Interview with Eric Laboue, Director of Côte d’Azur Sotheby’s International Realty Nice

What has been your career path, and how did you become Director of the Nice agency?

After more than twenty years of experience in real estate as a commercial agent at a highly reputable agency in Nice, I learned about the project to open a Sotheby’s International Realty office in the Azurian capital. I initially applied as a commercial agent before the opportunity to lead this new office presented itself.

Driven by the desire to take on a new challenge and supported by my previous experience in managing companies and sales teams, I applied for the position. After numerous interviews with the franchise management and several headhunting firms, I was selected to lead this ambitious project.

The undertaking was extensive: finding and renovating premises, establishing a brand presence in a market where it was still relatively unknown, and building a team from scratch. Strategically, I chose to maintain my commercial activity alongside my managerial role to stay directly connected with the field, clients, and market realities.

What distinguishes the Nice agency today in a highly competitive environment?

Several pillars define the identity and performance of our agency today.

First, an internationally renowned brand, a true mark of trust in the most demanding markets.

Second, a committed management team with diverse skills, rigorous, always available, and deeply attached to the team spirit.

Marketing also plays a central role. Through the quality of its work, it showcases each property in its best light, excels in digital visibility, and attracts a clientele of particularly high quality.

We also rely primarily on a team of multilingual, experienced brokers, deeply rooted in the Nice market and widely praised by their clients for their expertise and support.

Alongside them, a highly efficient commercial assistant is a key operational pillar.

Finally, our office, ideally located in Nice’s Carré d’or, offers a prestigious address and a presentation that reflects the Maison’s positioning.

How would you describe your team and the agency’s collective dynamic?

The team at the Nice agency is, in my view, one of our greatest assets. It currently consists of around ten experienced brokers who stand out for a rare mindset based on communication, sharing, support, respect, mutual trust, and consistently high-quality work.

Coming from very diverse backgrounds and driven for many years by a passion for their profession, we excel both in human relationships and in the rigor applied to each file.

Trust within the team was established from the first days of the office opening, just over three years ago, under my guidance and by example, based on a simple principle: the more serene and high-quality the working conditions, the higher and more sustainable the performance. This environment gives everyone the desire to work with their colleagues, and the excellent results naturally reflect this.

Under these conditions, teamwork becomes a true lever for performance.

What is your preferred sector, and why does it appeal to both French and international clients?

We mainly operate in the city of Nice and its immediate surroundings. The city offers remarkable diversity in lifestyles, from waterfront properties to the first hills with sea views, and through historic and emblematic neighborhoods such as Cimiez, Mont-Boron, and the Carré d’or.

Our focus is primarily on the mid-market segment, between €500,000 and €1.5 million, while also including a premium range that can reach €10 million.

Nice enjoys exceptional global appeal. Its history, the dynamism of its municipality, unparalleled air connectivity linking most international capitals directly, an airport integrated into the urban fabric, rare quality of life, a year-round program of sports, arts, and cultural events, as well as more than 300 days of sunshine per year make the Côte d’Azur, and the heart of Nice in particular, one of the world’s most sought-after destinations. Real estate investment is therefore directly and sustainably supported.

How is demand currently evolving in the Nice market?

We have recently observed growing interest from our clients in exceptional properties across the city: penthouses in the Carré d’or, at Cap de Nice, waterfront duplexes on avenue Jean Lorrain… with budgets of several million euros.

Our clientele is evenly split between European and American buyers, as well as high-net-worth French and local clients.

How do you assess your commercial performance and the past year?

2025 marks our third full year of activity since the agency opened. It stands out as the most dynamic and successful year to date, with results previously thought unattainable.

Our team, now fully mature with ten seasoned brokers and a highly efficient assistant, is seeing the rewards of constant effort. Referrals are multiplying, our visibility is increasing, client reviews reflect very high satisfaction, and the quality of relationships is firmly established in the agency’s reputation.

What is your assessment of the 2025 Nice market?

2025 was marked by numerous transactions of apartments between €1.5 and €5 million, several sales of townhouses and villas around €2.5 million, not to mention a significant volume of beautiful mid-market apartments.

This performance reinforces our recognition in the Nice market, expands a growing portfolio of qualified clients, and confirms the relevance of demanding and rigorous work.

What is your vision, and what are your priorities for the coming years?

Our ambition remains clear: to continue this momentum without relaxation, exploring new ways to further enhance service quality. Those who do not move forward, fall behind.

Finally, I would like to thank all our clients and partners for their trust, with the firm intention of continuing to earn their recognition and positioning the Nice agency on a trajectory of lasting excellence.