Expert Guide: Why Buy New by the Sea in Brittany - MON BIEN À LA MER
Discover the advantages of new real estate by the sea in Brittany with our expert guide. Ideal for buyers of primary residences, secondary homes, or investors.
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EXPERT GUIDE 01
Why buy new by the sea in Brittany?
A guide to understand the advantages of the Breton coastline, the specifics of new properties, and the criteria that truly determine the value of a purchase.
EXPERTISE • LAND • 360° IMMERSION
MON BIEN À LA MER — specialist in new real estate by the sea in Brittany
Brittany: a life project before being a real estate product
The Breton coastline is not just a postcard. It is a collection of very different markets, connected by a common rarity: the immediate proximity to the sea.
A practical purchase
Primary residence, pied-à-terre, family second home, or future retirement place: the seaside is primarily bought to be lived in. The right property is one whose location, orientation, access, and daily life correspond to your actual project.
A heritage purchase
Coastal land is limited by nature. This rarity never guarantees an increase in value, but it requires being demanding about the micro-location: actual distance to the beach, walking distance to shops, neighborhood quality, nuisances, views, parking, and resale potential.
OUR PRINCIPLE
We do not buy “Brittany.” We choose a coast, a city, a neighborhood, and then a specific property.
Why new is particularly relevant on the coastline
In a coastal market, new properties meet three common expectations: comfort of use, control over construction, and the ability to enjoy the property immediately.
CONTEMPORARY COMFORT
Insulation, energy performance, ventilation, accessibility, elevator depending on the programs, parking, outdoor spaces, and layouts adapted to current uses.LIMITED MAINTENANCE
A new property avoids, at the time of purchase, accumulating facade work, roofing, joinery, electricity, or energy renovation. This does not eliminate future costs, but simplifies the first years of ownership.CLEARER PURCHASE
Descriptive notice, detailed plans, construction schedule, co-ownership regulations, and guarantees frame the VEFA. The point of vigilance remains the same: to understand precisely what is planned… and what is not.
RE2020: energy, carbon, and summer comfort
The 2020 environmental regulation is gradually applying to new constructions since 2022. It does not promise the same bill for everyone, but imposes a more demanding design framework.
Three official objectives of RE2020
- reduce energy consumption of new buildings;
- decrease their carbon impact over the entire life cycle;
- improve comfort during periods of high heat.
For a buyer, the regulation constitutes a foundation. The quality of use still depends on the concrete design: orientation, solar protections, size of openings, ventilation, location of the apartment in the building, and lifestyle habits.
TO CHECK IN EACH PROGRAM
- Type of heating
- Level of insulation
- Shading
- Orientation
- Cross-ventilated or not
- Glazed surfaces
- Solar protections
- Bicycle storage
- Electric charging
- Quality of common areas.
VEFA: buying off-plan, but within a structured legal framework
The sale in the future state of completion (VEFA) is regulated: the authentic deed describes the property, equipment, price, delivery time, and financial guarantees.
What the deed must specify
- Detailed description of the property and its annexes;
- Price and payment terms;
- Delivery time;
- Financial guarantee of completion or reimbursement;
- Plans and technical notice attached.
Progressive payment
The price is called according to the progress of the construction, with regulatory ceilings. The principle is simple: the buyer does not pay the full price of a property that is still under construction.
GUARANTEES AFTER DELIVERY
New construction is covered by a set of legal guarantees, including perfect completion, proper functioning of certain equipment, and ten-year liability depending on the issues concerned.
Acquisition costs and overall budget: looking beyond the displayed price
In new properties, acquisition costs are generally significantly lower than those of older properties. The Notaires de France give an order of magnitude of 2 to 3% in new properties, compared to about 7 to 8% in older ones.
NEW — 2 to 3%
Order of magnitude of acquisition costs.
OLD — 7 to 8%
Order of magnitude frequently observed.
But the real budget also includes:
- financing and loan guarantee costs;
- parking or cellar if sold separately;
- kitchen, lighting, storage, and fittings not included;
- any buyer modification works (TMA);
- co-ownership fees, property tax, and insurance;
- furnishing if the property becomes a second home or furnished rental.
GOOD REFLEX
Compare “all-inclusive” budgets and not just two advertised prices. A more expensive new property may avoid several immediate work costs; conversely, a highly equipped program may generate charges that need to be integrated.
Seafront, sea view, beach within walking distance: three different concepts
On the coastline, a few words can represent considerable differences in quality of use and value. They must be verified on-site, floor by floor.
| TERM | WHAT TO VERIFY |
|---|---|
| Seafront | The building is actually in the front row. Check road, dike, exposure to wind, spray, seasonal nuisances, and permanence of the view. |
| Sea view | Total view, side view, distant view, or just a glimpse? From the living room, terrace, or a bedroom? Only when standing? The plan and floor do not always suffice. |
| Beach within walking distance | Measure the actual pedestrian route: terrain, crossings, sidewalks, stairs, stroller, return with children or groceries. |
The plan is your first visit to the property
In new properties, a good plan is sometimes worth more than a large poorly organized area. It should be read as a future lifestyle, not as a technical drawing.
