What do people searching for a new home in France look for?

An energy-efficient, open-plan bungalow near the sea with a bright interior available for €319,999 is the most common dream home for French people, according to terms searched online with a leading estate agency.

The profile was created by SeLoger, based on analysis of their search data between January 1 and October 31, 2023.

Around 6.3million visitors use their site each month, entering their search preferences, which were aggregated to create the profile of the ideal home.

The portrait of this ideal home was based on selections people made in their searches, showing:

• 47% want a single storey house
• 64% want a house with a minimum surface area of 80m²
• 78% want a bright interior
• 28% want a three bedroom house
• 8 out of 10 want an energy efficient home
• 4 out of 10 want a house by the sea
• 16% want a garden
• 15% want a patio

The search data also showed a preference for neutral tones, comfortable lounges and king-size beds.

Read more: Five homes with a sea view for sale in France for less than €500,000

Only 5% of searches were for homes in Paris, despite 19% of the population living there, which could be explained by the capital’s high prices prompting Parisians to look elsewhere.

The average budget people propose in their searches was €319,999, which, according to a recent study by the Notaires de France, is higher than the average sale price for homes in most regions.

This budget could be skewed by people browsing beyond their means or by the weight of the more expensive towns in searches.

In reality, the average price per square metre is currently €2,510 for a house (bringing the cost of an 80m² house to €200,800) and €3,934 for an apartment.

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