Why France?
For most people, the decision to buy in France comes easily. They have become Francophiles without even noticing, and love France and all things French. They want to enjoy the ambience and joie de vivre of the French lifestyle.
In my opinion there are certainly more than 10 reasons to choose to live or to have a second home in France and below I give 10 of the most popular reasons given by the thousands of clients who have bought properties through Latitudes over the last 20+ years.
1. Lifestyle
The French seem to know how to enjoy life and appreciate the finer things it has to offer without letting daily aggravations get in the way. In France at lunchtime, for instance, everything and everyone stops, from builders and managers to office workers and farmers so that they can enjoy good food and wine plus the sociability of eating and relaxing with friends or family. I am sure many of the problems we experience in the UK could be improved if people had the time to relax a little in the middle of the day so that they could talk over their problems.
2. Activities
Most areas of France offer something to do at all times of year and in all weathers – there are lots of festivals all over the country, many of them are during the Summer months but there is a smattering throughout France at all times of years such as the flower festival and carnival in Nice in February and the truffle market in Aups, etc. There are shows and concerts at the many theatres and area and as far as sport goes, there is opportunity for all of them from tennis and golf and horseriding and fishingto skiing and sand surfing. It really is possible to spend one day on the beach and the next on the ski slopes with only 70-90 minutes drive between. Walking and hiking amongst some of the most wonderful scenery found in almost every department is very popular and hang gliding, flying, canoeing, rafting and surfing are all there for the taking if you are brave enough. This choice of activities is another reason why people choose France over so many other European destinations, where the British buy homes just to live in the sun in an ex-pat community. Most communes have public tennis courts and swimming pools and many offer facilities for children’s activities throughout the holidays. For those who are not so energetic there are bridge clubs in many of the towns and of course boules available everywhere.
3. Integrating and acceptability
In France you can become involved in the day-to-day life of a village or town and feel part of it but at the same time have friends of your own nationality. In most cases you only have to show willing to speak a little French for the local population to accept and assist you. If you want to totally immerse yourself into France then choose your areas carefully so that you find yourself with like-minded people with some common interests. For instance, if you are a born and bred townie then it may be that you wouldn’t have much to say in the local bar to the farmers who know only a simple rural life. Even though the idea of a less stressful lifestyle is appealing, you may still be looking for some entertaining conversation. In many other of the more popular destinations for the British to buy homes, you will find that the ex-pats seem to form a commune and mix only with each other, and in many cases can’t or don’t speak the native language.
4 Accessibility
France is obviously the closest of our European neighbours and access to the various areas of France has never been better. With the very regular ferries and trains as well as the brilliant road network in France, together with countless flights to every region in France, you know that you can always get there and even more important, that you can always get back within a few hours in an emergency. In addition friends and family can get to you easily and cheaply so that you never need feel cut off from them. In many cases you may find that you get to see more of your loved ones and be able to spend ‘quality time’ with them than when you were living just up the road and leading the busy hum drum lives that we all lead nowadays. You will also have the additional benefit in many areas of having access to another adjoining country such as Italy, Spain, Germany, Switzerland and Belgium plus it is an easy drive to Holland. You also have access to the tiny countries of Andorra, Luxembourg and the Principality of Monaco which makes life even more interesting.
5. Architecture and history
Properties in France come in all shapes and sizes and for those who are looking for something special offering character and original features of bygone years there is an abundant supply that cannot be bettered in any country. Chateaux, manoirs, maisons de maitre, maisons bourgeious, (check spelling) mill houses with original parts intact, windmills, railway cottages and even the occasional railway station house, winemakers cottages, farmhouses and various beautiful colombages and stone built cottages or larger houses with outbuildings and private estates are easily available all over France and are a delight to those who prefer not to live in a standard more recently built home. For those who prefer a new or more recent property it is often possible to find these built in the style of the older properties.
