New builds and recently completed homes

On the western Côte d'Azur new homes come in two forms: apartments sold off-plan in residences on the coast and around Sophia Antipolis; individual villas built on single plots in the hills, sometimes sold soon after completion. A home sold for the first time within five years of completion is treated as new for purchase costs: the notaire's costs are about 2% to 3% of the price, against about 7% to 8% for an existing home, with VAT included in the price. Our guide to buying costs explains the difference.

When buying a new or recently completed home, a buyer should check:

1. for a purchase off-plan (VEFA), the completion guarantee given by the developer, the deposit limits on the reservation contract and the delivery date;
2. that the builders carry the ten-year liability insurance (garantie décennale) and that the property-damage insurance (dommages-ouvrage) was taken out, as the law requires;
3. that the works were declared complete and that the house matches its building permit (planning);
4. the DPE energy rating and the heating and cooling systems.

Opio

Californian Villa with Panoramic View

New-build Californian-style villa completed in 2024 on a private estate a few minutes from Valbonne village. Single-level living with five en-suite bedrooms plus a pool house fitted out as an independent guest apartment, set in 3,000 m² of landscaped garden.

6 bedrooms295 m² livingPool

3 750 000 €

Last updated: 11 October 2026