Interview with Benjamin Boulanger, Director of Côte d’Azur Sotheby’s International Realty in Beaulieu-sur-Mer

Can you tell us about your career path and what led you to take the helm of the Beaulieu-sur-Mer office?

I began my career in real estate fourteen years ago, working at a traditional agency in Marseille. This initial experience, which was extremely formative, allowed me to build a solid foundation in negotiation and gain a nuanced understanding of real estate transactions. Very quickly, this profession became a true passion for property,a passion that has never left me.

I then spent eight years in the marketing of new developments, working with developers in various regional sales roles. This immersion gave me a broader perspective on the market and its mechanisms.

At a pivotal point in my career, I felt the need to return to what had originally made me fall in love with this profession: traditional, character-driven real estate. It was with this mindset that I seized the opportunity to take over the direction of Côte d’Azur Sotheby’s International Realty in Beaulieu-sur-Mer two years ago. Today, I have the privilege of working along one of the world’s most beautiful coastlines, a sentiment widely shared by our clients from all over the globe who choose to settle here.

What sets Côte d’Azur Sotheby’s International Realty apart in such a competitive market?

Our uniqueness lies first and foremost in delivering an exceptional, bespoke service, supported by a prestigious international brand: Sotheby’s International Realty.

The strength of the Sotheby’s International Realty network, with over 1,100 offices worldwide, combined with its historic expertise in luxury real estate, allows us to master the codes of the sector and serve a demanding international clientele seeking exceptional properties on the Côte d’Azur.

This is further enhanced by the daily work of a marketing team specializing in luxury real estate, alongside a constant investment in new technologies and artificial intelligence. These levers give us a genuine competitive edge today.

How would you describe your team and its areas of expertise?

Our team consists of experienced real estate consultants, deeply knowledgeable about their respective areas, multilingual, and fully committed to supporting their clients.

They bring their expertise and availability to every sales or acquisition project, often involving exceptional properties. Their skills allow us to provide precise, tailored advice to a demanding clientele. In my view, the ability to accurately price a property, taking into account its features, location, and intrinsic qualities, remains the key to a successful sale.

Why is teamwork a crucial lever for performance in high-end real estate?

Above all, what unites us is a love for fine property and the satisfaction of seeing each life project come to fruition.

Our team today is composed of consultants with different yet complementary profiles. Some specialize in Beaulieu-sur-Mer and Villefranche-sur-Mer, while others focus on neighboring towns near Monaco, such as Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, Cap-d’Ail, or Beausoleil.

The Beaulieu-sur-Mer office thus covers a wide area, from Villefranche-sur-Mer to Menton, each town with its own specificities. It is essential for us to assign each client a consultant perfectly rooted in their area, capable of sharing their expertise with the team, all working toward a common goal: collective performance in the service of our clients.

What is the geographic scope and type of properties your agency primarily handles?

Located on Boulevard Marinoni, in the heart of Beaulieu-sur-Mer, our agency has a strong presence in the town and its immediate surroundings, notably Villefranche-sur-Mer and Èze along the coast.

We also conduct numerous transactions around Monaco, whose growing economic and tourist influence attracts both French and international clients. The hinterland is equally appealing, with areas such as La Turbie or Saint-Martin-de-Peille attracting interest.

Our main focus is the middle-market segment, which represents the majority of our activity, with budgets ranging from €700,000 to €2 million.

This region captivates the world and has always symbolized lifestyle-driven purchases, particularly for second homes. French and European clients are looking for renovated, secure pied-à-terre with sea views and proximity to amenities, typically with budgets from €1 to €3 million.

Additionally, a more international clientele (American, Canadian, or British) contacts us for turnkey contemporary or character villas with gardens and pools, ideally near the sea, with budgets reaching €6–8 million.

Finally, some truly exceptional waterfront properties, particularly in Cap Martin or Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, can reach several tens of millions of euros.

How would you describe the real estate market in your area at the end of 2025?

2025 marked a clear rebound in activity after a more challenging 2024, which had been largely affected by an uncertain international geopolitical context that temporarily slowed some foreign clients.

However, this lull was short-lived. Despite relative price stagnation over the year, 2025 was driven by strong momentum and initiated a gradual recovery in values, supported by limited supply and ever-growing demand.

How would you summarize 2025 for your agency?

2025 was a year defined by collective success. It saw the integration of new consultants and numerous transactions carried out in partnership.

We significantly strengthened our position in the middle-market segment, completing several dozen sales ranging from €500,000 to €3 million, while also handling exceptional properties in Èze, La Turbie, and Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.

Being recognized in this segment remains a great source of pride for a Sotheby’s International Realty office and aligns perfectly with the historic DNA of the brand.

What are your priorities and ambitions for the agency in 2026?

Our ambitions for 2026 are clear and structured.

We aim to continue developing the team with the addition of two new consultants to further strengthen our geographic coverage. At the same time, we continue training on new tools stemming from the rise of artificial intelligence, to create more opportunities and generate additional transactions.

We also intend to consolidate our influence in the middle-market, supported by growing demand and an increasing number of client referrals. Our reputation is expanding, notably thanks to online client reviews, which serve as true indicators of satisfaction and, in my view, are key to success in this competitive segment.

Finally, the strength of the Sotheby’s International Realty brand ensures we remain recognized in the luxury property market. In 2026, we will remain fully committed to being a major player in this sector, with, I hope, new emblematic transactions for our brand on the horizon.