Die Property Insight

Overview

Die (pronounced dee) is a discreet town of Drome, accounting for only 4,387 inhabitants. It is part of Rhone-Alpes, one of the largest regions of France. Located approximately one hour from Valence, the French commune is part of a regional nature reserve but benefits from the closeness of many places of interests such as Grenoble, Gap, Avignon, Lyon or Marseille.

History is still very present in the Diois’ everyday life nowadays, as the medieval buildings are numerous inside and around the town. A preserved environment and a pleasant place to live, in the middle of the Drome valley. An excellent place to invest also, as tourists are numerous in any season (hiking, watersports, skiing, walking, animals spotting etc.

Die Immobilier & Property Market Trends

In 2008, the average price of property in France is €3,197 /sq m. In spite of its assets, Die offers property around €1,600 /sq m which is one of the most inexpensive area of the French department. Regional prices are around €1,800 /sq m, as are departmental prices. Die offers property in a very preserved setting and at moderate prices.

Other elements to take into account when contemplating buying property in the area, is the great rental potential of Die. In summer, many holidaymakers choose the area to practise, hiking or watersports whereas in winter, the town is converted into a resort with a ski resort nearby. The rental potential is thus present all year round. Buying an apartment in the town of Die costs €1,400 /sq m on average. The departmental average is €1,520 /sq m, while the national one is €2,400 /sq m.

To get updated info about property prices in Drome, please browse our French Property Market Reports published in the News Section every month.

5 Reasons to Buy a Property in Die

• Good food: along with other departmental delights, Die has specialities that cannot be found anywhere else in the department. A very refined delicacy is the Carré de Picq raw ham. The ham is homemade by hand and is well complemented by a local chilled rosé wine. The secret behind Carré de Picq is that it is aged for 9 to 15 months after being carefully prepared in a traditional way. The choice of the animal is also crucial; only pigs which have been reared in organically on traditional farms are used.

• Wine and alcoholic drinks: the Clairette de Die is a bubbly renowned in France, which is well worth tasting. Sweet, fruity, soft and bubbly, the drink is a very nice (and inexpensive) alternative to Champagne. It is often drunk with a dessert. Other local wines are the Crémant de Die produced from a blend of bubbly wine and liqueur and aged for 3 years. Eventually, regular wines are produced in the area from different varietals: Gamay, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Aligoté or Chardonnay.

• Tourism – sights: there is plenty to do and to see in and around Die. The town itself has much to offer both culturally, historically and architecturally. The neighbouring villages are also really worth the visit as they complement ideally Die’s history. As a backdrop, impressive hills and mountains home to a number of wild animals and plants. An excellent asset for the local tourism, attracting many visitors. Very good also in terms of rental opportunities as good food, nice wine, lush nature and great climate generally tick all the boxes.

• Climate and weather: in this area of Drome, the influence of neighbouring mountains can be felt. Indeed, the climate is more mountainous and wet there. However, the Provence influence is felt in Die and the Diois area, with less rain and more sun. The area is less sunny than the south of the department, being clearly Provencal. However this lets the locals enjoy ski pleasures nearby and opens many opportunities for rentals and gite projects.

• Mountains: Die and its area benefit from the presence of several ski resorts such as Valdrome, Lus la Jarjatte or Rousset. They attract a considerable number of visitors in winter and offer many activities along with skiing. Climbing, canoeing and kayaking for example are much practised and holidaymakers are loyal. If you prefer the sea, the Mediterranean is only 2 hours away, which is the icing on the cake. These assets make it easy to sell or rent property in or around Die.

Property Styles and Architecture in Die

Houses in Die less undergo a Provencal influence than in Valence or more southern towns. Here, properties are much more built according to mountainous influences, which means in stones, and built to insulate both from the summer warmth and winter cold. From town houses to Provence-style farmhouses, Die’s houses are pleasant.

Click here for more info about the Architecture in Rhone Alpes.