Cannes
La Californie
Belle Époque estates above the bay
- Panoramic sea views
- Minutes from La Croisette
- Gated domains & hillside villas
✦ Acquisition Advisory · French Riviera ✦
Luxury Real Estate French Riviera
Private search and acquisition advisory for exceptional estates on the Côte d'Azur — including properties that never reach the open market.
The finest estates on the French Riviera rarely appear on a portal. They change hands quietly, between owners, families and advisors who know one another — and the buyer who is not already inside that circle usually sees them last, if at all.
Opera Prestige acts as your private advisor through the search and the acquisition: defining the brief, sourcing on and off the market, arranging discreet viewings, and coordinating the specialists — agencies, notaires, lawyers, surveyors — through to completion.
Many of our buyers first come to know the coast as guests, through a villa rented for the summer. When the time comes to own, the same team that knows how you live on the Riviera is best placed to find the address that suits it.
✦ Where to Buy ✦
The Riviera's Most Sought-After Enclaves
Each enclave has its own character, its own market and its own rules. Our guides are the best place to begin.
Antibes
Cap d'Antibes
The Riviera's most private peninsula
- Waterfront estates
- Pine-shaded grounds
- Rarely offered for sale
Between Nice & Monaco
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Discreet grandeur on a wooded cape
- Historic villas & gardens
- Twenty minutes from Monaco
- Among the most exclusive addresses in Europe
Our Real Estate Services
Search & Off-Market Sourcing
A precise brief, then a search that goes beyond the listings: owners, family offices and trusted agencies, approached discreetly on your behalf.
Viewings & Due Diligence
Private viewings organised around your schedule, and coordination of surveys, planning checks and legal review before any commitment.
Completion & After
Coordination with the notaire through to the keys — then estate management, staffing and, if you wish, seasonal rental of the property.
✦ Our Commitment ✦
Why Buy with Opera Prestige
A purchase on the Riviera is rarely only a transaction. It is the start of a way of living on the coast — and we are already part of it.
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01
Off-Market Access
Our network of owners and advisors on the coast gives access to estates that are never publicly advertised.
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02
Absolute Discretion
Confidentiality agreements as standard, no publicity, and your identity protected at every stage of the search.
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03
On Your Side
We work to your brief and your interests, and coordinate the independent specialists every French purchase requires.
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04
Beyond the Keys
Villa management, household staff, concierge and yacht charter — one team for everything that follows the purchase.
✦ Expert Guide ✦
Buying on the French Riviera: A Private Guide
01
Where
Choosing the Right Enclave
Cannes offers the energy of a town and the calendar of its festivals; the Cap d’Antibes and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat offer seclusion; Saint-Tropez offers the summer. Our guide to Cannes neighbourhoods is a good place to begin.
02
Process
How a Purchase Works in France
Once an offer is accepted, buyer and seller sign a preliminary contract, the compromis de vente, usually with a deposit of up to ten per cent. The buyer then has a ten-day cooling-off period. Completion takes place before a notaire, typically two to three months later. Acquisition costs, known as notaire fees, are in the order of seven to eight per cent of the price for an existing property. There are no restrictions on foreign buyers.
03
Decision
Buying or Renting?
For many families, renting for a season or two is the best way to find the right enclave before buying. We set out the considerations in buying vs renting on the French Riviera, and our villa collection is the natural place to start.
04
After
Owning and Managing Your Estate
An estate on the Riviera needs to be run: maintenance, security, gardens, pools and staff. We arrange household staff and estate management, and year-round lifestyle management for owners who are not always in residence.
✦ Planning ✦
When to Search
Oct – Mar
The Quiet Months
The market is calmer and viewings can be arranged without the pressure of the season. A good time to define the brief and see a first selection.
Apr – Jun
Before the Season
Estates are prepared and shown at their best. The natural window to make an offer and complete before or during the summer.
Jul – Sep
Living the Coast
The best moment to experience an enclave as it is really lived — ideally from a rented villa nearby, before committing.
✦ FAQ ✦
Luxury Real Estate on the Riviera — Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. A significant share of the finest estates on the coast change hands without public advertising. Through our network of owners and advisors, we present properties that match your brief discreetly, under confidentiality.
Yes. There are no restrictions on foreign nationals buying property in France. The purchase is completed before a notaire, and we coordinate the lawyers, tax advisors and banks you may need.
In addition to the price, acquisition costs — commonly called notaire fees — are in the order of seven to eight per cent for an existing property, and lower for a new build. We recommend confirming the exact figure with the notaire for each transaction.
Typically two to three months between the signature of the compromis de vente and completion, including the buyer’s ten-day cooling-off period and the notaire’s checks.
Yes. We manage estates year-round — maintenance, staff, security — and can arrange discreet seasonal rental through our villa collection when you are not in residence.
✦ Let's Talk ✦
Begin a Confidential Search
Share your brief — enclave, size, timing — and we will return a first, private selection, including estates that never appear online.