. In my opinion, offering them more than 5 choices doesn't segment each customer's particular needs sufficiently. We make sure that we meet the majority of their wishes, and above all that they remember the properties they visited to perfection!
How do you explain your success?
S.B: In recent years, our success has been mainly due to the fact that we pay particular attention to satisfying the needs of each and every one of our customers. Our canvassing work ensures that we have attractive listings for both owners and buyers. We strive to work with the utmost seriousness and support. Of course, I can't deny that the fact that we're a French-speaking agency means we can reassure all our French customers, who then feel more at ease during the transaction, which can sometimes take several weeks.
So you're saying that your great strength lies in the fact that you're a French real estate agency, and therefore French-speaking, based in Spain?
S.B : Of course! The procedures for acquiring property in Spain are very different from those in France. For example, the notary's role in Spain is not the same as in France. He or she has no legal responsibility for the transaction, and plays only an advisory role. Many French people are baffled by this approach, and rely on us to take the place of the notary.
So how do you replace the notary's work?
S.B: It's very simple. We proceed in the same way as a notary in France, with all the checks that go with it. First of all, we make sure that the situation of the property is as the owner indicates. To do this, N1immo's real estate agents check that the property is free of encumbrances and occupation. In Spain, if the house or villa you're buying is subject to certain debts, it's the current and future owner who is considered responsible. We carry out all these checks in order to reassure our customers, who see our agency as an effective way of warding off any unpleasant eventualities. In practical terms, we work in the same way as in France, replacing the role of the French notaire. In the end, it's a win-win situation. Of course, all administrative documents are translated for greater transparency. The aim is to ensure that buyers make as little effort as possible, so that they can concentrate solely on the transaction and their upcoming move!
In your opinion, what are the advantages of settling on the Costa Brava rather than the Côte d'Azur?
S.B: Just look at the beauty of the Costa Brava. The town of Rosas is one of the 30 most beautiful bays in the world. The region boasts a sublime living environment. Empuriabrava (Europe's largest marina and one of the world's leading skydiving centers, with its training wind tunnel) and Figueres (home to the Dali museum, a must-see) are also towns of well-known charm. In France, the prices charged to buy a house or an apartment are, in my opinion, exorbitant, not to mention the high property taxes and the cost of living. On the Costa Brava, prices are much lower. So the calculation is very simple. And the region is only a few dozen kilometers from the French border! Infrastructure access is excellent, with the A9 freeway, the Paris-Figueres TGV line (5H30) and the Girona-Barcelona-Perpignan airport. Many French people have chosen to invest inreal estate on the Costa Brava, and I can only congratulate them.
Let's move on to your relationship with your customers. Do you stay in touch even after they've bought their dream home?
S.B: Our relationship with them is not just that between a real estate agency and a family looking to move to a property on the Costa Brava. We are well aware that the vast majority of French people who come to us are looking for ADVICE and want to be reassured, as they have absolutely no knowledge of the Spanish market and all its specific features. For example, even months or years after the transaction, they don't hesitate to contact us if they need a craftsman to carry out work. And we're happy to guide them towards professionals whose value we know perfectly well, so that they can benefit from our entire network.
Finally, what advice would you give to French people wishing to invest in real estate on the Costa Brava?
S.B: I'd simply tell them not to hesitate. The appeal goes far beyond the very attractive property prices on the Costa Brava. The local economy is also very dynamic, with shops open all year round and a wide range of activities. There's a real sense of well-being and warmth. That's quite a change from the Côte d'Azur, where some shops are only open part of the year, and a feeling of emptiness quickly sets in during the off-peak periods when there's no tourism. The Costa Brava area with Figueres - Rosas - Empuriabrava is the place to be! Most businesses are open all year round from Monday to Sunday inclusive, including restaurants and shopping outlets. It's all about enjoying the highest quality of life.