The department of the Hérault has a mass of different styles of property and topographies so that the potential purchaser may be confused about where to begin.Broadly speaking you can buy on the coast,in or near a village on the coastal plain or in the valley of the Hérault river, in the hills,  or near Montpellier .Each has its own advantages and drawbacks. Also you will probably be seeking a different type of property and location if you are buying a holiday home as opposed to somewhere to live permanently.

The coast of course has all the attractions of the Mediterranean but it does get very crowded ,although this could be less of a disadvantage if you are planning to let the property in the summer. It also can look a bit bleak in the winter unless you are in one of the towns or villages on the coast which have a year round vitality and life. Most buildings on the coast  have been constructed fairly recently, but there are plenty of apartments and villas for sale on or near the coast.

Inland the coastal plain and the valley of the Hérault have  many villages with a history that goes back to Roman times and beyond, and perhaps exhibit everyone’s idea of French village life. There are villages and villages however,some full of life and activity,others rather closed in and silent. Depending on your requirements you need to know which is which. Also bear in mind that many villages on the plain are actively building housing estates so that your lovely view of the vines becomes a not so lovely view of one of these! However there are  classic winegrowers houses for sale in the villages and modern villas with pools on the outskirts.

As you move away from the coastal plain and into the hills,the landscape becomes more dramatic,the villages become more authentic,and housing estates are less in evidence,at least at the moment. Walking in the hills,swimming in the rivers and lakes,or perhaps in your own pool, make the thought of a trip to the coast in summer less appealing.Village houses with a garden are not easy to find,but they can be renovated to provide very desirable properties.Older country houses can be found but they are rare as agriculture down here really means the cultivation of vines(yippee!) and vignerons live in villages.

If you want the city life Montpellier is probably one of the world’s finest cities showing what can be done to an old town that existed long before motor transport, with vision,imagination and a lot of money.There are apartments available in the Ecusson,the old historic centre of the town from which traffic is barred,and apartments and villas further away from the centre.

So if you are thinking of buying down here,sort through your requirements before you start looking,and OF COURSE,seek the help and local knowledge of a house hunter!