SERIOUS BRITS BRAVE SNOW FOR FRANCE SHOW
The first UK property show of the year drew determined buyers at the weekend, despite poor weather conditions.
Travel and property exhibitors at The France Show at Earl’s Court, London, reported a busy show on Saturday 9 January despite the total number of visitors expected to be around half of last year’s figure.
“Generally the quality of buyers was better than at other shows and a lot of people were going on visits in January and February,” said Chris Bishop, managing director of agent Latitudes.

December is the perfect time to search for a house in France – although in many parts of France you will be enjoying clear blue skies and sunshine, albeit with colder temperatures – you will be seeing it at its worst – bare trees, possibly bad weather, dark nights etc so what better time to choose where you would like to buy than now.  You will see any bad points and be able to make a much clearer decision.    Owners of properties are notoriously more negotiable just before Christmas as everyone would like to start a new year without worrying about anything and being able to get on with their lives in the way they would like to.    Flights are cheap at present and hotels too so why not make that trip that you have been promising to do all year and  visit some properties to get an idea of what you can find for your money as well as leaving time to enjoy some wonderful meals, often close to a lovely open fire.  You will also find that the agents have time to show you around the area as well as the houses during this quieter period – so dont leave it until everyone else is booking to go – give yourself an early Christmas present of a few days off and maybe pick up a bargain too.

We have just come back from a great day in Italy which took us only an hour from Juan les Pins.   We arrived around 10am -  had coffee and pastries and then wandered around the market buying shirts and scarves etc.  We followed that with a great lunch of pasta and freshly made zabaione washed down with white wine. We ambled around the shops with friends finishing with tea a cake before  heading home – a grat day – and there are many more different ways to spend the day – head towards the Var and the Gorges de Verdun for some walks, visit Marseille and Aix en Provence and very shortly the ski resorts will be under 90 minutes away and well worth visiting as we can already sea the snow on top of the mountains as we sunbathe on the beach .   Corsica and the Porquerolles are just a ferry ride away  and if you really dont wan t to go far there are museums, exhibtions and cinemas within 15 minutes if the weather should let you down – which it hasnt yet!   Golf courses and tennis courts abound so no wonder we never get around to doing all the things we intend to do.     Prices are more reasonable than they were – the Euro is slowly improving again and this is always the time of year to be able to negotiate the price down the best – so what are you waiting for!

Although the exchange rate in the last few weeks has not been great for sterling, if you are looking to buy in France it is an extremely good time to buy.  Sterling is now slightly improving and over the minimum of 3 months that it will take you to look and find and complete on a purchase in France, it is more than likely that the exchange rate will have its ups and downs so that if you keep a careful watch on it you will be able to purchase your currency at the best rate during that time.   Currency companies offer a service so that you can ask them to keep you informed of the exchange rate and will advise as to when they think the rate is best, using their professional knowledge of the markets.   You can also buy forward, ie fix an exchange rate so that you know exactly now much you will have at some future date – it is really worth having a discussiong with us or direct to a currency company to know your options at this time as prices are still lower than last year in France and particularly at this time of year, coming up to Christmas, we always find vendors a little more negotiable on their properties as many of them would really like to sell before the New Year so that they can then get on with their lives.    As the market doesnt really pick up to any great extent until March, vendors at present are not that hopeful of selling quickly so that they often accept offers that they wouldnt have accepted earlier in the year rather than wait perhaps six months for a better market – so take the opportunity of going to have a look – flights and hotels are cheaper and at the very least you will have a lovely few days enjoying the area, the food and the better weather.

The French property show last week was well attended and we at Latitudes found that people were really fed up of waiting to see what happens and had decided that they were ready to take things further and go and look in France to see what they can find for their budget – even if, in some cases they had reduced it.   Prices are bound to rise from here on in with France being least affected by recession and mortgages continuing to be available.   The exhibition provides potential buyers with all the information they need regarding how to buy, where to buy, the legal system, the French market, how to get work done etc – all the facts are provided by the many stand holders so that it makes a worthwhile visit.  For those who missed it, there will be another one coming up at Earls Court in January so hope to see you there to help and advise you.    However if you are not able to attend please dont hesitate to give us a call and we will be happy to give you all the information you require and do some research for you to find the ideal property if we dont already have some suitable properties to send to you.   Our service is free as we work in association with French agencies and share the standard commission which is included in the listed price, so that you pay exactly the same as you will do if you go direct to an agency in France.

