Maxwell-Baynes : Luxury Real Estate Agency
Immerse yourself in a dreamlike setting
and embrace the timeless
French art of living.
A story of authenticity.
Maxwell-Baynes Real Estate offers you our local knowledge of prestigious properties, historic manor houses and luxury French châteaux for sale in Bordeaux, Gironde, Dordogne and Charente in South-West France – as well as our experience of working in this market since 1995.
From Bordeaux to Bassin d'Arcachon, Saint-Émilion to La Rochelle, we are proud to support our clients with care, discretion, and precision. Explore verified testimonials and real stories from clients who have trusted Maxwell-Baynes Christie’s International for their real estate journey in Southwest France.
Exclusivity Maxwell-Baynes.
Discover our selection of unique and, above all, exclusive properties to buy.
Elegant Period Residence with Garden and Swimming Pool
Villa with panoramic Arcachon Bay views
Turnkey 15th–17th-Century Château on a 44-hectare Estate
Seafront Villa for Sale in Cap-Ferret, Bassin d'Arcachon
La Teste-de-Buch – Contemporary Villa with Pool
The best kept secrets of southwest France.
Get access to our off-market properties before everyone else.
Our Clients Are Our Best Advocates.
213 avisThe best rated service of 2025
We had an excellent experience working with Matthieu Mazière. Throughout the search, negotiations, and purchase process, Matthieu was knowledgeable, patient, responsive, and consistently generous with his guidance. He quickly understood what we were ...
We just got the keys to our new house near Bordeaux, yay! We couldn’t be happier with Valeria as she made the process as easy as it can be through her professionalism, communication skills and enthusiasm. Her knowledge of the market, connections with...
Valeria is, without a doubt, the finest real estate agent I’ve ever had the privilege of working with, and I cannot recommend her highly enough. She combines professionalism with warmth, and her diligence and work ethic are truly impressive. Througho...
We worked with Valéria Plaisance on buying a house, and could not have asked for a better experience. Valéria is knowledgeable, kind, funny, and follows through on everything. Absolutely wonderful to work with and a great resource....
I recently had the opportunity to purchase an apartment with the assistance of Matthieu and Valéria. The entire process was remarkably efficient and seamless, thanks to their responsiveness—even during weekends and evenings. Having visited numerous p...
We cannot recommend Olivier highly enough. From the very beginning, he was incredibly attentive, organized, and informative. He dedicated an immense amount of time to helping us find our dream home in France, and his support has continued long after ...
My family and I recently purchased a property in Mouton outside of Angouleme with the help of Olivier Demessemakers. From beginning to end our experience was amazing. He was patient with us, understood our needs perfectly, ensured we understood the p...
We have had exceptional service from Olivier who has walked us through the process of purchasing our dream chateau in France. We are not from France so we needed guidance on transferring utilities and new bank accounts, etc. This was a very easy pro...
Valeria is quite simply the best real estate agent I have had the pleasure of dealing with and I cannot recommend her highly enough. She is professional, personable, diligent and hard-working. She was always positive and reassuring, despite some bump...
Thank you for making our dream of owning a home in France a reality. Kirsten was exceptional throughout the entire journey....
I cannot speak highly enough of the service from Olivier Demessemakers at Maxwell Baynes and Laurence Picherit in particular who sat with me for 3 hours after my purchase of a wonderful1 million+ euros manor house in Charente Maritime was completed ...
We recently sold our property in France with the help of Olivier, and we couldn’t be more impressed with the service we received. Selling a home abroad can feel daunting, especially when you’re based in the UK, but he made the process remarkably stra...
Thank you so much, Laurence, for your guidance in selling this beautiful, historic family home. Your attentiveness, sensitivity, and professionalism made all the difference. We are so glad we were able to entrust you with this important task. The Lab...
A huge thank you to Ms. Picherit for her support. In addition to being extremely efficient, Ms. Picherit gave us excellent advice and was always available. Truly an outstanding professional!...
Angélique is an exceptional agent! Professional, empathetic, available, responsive, and efficient. She provided us with wonderful support throughout our search and allowed us to realize our real estate project with complete confidence and peace of mi...
We had a wonderful stay at the villa. Although we encountered a few challenges during our visit, Jennifer was always available, responsive, and genuinely committed to making sure everything was resolved as quickly as possible. The service she provide...
We rented villa Mia in Arcachon with our family in August. Our experience was unfortunately influenced by the presence of mice in the living room and bedroom on the ground floor. One evening we have actually seen a mouse crossing the living room. We...
The place is very beautiful, with all amenities and you feel like home. It is surrounded by greens and birds singing and has a wonderful light all day. Its location 10 minutes by walk to Plage de la Corniche is great. Jennyfer was of a great assistan...
