Sales recovery but the rental sector is struggling

After a period of turbulence, the Var property market is bouncing back with rising sales, despite a rental supply that remains critical. It is a mixed but hopeful assessment presented by the Chambre de l'Immobilier FNAIM du Var during its back-to-school press conference. Under the evocative title 'Real estate, housing: from crisis to nothingness', industry professionals analyzed the figures for 2025 and outlined the prospects for 2026. While the transaction market is undoubtedly regaining momentum, the rental sector remains the housing market's ailing patient, threatening the social and economic balance of the region.

REBOUND IN TRANSACTIONS

The year 2025 marked the end of the freefall in sales volumes. At the national level, FNAIM observed an 11% increase in sales of existing homes, reaching 940,000 deeds. This dynamic is perfectly reflected in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, where 89,222 sales were completed (+11%). In Var, the market showed remarkable resilience with 22,818 sales recorded over the year. Toulon stood out with 3,100 transactions (including 2,682 apartments), posting an average price per m² of –3,422. Overall, Var property remains a safe haven: the average price in the department stood at –4,293/m², up 2.7% over one year and over 18% over five years. Unlike in other French regions, the collapse in prices did not occur.

BETTER FINANCING CONDITIONS

This recovery is supported by a notable improvement in financing conditions. After peaking at over 4% in late 2023, credit rates began a welcome decline, averaging 3.12% in November 2025. 'Individuals are now borrowing at a lower rate than the state,' the federation notes. Direct consequence: households' real estate purchasing power is stabilizing, unlocking many home buying projects that had been frozen until now. While sales are smiling, rentals are grimacing. The observation of the FNAIM du Var is clear: 'From crisis to nothingness'. Rental supply remains extremely low in the department, in the face of structurally high demand. The average rent in Var reached –14.5/m², up 1.5% over one year. Professionals point to regulatory constraints, particularly the DPE (Diagnostic de Performance 90nerg 92tique), which have pushed many properties out of the market. However, a glimmer of hope appears with the revision of the coefficient penalizing electric heating on January 1, 2026, a pragmatic measure that should allow some housing to escape the status of 'energy sieve'. FNAIM expects a lot from the 'private landlord status' (Jeanbrun mechanism) to restore confidence among investors.

VAR, A GOOD STUDENT

On the sensitive issue of energy sieves, the department benefits from its mild climate. While F and G ratings represent a significant portion of the housing stock in central France or Paris (over 60% of energy sieves), the Var coastline is much better off. In La Seyne-sur-Mer, for example, housing rated F and G only represent 3.1% and 1.3% of the existing stock, respectively. In Hyères, these figures are even lower (3.6% for F and 0.9% for G). This local reality nuances the impact of rental bans, even if renovation remains a major challenge for co-ownerships, which are often slowed down by delays in the payment of MaPrimeR 90nov. Another source of satisfaction: holiday rentals. The year 2025 was positive, with Var confirming its attractiveness thanks to its 'sunshine guarantee' which other destinations lacked. While July got off to a slow start, the late season was excellent. Demand for villas remains strong, while the apartment market is stagnating slightly. For 2026, the outlook remains optimistic, with FNAIM emphasizing the growing role of real estate agencies in guaranteeing secure management for owners in the face of increasingly complex legislation, particularly with the recent Le Meur law aimed at regulating tourist rentals.

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