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Buying in France
Selecting a Property / Region
Why, what, where, when and how?
It is important to have clearly defined thoughts of exactly what it is you are planning and looking for. A good way of doing this is to make an ‘essentials’ list as well as a further one with ‘desirables’ that meets with your requirements for a property. This will help you to keep focused on what you are looking for and will also help us and our agents suggest only suitable homes for your consideration.
Serious thought should be made as to the reasons for a purchase, the frequency with which you (or others) will use the property, if it is for family use, rental potential or long term investment etc. Establish a budget and remember, when making comparisons with other agencies, that we include all fees and taxes associated with the buying process.
Location, location, location of the property is a serious factor in the final decision, particularly if for frequent use (consider perhaps airports/trains etc) When buying a property in France, one needs to be sure that it suits ones personal needs and lifestyle - it could be difficult living in the countryside if you do not drive!
Other things to consider are:
- Are you looking for a new or traditional property, plot of land, rural or town etc
- Climate (all year round sunshine, seasonal etc.,)
- Condition of property (to renovate/modernise/fully renovated etc.)
- Number of bedrooms
- Type of property
- Amount of land
- With/without outbuildings, if with what for!
- Method of heating
- Tourist attractions
- Other facilities
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Get out there and look
Having decided on all the above it is a good idea to view as many houses as possible meeting your criteria so you can gain an idea of what is available and what house prices are in the region. Ideally it would be a good idea to have several holidays in the region just to confirm that it is where you want to purchase/live.
Last thing – despite recent trends, do not buy a property without seeing it first.
General Tourist Information
Regions
Nord-Pas-de-Calais
Departments: Nord(59), Pas-de-Calais(62)
5 new agencies joined us from this region in 2004. If one does not want to travel far to a weekend retreat, the Channel Tunnel has opened up this delightful region. With its brick and colombage traditional properties, there are also many more recent developments being built. There is a great deal to be said for this region with its attractive coastline and lush countryside. An apartment in the coastal town of Berck is going to start at about €145,000 and modern properties 30 minutes away from the same price. Land is a good option for new builds with prices at about €45,000.
www.day-tripper.net/touristofficescalais.html
Normandy
Departments: Calvados(14), Eure(27), Manche(50), Orne(61), Seine-Maritime(76)
Select Homes have two offices in this region now, Domfront and St. Hilaire du Harcouet. Famous for Camembert, Cider and Calvados, this beautiful, verdant region has temperatures pretty much the same as in Southern England. Traditionally with black and white half-timbered houses, there are still bargains to be had although country properties are becoming harder to find. We have a selection of village houses, both to renovate and instantly habitable as well as country properties both large and small. Houses needing renovation can be found occasionally for €45,000 but there are more renovated properties on the market starting at about €100,000.
Ile de France
Departments: Les Yvelines(78), Seine-et-Marne (77), Essonne (91)
This is a new region we have started to cover just to the south-west of Paris, on the borders of Yvelines, Eure-et-Loir and Eure. Within commuter distance of the capital, property prices look to be very reasonable considering just how close one is to Paris and the Loire Valley. The traditional property styles are pretty similar to those of the Normandy regions although there are quite a few modern houses being built. One should be looking at a minimum budget of €140,000.
Brittany
Departments: Cotes d’Armor(22), Finistere(29), Ille-et-Vilaine(35), Morbihan(56)
In this beautiful area, scenery changes quite dramatically and with the traditional long, low houses built of stone with slate roofs, it has for a long time been a popular place for weekend retreats and for people taking retirement. With associate offices in Malestroit, Josselin, Guers, Aulnay, Carnac and Baud, we are finding that more modern properties are coming onto the market all the time whilst there are fewer properties for renovation. Large areas of land are also becoming much more difficult to find now, with most houses having no more than half an acre. Having said that, we normally have a dozen or so with 2+ hectares, needless to say they are a great deal more expensive. A VERY basically habitable house is probably going to be in the region of €120,00 for anyone wanting outbuildings if they are possible to find (half of England are wanting to make gite complexes!) the price will probably be double!
