House prices have been relatively stable in Brittany, although there is a contrasting picture across the region, say the French notaires.

In their latest review of the property market in Brittany, the notaires in the region say that sales activity accelerated in the third quarter of 2010, due to low interest rates and a rush by investors to benefit from fiscal incentives for new build rental accommodation before the end of the year.

Price growth has been clearest in the main cities and towns: Lorient (5%), Rennes (3.7%), Nantes (2.6%), Brest (0.9%). The average price in these main urban areas is around €2550 per m2.

Prices in some rural areas also increased, notably in the south of Côtes d’Armor (4.6%), Centre Finistère (13.3%), Châteaubriant (7.8%), the Loire Atlantique, north Ille-et- Vilaine (14.6%), and to the west in the department of Morbihan (5.4%).

Biggest falls have been mainly in the coastal areas - on the north coast of Côtes d’Armor (-6.4%), in the south coastal area of Finistère (-12.1%), and on the southern coast in Morbihan (-7.90%).

Nevertheless, some caution is needed in reading too much into these more localised movements, as there may be too much variation in property types and too few transactions from which to make a proper assessment.

The following table shows the average price of older property in each department of the region, together with the average change over the year 1st Oct 09 to 31 Sept 10.

The price of building land has fallen in every department of the region. The following table show the average price of a building plot for each department of the region, and the price movement in a year for the 3rd Quarter 2010.