Buy a House in Sainte-Maxime: Gulf of Saint-Tropez Property

Sainte-Maxime has a long seafront promenade, a sandy beach, a harbour and a marketplace, and it works year-round more than neighbouring resorts do. It faces Saint-Tropez across the water, with a seasonal ferry crossing. Villas on the hills above the town have sea views and pools, while apartments cluster near the waterfront.

People buy for summer use, retirement and rental income, though roads are congested in July and August.

Foreigners can buy freely in France. Notary fees on older property run around 7-8% of the price (verify locally), less on new builds. A compromis de vente is followed by a cooling-off period of ten days for buyers. Non-resident owners pay French income tax on rental income, and wealth tax applies only to real estate above a threshold. Check the plan local d'urbanisme and any flood or fire-risk restrictions, as the Var is prone to wildfires.

See the France guide, the legal process for foreigners and mortgages.

Grimaud is the nearest, around the gulf. Roquebrune-sur-Argens, Fréjus and Saint-Raphaël lie to the east, and Cavalaire-sur-Mer to the south-west. Cannes is a larger, more expensive market about an hour away.