Pays de la Loire
Departments: Loire-Atlantique (44), Mayenne(53), Maine-et-Loire(49), Sarthe(72), Vendee (85),
Named after the 800 miles of river, this glorious region is covered with vineyards, orchards and flower-filled fields. Chateaux land to the east and the beautiful Vendee coastline to the west, it is very popular as it is within a fairly easy drive of the Channel ports yet is considered to be far enough south for better weather. With Caroline in Beaufort-en- Vallee we have some superb properties within reasonable distance of Paris and of great interest to the tourism industry. Prices start from about €250,000 with the sky being the limit. In the Vendee, there is the other extreme where it is still possible to find very good value properties, particularly in the countryside starting at about €100,000. It is also possible to buy a village house to renovate for as little as €45,000 which makes it quite an interesting proposition.
Poitou-Charentes
Departments: Charente(16), Charente-Maritime(17), Deux Sevres(79), Vienne(86)
Well known for its micro-climate and sunflowers, this attractive region varies very much from west to east. Ideal for artists, the clear blue skies of the Charente Maritime are also good for grapes producing Cognac and Pineau to go with the beautiful seafood platters. Long, low, limewashed ‘Charentaise’ houses are the order of the region which is fairly flat close to the coast and has more rolling valleys with smaller villages inland where the temperature is a little cooler. With eight offices throughout this sector, we have a fairly comprehensive range of properties both old and modern. Prices are still reasonable here although climbing rapidly as, for generations it has been a popular holiday area for the French but in recent years, the demand has been very high from the UK. Bargains are still to be had, particularly in the Charente and Deux Sevres although the general rule is that the further south and west, the more expensive it is likely to be. To renovate, one would expect to pay somewhere around €60,000 for a traditional little property: a habitable/part renovated place with courtyard in a small village will cost in the region of €110,000 upwards and a fully renovated place will be in excess of €140,000. A popular area for gites, a property here fore renovation with plenty of space for conversion into letting units start at about €175,000.
www.poitou-charentes-vacances.com
Limousin
Departments: Correze(19). Creuse(23) and Haute Vienne(87)
Luscious grasslands and gently rolling countryside mean that this sparsely populated region is dotted with old stone farmhouses varying between completely renovated and all to do. Prices varying quite dramatically depending on location as well as outbuildings etc and it is very good value particularly if making a comparison with neighbours Poitou Charentes or Aquitaine. It is still possible to buy 30+hectares, nevertheless prices are continuing to rise at quite a rapid rate. A barn or small village house for renovation can be bought for as little as €30,000 whilst a large property, renovated and with about 2 hectares is going to cost somewhere in the region of €250,000.
Aquitaine
Dordogne(24), Gironde(33), Landes(40), Lot-et-Garonne(47), Pyrenees-Atlantiques(64).
At present we have rather a gap in the Dordogne region although we do have a lovely relationship with Lesley who is based in the Sarlat area together with a new one just opened in Lisle, just across the border from the Charente. A very popular part of France, long inhabited by the English, it is famous for vineyards with many chateaux having vast estates, tourism and beautiful rolling countryside. It is quite difficult to come up with many country properties under €200,000 although that is not to say that they do not come up occasionally. The Dordogne river also has some spectacular scenery surrounding it and many country properties have nut and tobacco drying barns. We have a few properties to the west of this delightful region which stretches from the Pyrenees, up past fashionable Biarritz on the Atlantique coast, through Landes where there are forests and lakes making a lovely green area and into the wine growing region. Easily accessed via Pau and Bordeaux, we hope to expand in the forthcoming year.
Midi-Pyrenees
Departments: Ariege(9), Aveyron(12), Gers(32), Haute Garonne(31), Hautes-Pyrenees(65), Lot(46), Tarn(81), Tarn-et-Garonne(82)
Geographically the largest region, prices vary dramatically in both style and price. From the Pyrenees right up to the Gironde River, agriculture is very important although Foie Gras and Armagnac play a large part. The Ariege and Hautes-Pyrenees tend to be greener and used for arable farming. Therefore this is still the place to find barns for conversion together with houses well within striking distance of the ski resorts.
