Three heat waves over the summer forced the French to reconsider their housing preferences. According to the leboncoin survey, 80% of respondents experienced discomfort due to temperatures, and a third do not rule out moving when the heat wave increases. The suitability of an apartment for living in the summer has become a full-fledged purchase criterion along with the price.
"The south side is no longer in demand. On the top floor of the Ottoman building, the heat becomes unbearable," says realtor Joseph Denke. Buyers are now paying attention to shutters, air conditioners, drafts, shaded terraces and trees in the neighborhood. According to Sophie Burg of leboncoin, the heat is now considered as a structural factor when choosing a home.
Apartments under the roof and with large windows without through ventilation are particularly affected. In the 5th arrondissement of Paris, they still cannot sell a beautiful apartment with large windows. Buyers refuse it because of the risk of overheating. Customers are now asking agents not only about the energy passport, but also about the actual temperature during the past heat waves.
Air conditioners are no longer taboo and have become a significant advantage. "When it's already installed in an apartment, it's a huge plus, as it saves you the hassle of an ownership partnership," says Jan Jeannot, president of the Lafor network. Sellers actively mention air conditioners and shutters in their ads.
Geographical preferences are also changing: in Provence, 18% of residents are thinking about moving, in Brittany, only 1.3%. There is no mass exodus to the north yet, but for the first time, climatic comfort is becoming a significant factor in choosing a region.
According to experts, climatic factors are already affecting mortgage planning for decades to come. Whether the trend will be seasonal will become clear in the fall, but market participants are inclined to consolidate it.
Source: BFM Business