6. Prices and investment
The cost of properties in France in general is so much less than the equivalent property in the UK. The older style properties seem to cost less to buy than they would cost to build and may offer substantial benefits of land and outbuildings to those who would like them. At the other end of the scale, apartments in period blocks or small town houses in the towns an villages offer very reasonable accommodation situated in a position that will allow the owners to immediately become part of the neighbourhood. The lower cost of property allows people to buy a second home for their own pleasure whilst at the same time giving them an investment that will grow over the years giving them a capital gain that may become their nest egg in the future or provide a stepping stone to a larger property when they are ready to downsize or sell-up in the UK. By buying in France whilst owning a property in the UK they are spreading their risks and not putting all their eggs in one basket whatever the exchange rate. If they keep their second home in France for 16 years then no capital gains tax is payable in France. Lower prices also allow those who could not afford to buy in the UK to purchase something in France where mortgages are more easily available, subject to the normal conditions, so getting themselves on the property ladder. If they want to they can then rent this out to provide an income to help them save for a property in the UK or pay their mortgage etc.
7. Weather
Many of our clients have chosen to own properties in France because of the weather. Although if you live in the South of England then the weather in the North of France may not be very different, but as you move South the weather does change so that once you are past the Loire valley you can almost always expect sunny hot summers and at least be able to plan a barbecue for the week ahead! Weather is something that affects where people buy, some in search of snow, some for sunshine and heat, and some prefer a more temperate climate, once again France can offer it all. The fact that all areas of France enjoy Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter does appeal rather than having a climate which is continually hot. It adds to the variety of activities you can enjoy throughout the year and makes for more easy living if you are there permanently.
8. Education and health
Schooling in France is a reason that some of our clients have chosen to live there. They feel that the education offered may be superior to that offered in the State education system in the UK plus the possibility of being able to choose what school to send your children to without having to pay! Children up to the age of 11 or 12, ie before they go to senior school, seem to fair well by going straight into the French system where they will usually get some extra language help but should be speaking French fluently within very few months. Those that are slightly older may need extra French lessons prior to going to France and whilst there for a short time in order to reach their potential.
Healthcare in France also appears to be good, if you have a second home there for holidays then with the correct forms you will be entitled to treatment. If you live and work there or are over retirement age you will also be entitled to treatment, otherwise you will need medical insurance. Whichever way you go about it you can rely on the treatment being excellent and very caring.
9. Stable economy
During all the financial problems experienced in the UK over the past year it appears that France has weathered them better than us.; Their very strict regulations for borrowing money have kept the banks in a position where they can continue to lend to property purchasers. Historically the property market has been much more stable than the UK which has its highs and lows. The French prices seem to have increased very gradually over the last 20+ years which is a much healthier and reliable way to be. Although in the last boom we did see prices rise more dramatically, this has been leveled out during the past 12 months so that prices seem to be back on an even keel. Property has never been an investment for those who want to make a quick buck but French property is a reliable investment for those who have enough money for a deposit and who are prepared to hold their properties for several lyears. Those who thought they could make some quick profits found out it was not so easy when buying properties in the emerging markets as the bottom has since fallen out of the market,
10. Variability of areas
As illustrated by the above 9 points, France offers such variability of areas, landscape, architecture, activities, prices, weather so that there is something for everyone that would like to spend some time and own a property in France.
You should only be buying in France because you want to so be sure of your reasons before you embark on the search. Enjoy the process, the decisions, the search and the purchase. Use your common sense. Deal with agencies that you feel comfortable with or have been recommended to you who will help you deal with the process as they do in France: don’t expect it to be the same as the process in the UK.
Buying property is generally a good investment, but should you find that once you have your property you are not as happy with it as you thought, you can resell it and start again. You are more likely to make a profit rather than a loss which cannot be said for other large purchases such as cars that immediately lose value. The longer you own your property the more likely it is that you will make a good capital gain and the more likely it is that you will grow to love it so much that you don’t want to part with it!