Prices start from about €50,000 and keep climbing as there are so many variants. We have offices in Foix and Tarbes so have many village and town properties as well. As is usual in the southern parts of France, it is not always the norm for traditional older properties to have gardens if they are in the villages whereas those in the countryside could have several acres. In the Haute Garonne, Jean-Pierre, who lives in Escanecrabe, has some beautiful properties although prices here tend to be a little higher. Serviced mainly by Toulouse airport, many of his houses have superb views of the Pyrenees and are of the traditional ‘Maison de Maitre’ style. From time to time we have some superb modern properties as well as several farms with outbuildings for sale. One really needs to be looking from €160,000 for an attractive property in need of renovation. We have two offices in the Gers, which is the most under populated of all departments of France. Again, properties here vary dramatically in both price and style, with most country properties being very square, substantial looking and having plenty of space, good views and outbuildings suitable for conversion if desired. Budgeting for a farmhouse should really start from €180,000 to renovate in the northern part and perhaps a little less to the south. Again many houses here have good views and are also accessible to lovely market towns making this a lovely place to live, ask Marianne who is based in Fleurance! Last but not least, we also have an office in Cahors. Surrounded by very dramatic scenery, this luscious area has barns for renovation from €130,000, a village property with a garden, habitable although in need of further works for about €110,000 and renovated house in the countryside with a good amount of grounds from €250,000.
Languedoc Roussillon
Aude(11), Gard(30), Herault(34), Lozere(48), Pyrenees-Orientales(66)
With wine, and now to a certain extent tourism, the Corbieres are generally rather rugged and wild with many of the villages not even having basic facilities, except for the mobile shops. Ideal for the strong hikers, rock climbers and white water rafters, the gorges are magnificent making this a lovely restful area for holiday homes. A car however is essential. The Minervois adjoining is slightly less severe and tends to have more villages with commerce. As a general rule, a house in a larger village with bars and restaurants etc is going to be at least 15% more expensive. Nearly all properties are in old fortified villages with very few country properties to be seen. It is rare for traditional village houses to have gardens. With long hot summers and mild winters courtyards and roof terraces tend to be the norm as BBQing goes on big time here – often in the streets! With eight offices covering this popular region we have a vast selection of properties and land. Modern villas at the edge of a village, which are more expensive, do have gardens. These are normally built on lottissments in groups ranging from a few houses up to a larger estate. At present it is probably one of the best areas to buy places to renovate, particularly as an investment. For a house in need of total renovation prices for a little property start around €50,000 while to modernise one needs to be prepared to pay something in the region of about €100,000. Renovated village houses start at around €120,000 with the modern places from about €180,000. Village houses in the above areas tend to be narrow and tall (3-storey at least) therefore not particularly suitable for the elderly or infirm. We feel we should stress that only rarely do these come with any garden whatsoever. This is serious wine-growing country and all available land is given over to vines, you even see them growing on roundabouts!
Provence Alpes and Cotes d’Azur
Departments: Alpes –de-Haute-Provence(4), Alpes-Maritimes(6), Bouches de Rhone(13), Haute-Alpes(5), Var(83), Vaucluse(84)
Based to the west of this region, we have an office in Brignoles. Prices look to be very reasonable considering! The properties we have tend to be modern with prices starting at something above €200,000 although it may be possible to get the occasional village house in need of some minor work for a little less. Without doubt an area that will become more sought after within the next few years, the land is fairly undulating with lots of forests and golf courses and of course markets. Alain has worked with us for a long time now although has recently moved from the Charente Maritime back down to his family home in Menton. An extremely popular tourist area just near to the Italian border on the Mediterranean coast, prices for property are pretty high considering they are mainly apartments. Having said that nevertheless worth considering as an investment and letting for the tourist industry.
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Property of the Month
- Olonzac, Herault
- Region :Languedoc-Roussillon
- Price : € 105,500.00
- Ref : TRLF003
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