Modern Villa in Languedoc - the Secret Provence of South Central France

Property Description

Summary
Modern practical one level house of 127m2 (1380sqft), built in 2016, blending with the surrounding traditional architecture, in the middle of a flat plot of 4000m2 (43000sqft), planted with a variety of mature nut trees, and adjacent to protected nature land.

Location
The house lies at the edge of the quiet village of Assignan, which has a small boutique hotel (Village Castigno), offering 3 restaurants and a brewery. All the services needed are 8 minutes away in St. Chinian, which also has a local produce market twice a week, a yearly classical music and a jazz festival and a second-hand market every Saturday. Assignan is surrounded by vineyards, has multiple hiking and biking paths starting at your doorstep and lies at the entrance to the Haut Languedoc National Park (Gorges de l’Héric, Olargues, medieval city of Minerve). The UNESCO World Heritage “Canal du Midi” is 15 min. away, ideal for boating and biking, and in 45 min. you reach the sandy Mediterranean beaches. The river Orb offers swimming and canoeing opportunities only 20 min. away. Carcassonne and the Cathar castles of Lastours are less than 1 hour away, the nearest skiing slope in the Pyrenees is 2.5 hours away.

Access
A9 highway access: Béziers Ouest 35 min.
Nearest train stations: Béziers and Narbonne 35 min., with direct trains to Paris (4 hours), Barcelona (2 hours), Madrid (5 hours)
Nearest international airports: Béziers (45 min.), Carcassonne (1 hour), Montpellier (1.5 hours)

Interior
Three bedrooms of similar size (around 14m2), each one with direct access to garden or terrace, two large bathrooms with Italian shower + WC (one ensuite), living and dining space (47m2), high standard fully equipped open-plan kitchen (16m2), adjacent pantry (8.5m2). South-facing covered terrace, motorized bioclimatic pergola and open terrace, all on the same level as the pool (9.5x4.5m, salt-electrolysis, heat pump). Wide main entrance landing, porch and north facing terrace (21m2). Fibre optic connection, additional heat pump for floor heating and water consumption, water softener and pressure pump, motorized awnings, double A energy diagnosis certificate.

Exterior
Carport (30m2) adjacent to the workshop (18m2) with functioning electricity, water and sewerage, ideal for conversion into a gite. The carport is covered with photovoltaic panels for self-consumption and resale to the grid.
The really easy to manage garden is flat and includes a variety of trees (olive, almond, pistachio, pecan, hazel and walnuts).
The plot has further possibilities for enlarging the existing house or constructing additional units. Furthermore, the house offers an attractive investment potential if rented out during the tourist season.

Additional Details
In 2024:
Property tax (taxes foncières): 1512 EUR
Electricity bill: 1591 EUR (fully electric functioning house + hybrid plug-in car)
Water bill: 695 EUR (house usage + pool refilling, no irrigation needed in the garden)

Did you know? In France, direct sales are secure because, by law, the buyer makes all payments for the house to the Notary, and not directly to the seller. The Notary represents the French authorities, it has a neutral role, and includes the functions of a Closing Agent, a Real Estate Agent and a Notary in the USA.