The house was amazing and the Christie’s team was terrific. I can’t say enough about the service and support leading up to and through our visit. Everything we needed was either provided or sourced for us. I would highly recommend both the home and t...
A magical stay in Pyla The house is beautiful, very comfortable, and the view of the bay is absolutely breathtaking. A huge thank you to Jennyfer and Dorothée for their impeccable hospitality and availability. They made our stay truly unforgettable. ...
Our Ambassador of the Month.
Each month, we introduce one of the people who shape Maxwell-Baynes — through their story, their perspective and the role they play within our Maison.
At the heart of Maxwell-Baynes since its creation in 2008, Karin has helped shape both its vision and its deeply personal approach to real estate.
Her journey began long before Maxwell-Baynes, between the worlds of wine and property, building an intimate knowledge of Bordeaux, its vineyards, its homes and, above all, its people. More than 25 years later, that knowledge is matched by an international outlook and a remarkable network built over time.
For Karin, real estate has always been about more than a property. It is about understanding a place, the people behind it and those who will carry its story forward.
The Art Of Living That Is Passed On Again and Again.
The latest news and updates on the Bordeaux Real Estate market from Maxwell-Baynes Real Estate.
Luxury Seasonal Rentals on Arcachon Bay: Exceptional Villas and Premium Concierge Service
Luxury villas for seasonal rental on Arcachon Bay: Pyla-sur-Mer and Cap Ferret, premium concierge service with Maxwell-Baynes.
Castles in Celebration 2026 in Dordogne: a rare immersion at the heart of heritage
From April 11 to May 3, 2026, discover 109 castles in Dordogne during Châteaux en Fête: private visits, concerts, gastronomy and medieval entertainment.
An exhibition celebrating photography :
Découvrez « Chroniques Urbaines », l'exposition d'Hannibal Renberg. Une immersion poétique et burlesque dans la street-photo brute.
Why Mauritius Investment Establishes Itself as an Outstanding Patrimonial Choice
Discover why investing in Mauritius is so appealing: favourable taxation, structured real estate, quality of life...
Questions you might have.
At Maxwell-Baynes, we specialize in luxury real estate in the south of France, providing unparalleled expertise and personalized service to help you find your dream property. If you have more questions please reach out to our team and we will be pleased to assist you.
What areas in South West France are best for luxury property investment?
The South West of France offers diverse luxury property markets, each with unique advantages. The Dordogne region is renowned for its châteaux and historic estates, perfect for those seeking authenticity and cultural heritage. Bordeaux and its surrounding vineyards attract wine enthusiasts and investors looking for prestigious vineyard properties. The Basque Coast, including Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz, offers sophisticated coastal living with access to world-class surfing and gastronomy. Toulouse and its periphery provide excellent opportunities for modern luxury villas with strong rental yields. The Lot Valley showcases medieval villages and restored stone properties ideal for those seeking privacy and tranquility. Maxwell-Baynes specializes in all these markets and can guide you to the perfect location based on your investment goals, lifestyle preferences, and long-term objectives.
What is the process for purchasing luxury real estate in France as a foreigner?
Purchasing luxury real estate in France as a foreigner carries no restriction on citizenship or residency. The transaction typically spans three to four months, overseen by a notaire, a State-appointed public officer whom you remain entirely free to choose. It begins with a written offer, followed by a preliminary contract (Compromis de Vente) where a 5% to 10% deposit is secured in escrow, backed by a 10-day cooling-off period. Due diligence follows before signing the final deed (Acte de Vente). Additional costs include notary fees and transfer taxes, averaging 7% to 8% for older or pre-owned estates, and 2% to 3% for new builds. Some international buyers purchase through a corporate structure such as an SCI, notably for succession planning. Maxwell-Baynes provides bespoke guidance through every legal step, alongside your notaire, in both French and English.
What are the tax implications of buying luxury property in South West France?
Owning property in South West France involves a clear and stable tax framework, regardless of your nationality. At purchase, acquisition costs, commonly called notary fees, amount to around 7% to 8% of the price for older properties, and 2% to 3% for new builds. Each year, owners pay a property tax (taxe foncière), along with a residence tax (taxe d’habitation) for second homes. Should the net value of your taxable real estate exceed €1.3 million on 1 January, a real estate wealth tax (IFI) applies, at progressive rates up to 1.5%. Rental income from a French property is taxable in France. On resale, a main residence is fully exempt from capital gains tax, while a second home is taxed at 19% plus social charges, with full exemption from income tax after 22 years of ownership and from social charges after 30 years. Maxwell-Baynes works alongside trusted notaires and tax advisers to help you structure your purchase with complete peace of mind.