To look at as a priority
- Usable width of the living room and sofa placement;
- Wall available for the television or a bookshelf;
- Distance between kitchen and table;
- Circulation around the bed;
- Truly usable storage;
- Placement of radiators, ducts, and boxes;
- Depth of terrace and overlooking neighbors;
- Door opening direction.
On the coastline
- Orientation of the terrace relative to prevailing winds;
- Actual sunlight depending on the floor and neighboring buildings;
- Future view and possible constructions;
- Bicycle storage, cellar, parking;
- Distance between parking and property;
- Walking access to shops and the sea.
Buying remotely without buying blindly
Many buyers live far from Brittany. Distance is not a problem if the information is sufficiently concrete and if the land is truly documented.
The MON BIEN À LA MER method
- presentation
via video of the program and properties;
- analysis of plans, orientations, floors, and possible views;
- photographs and videos of the neighborhood;
- drone shots when the context allows;
- virtual tours and 360° content on equipped operations;
- comparison of several lots and several programs;
- client travel only when choices are already narrowed down.
THE OBJECTIVE
To reduce the gap between what a commercial brochure shows and what the buyer will actually experience on-site.
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What project are you really pursuing?
The same apartment is not judged the same way depending on whether it is to accommodate a family in summer, a future retirement, or a heritage investment.
SECOND HOME
Priority to access, walking distance to shops, parking, outdoor spaces, storage, and ease of maintenance.
PRIMARY RESIDENCE
Schools, services, employment, transport, daily comfort, living spaces, storage, acoustics, and energy performance become central.
FUTURE RETIREMENT
Anticipate elevator, accessibility, main bedroom, shower, nearby services, and the possibility of living without a car.
HERITAGE / RENTAL
Study rental demand, seasonality, co-ownership regulations, charges, taxation, and especially liquidity at resale. No profitability should be presumed.
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Buying new and selling your current property: thinking of both operations together
Some of our clients finance a new purchase by selling an existing house or apartment. The timing and sale price then become as important as the choice of the future property.
MON BIEN À LA MER also works on a selection of old and premium properties by the sea. The goal is not to become a generalist agency but to be able to support the resale of a property consistent with our clientele and our territory.
For the seller
- Reasoned estimation;
- careful photographic presentation;
- video, drone, or virtual tour depending on the property;
- dissemination on major portals;
- realistic pricing strategy;
- coordination with the new purchase project.
For the new buyer
- Anticipated marketing schedule;
- securing financing;
- taking into account the delivery time;
- avoiding selling too early or too late;
- coordinating notary, bank, and developer.
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Before reserving: the checklist that avoids unpleasant surprises
- Location: beach, shops, port, train station, roads, seasonality, nuisances.
- Plan: circulation, furniture, storage, ducts, room widths.
- Orientation: sun, winds, overlooking neighbors, future views.
- Exterior: depth, privacy, access, guardrails, actual use.
- Parking: width, access, basement, charging point or pre-equipment.
- Features: descriptive notice, floors, sanitary facilities, shutters, heating.
- Co-ownership: number of lots, common facilities, estimated charges.
- Schedule: start, progress, expected delivery.
- Financing: contribution, loan, possible resale, VEFA funding calls.
- Resale: who will be the natural buyer of the property in 10 or 15 years?
SIMPLE RULE
The property that “dreams” must also be easy to explain, live in, and resell.
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Our difference: documenting the real
Plans, models, land, drone, 360°: technology is only of interest if it helps make a better decision.
See the context
A program does not exist alone. We seek to show the street, access, terrain, the sea, neighboring buildings, distance to shops, and views depending on the floor.
Understand the future property
Virtual tours, models, and interior projections allow for better reading of volumes and circulation when an apartment is not yet delivered. This approach is particularly useful for remote buyers, but also for local buyers who want to compare several lots methodically.
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EXPERT GUIDE MON BIEN À LA MER
Frequently asked questions
Is new always more expensive than old?
Not necessarily with comparable characteristics, but you must compare the overall cost: price, acquisition fees, work, charges, equipment, and location. Coastal markets are very heterogeneous.
Can you buy a new property without traveling?
Yes legally and technically, but we recommend that the decision be based on a very high level of information: plans, environment, views, video calls, and, when possible, a visit to the area.
Is a sea view guaranteed?
Only contractual documents and the actual situation of the program allow for an assessment of this point. A view can be partial, side, or evolve with authorized constructions nearby.
Should you prefer the top floor?
Not systematically. It often offers more light or views but can be more expensive. A well-oriented lower floor, with a large terrace and less wind, can be more pleasant depending on the project.
Does the seaside guarantee good rental profitability?
No. Demand can be strong but very seasonal. You must study the purchase price, charges, local regulations, the type of rental considered, and competition.
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Sources, method, and contact
This guide is a general information document. Legal, tax, and technical rules may evolve and must be verified for each operation.
Main institutional sources
- Service-Public.fr — Sale deed of a property in VEFA.
- Ministry of Ecological Transition — RE2020 environmental regulation.
- Notaires de France — orders of magnitude of acquisition costs in new and old properties.
- Tourism Brittany and local tourist offices — description of coastal territories.
- MON BIEN À LA MER — field experience, photographic content, drone, virtual tours, and program analysis.
IMPORTANT
This document does not constitute notarial, tax, or financial advice. Availability, prices, services, urban planning rules, rental conditions, and aid schemes must be verified at the time of the project.
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