Dreaming of a Property for Sale in France
Buying a property in France has long been my dream and one I seem to share with thousands of other Brits. In recent year’s property buying in France has been a very popular and lucrative investment choice, whether for use as a second home, a long term holiday let or something more permanent – an idyllic retirement place or a complete lifestyle change. Fortunately for us, property for sale in France is more and more an achievable dream, because house prices are generally cheaper than in the UK or many other parts of Europe and this has to be an important factor.
Being larger than the UK, it is geographically more diverse and undoubtedly one of the most beautiful countries in all Europe. The weather is more temperate than in the UK and the cost of living is generally cheaper. It is the French lifestyle that most of dream of: relaxing, healthy, peaceful and of course, offering the best food in the world. Who would not be tempted by chocolate-box dream images of lazy evenings spent sitting around an outdoor table in one’s own peaceful grounds, with friends enjoying good food, good wine and good conversationNULL
When you consider property for sale in France, what visions come to mindNULL A family style country house or farmhouse; the romantic old world charm of a villa, chateau or castle; or something more rustic, like a water mill or converted barnNULL France has all of these and more in every region of the country.
I fell in love with a Renaissance castle, complete with moat and drawbridge in northern France and that became my ideal of a property for sale in France when I first decided to move there. What I bought was, of course, far more modest: a rambling, single-storey stone farmhouse with almost a thousand square metres of private land, including several old fruit trees, in the Loire Valley. It may not be an historic monument, but to me it is an enchanted castle! I love the Loire Valley as it abounds with charming little towns, elegant chateaux and beautiful, lush countryside. The local food: different cheeses, fish etc - is absolutely superb.
The advice I would give to anyone looking for a property for sale in France is to do your homework carefully beforehand. Decide on the area you wish to live and then chose a reliable real estate agent to take you through the conveyancing process, tax, insurance etc which are all slightly different to the UK. And contrary to some of the myths put about by disgruntled or xenophobic Brits, the French people will welcome you heartily and genuinely into their beautiful country.