Why buying a house in the major towns and cities of France may be a good investment solution to the current difficult financial climate
When times are tough the safest French property purchases are probably in locations where there is a high demand for properties, all year round. Apart from the exclusive or unique positions such as seafront or ski-in, ski-out properties, the most concentrated areas of demand are in the major towns and cities where demand for housing from the local population is high due to the availability of work as well as accessibility to shops, restaurants, entertainment and all health and educational facilities.
French Investment: Town Properties
If you are buying as an investment, once again I mention the estate’s agents’ best advice – the 3 most important points when buying a property are position, position and position. And the best positions in a major town or city will always be in demand so that they make for a secure investment with great potential for a good capital gain over a period of time.
When buying from the UK you may be looking to purchase something that you can rent out all the time as a pure investment, or perhaps something that you can use occasionally and rent out for the rest of the time. If the latter is your plan then there are several cities that would be ideal because not only have they a high demand for rental properties but they also offer activities and interest within the city as well as the surrounding areas.
French Property Investment: Regional Spotlights
Bordeaux
Bordeaux has many attractive features for a French property investment: travel is easy with direct flights from several locations in the UK plus the airport at Bergerac is not too far away, and TGV as well as the attraction of being just a day’s drive from the UK. It is a great city plus it has the added attraction that it is set in the Bordeaux wine region, surrounded by vineyards of several appellations and the lovely towns and villages including St Emilion and Pauillac.
Bordeaux also has the added bonus of being close to the sea and the Gironde river making it an ideal location for those that love wine, the countryside and the sea and are looking for a place to spend their holidays. It is a university town and an apartment could easily be let during term time and then be free to use during the holidays. Alternatively you could keep your Bordeaux townhouse for your own use as there are reasons to visit and enjoy the area at all times of year. Alternatively, you could just let your home to friends and family or to those looking for French holiday accommodation for a week or two when you are not using it.
There has been a great deal of investment into the town of Bordeaux in the past few years including a new tram system making it even more attractive as prices have not risen too high as yet giving greater potential for capital gain.
Languedoc Roussillon: Montpellier
Montpellier in Languedoc Roussillon is also a town that has been renewed and a large new area is continually growing as the demand for living accommodation grows due to some major multi-national companies setting up there. The population in the Languedoc region generally is growing so that prices will be moving upwards with the increased demand.
Montpellier is just a few minutes from the sandy Languedoc beaches and the wilder Camargue andonce again it is surrounded by vineyards of various appellations and although the wine of the area does not have the same cachet as Brodeaux, it is becoming increasingly popular and the vineyards make for some interesting days out.
Montpellier airport is accessible from the UK by air, and Nimes airport is around 30 minutes away. Montpellier is less than 3 hours drive from Cannes and the Cote d’Azur and just over an hour to Vaucluse and Aix en Provence and Marseille.
Marseille
Marseille is another city that deserves some interest and another town where there has been a great deal of investment to improve the city and its facilities. The beautiful old port, the sophisticated shopping areas and its proximity to the sea, including the famous beach at Cassis make Marseille a most sought after city. Being within easy reach of Aix en Provence, Avignon and lovely bastide villages of the Luberon, the vineyards of Provence and short ferry journey to the Ile de Porquerolles from the near by town of Hyeres, Marseille offers the opportunity of city life yet by the sea with some of the most dramatic rural scenery inland.
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Town Houses for Sale in France | Buying Houses in France |
