Didier Tixador, co-director of Corbières Immobilier in Lezignan, slammed owners and estate agents alike for demanding too high prices in the Aude Department. Tixador, who was speaking after attending the "Live in France" exhibition in London, said, "At the beginning, the Aude was one of the least expensive departtments in France. It is natural that prices would increase, but the situation nowadays is unreasonable.Over 20 people I spoke to said that our prices were too high.Unfortunately the English are now looking at other regions and other countries." Despite these conditions, Tixador, who was the sole agent from the Aude at the exhibition, still managed to sign a number of compromis de vente.

Tixador warned house sellers to guard against excess pricing, "If a house doesn't sell in six months then it is over-priced, if it has the right price for the Aude market it should sell in three months." Since Spring this year, when Corbièeres Immobilier sensed a lightening in prices, he has called on house sellers to restrain their expectations, and on fellow estate agents in the Aude to reaffirm their professionalism as sellers of houses rather than to persist in over charging.

Tixador also said that the price of building land had risen too high and called on town councils to release more land for building, so that the young people of the Aude can afford to buy their own building plots.

The other change that Tixador noted in the English market was the move away from old stone houses towards new build. It has always been taken as given that the foreign market had a strong prefereance for the traditional buildings of the Aude but Tizador found,"If you are talking about old stone you are talking work. Today, with the air route from London to Carcassonne, the English are coming more frequently. If you are staying for three days at a time, then a house that need constant repairs isn't interesting, but a brand new house, with everything new and in working order is ideal."

Tixador argues that over-pricing will in the medium term severely damage the tourism industry, by slowing down the market, decreasing the number of foreign visitors, with a knock on effect for restaurateurs, museums, and of course DIY shops!
Houses Prices in the Aude are exorbitant-Didier Tixador 18th October 2004 Peter Shield

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