Having a garden, a terrace, a pool — or simply a private outdoor space — has become one of the top priorities for buyers in the Marseille region. This trend, amplified by the Covid period, has become firmly established in buyers’ search criteria, to the point of reshaping the map of the most sought-after areas around Marseille. Finding a house with outdoor space in East Marseille has become a strategic goal for many families and investors.
Our real estate agency in Marseille closely follows this market from its base in the eastern sector. To better understand the dynamics of this area, check out our analysis of the Garlaban real estate market.
In Marseille’s Mediterranean context, with over 300 days of sunshine per year, a garden or terrace is used for a large part of the year. What has fundamentally changed since 2020 is the intensity of demand and the hierarchy it creates between properties. Successive lockdowns triggered a collective realization: living in an apartment without outdoor space in a large city — even a sunny one — creates a feeling of confinement that is hard to tolerate.
The rise of remote work has amplified this trend. When home also becomes the workplace, outdoor space gains additional value: unwinding between meetings, working on the terrace in good weather, separating living and working areas. These new uses have permanently increased the value of houses with gardens and terraces in buyers’ evaluation criteria.
Within Marseille itself, detached houses with gardens are extremely rare in central districts. They are more common in the eastern districts — 11th, 12th, and 13th — where more spacious residential neighborhoods allow for villas on reasonably sized plots. In the 13th district, particularly in Château-Gombert, villas with gardens and pools sell well above the Marseille average. The 11th district — La Valentine, Les Camoins — offers more accessible houses, often with smaller plots but in a highly valued residential environment.
In these districts, houses with pools represent an ultra-premium segment: not only exceptional living comfort in this climate, but also a major asset for resale value and seasonal rental potential. These properties sell very quickly, often before being publicly listed.
Mimet, Simiane-Collongue, and Saint-Savournin are among the most sought-after municipalities for their supply of villas with large gardens and open views. Plots are generally well-sized — from 500 to 2,000 m² — and residential density remains low, ensuring privacy and tranquility. Peypin and Gréasque offer a slightly more affordable market, with family homes on good-sized plots in a green environment.
Further east, Trets, Rousset, and Fuveau are very attractive alternatives: houses with pools are common, plots are generous, views of Sainte-Victoire or Sainte-Baume are frequent, and prices are more accessible than in the close outskirts, often with a more spectacular living environment.
Orientation is crucial: in the south, a south-facing terrace is usable almost all year round, while a north-facing terrace can remain cold and unpleasant much of the time. The quality of the land matters as much as its size: a flat, easy-to-maintain garden is far more functional than a large sloped or rocky plot. A pool-ready plot is a major asset if you plan to build a pool. Privacy is often underestimated during visits — a beautiful terrace overlooking neighboring houses will not feel like a truly private space.
If the property already has a pool, check its compliance with current safety standards and its technical condition — a poorly maintained pool can require significant investment.
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