With the turn around imminent in the property market why not beat the crowds and the price increases and come to The French Property Exhibition at Olympia on 11th, 12th and 13th September and see what is on offer.   Latitudes will have a selection of their properties on view and be able to offer their expertise as well as the invaluable knowledge of their local agents who will be on their stand with them.

Price reductions in many areas of France mean that prices remain attractive even with the bad currency exchange rate. Admittedly as an estate agent selling French property to British people it is hard to find reasons why now is a good time to buy in France – but some of the reductions on properties in France are taking prices below what they would be even if the exchange rate was 1.45 Euros to the £1. We have a beautiful property in the Tarn et Garonne which has just been reduced from 475,000 Euros to to 355,000 Euros which is almost 30% down on the price – which makes the property cheaper than it would have been a year ago.

Many people believe that the Euro might never go back to 1.45 Euros to the £1 and that around 1.30 might be the most likely rate – so you really are winning if you buy at present.

In the Gers we have a property which over the last two years has dropped from 720,000€ to 420,000€ – a drop of more than 40% – admittedly it may have been overpriced or priced over –hopefully at the beginning – but if owners are now becoming more realistic this really is the time to go and see what you can get for your money.

Just a reminder that some developers are offering reductions on new properties until the end of November – you have approximately 6 weeks to get there and choose a property on which you will get up to 15,000 € reduction.  Some of the apartments are almost ready to move into.  With mortgages costing less than in the UK, why not take a mortgage on the property so that you dont need to worry about exchange rates until they get better – and then you can pay off the loan.   The possibility is that you could be sitting on a capital gain in 2 – 3 years rather than waiting to buy in a rising market.  With the market being quieter at present the building of new developments has reduced which will lead to a shortage in a couple of years, making prices rise as demand is higher than supply.   It is a lovely time of year to visit the Cote d’Azur, the sun is still shining, so why not enjoy a few days there – lunch in the open air, dinner by the fire, and take a look at some of these well priced properties.  Give us a call for further information and we will send you the details.

Property prices in France have always been more stable than the UK, whether going up or coming down.  It has taken a while for the world’s financial problems to filter through to the typical French vendors of character properties, but it appears they are beginning to realise that if they need to sell their property they are going to have to reduce their price and be a little more negotiable.    We have had many price reductions this week of between 10 and 20%.  So, good news!  Sterling is becoming a little stronger, petrol prices down, Sarkozy is confirming that he will provide money so that no French bank will ever fail – what’s stopping you – now is the time to get over to France on-a-cheaper-than-normal flight, stay in a hotel offering lower-than-normal-rates and go out with our agents to see some of the most beautiful properties at the best prices we have seen for a long time – and then we will try to negotiate further for you.  French banks are still lending if you have a reasonable deposit nad at lower rates than the UK, sometimes at lower rates than you will get on deposit here,  and in many parts of France the sun is still shining – so, don’t hold back, go and find your dream property, put your money in the safest of places – bricks and mortar – and enjoy your property whilst you watch it increase in value over the coming years whilst providing you and perhaps your family and friends, with excellent holidays and a great deal of fun.   If you dont want to use it as yet or can only use it occasionally, you can rent it out profitably as presently there is high demand for rentals.  Everytime there is a financial situation there are always winners and losers – WHY NOT BE A WINNER THIS TIME!

If you have been waiting for prices to reduce so that you can find a ‘bargain’ then wait no longer.  We have just received a reduction on a charming South facing  property which is just 8 kms from Mont St Michel  with adjoining outbuilding to convert, set in over an acre and a half of land with leafy garden & well.  This  17th Century (no it hasnt been on the market that long!) two storey property renovated comprises: Ground floor: living room with fireplace, kitchen area with wooden stove, utility room, study, laundry room, wc. 1st floor: 3 bedrooms, shower room.  The property came onto the market a year ago, possibly overpriced at that time, and then over the year has been reduced from 294,000 Euros down to it’s present price of 105,000 Euros, possibly due to a desperate vendor.  If this could interest you, then I suggest you jump on a plane, train or ferry and get there to see it before it is snapped up.