French Property

Property has been a great passion of the British for as long as most people can remember. Over the past few decades, it has also been a great investment (putting aside the occasional temporary downturn in the housing market). Perhaps only second to this has been the desire for a “place in the sun”. Increasingly, for many people, this has meant buying a French Property.

For many, the purchase of a French property is a dream come true. The lifestyle (not least the sun, food and wine) and the pace of life can offer great enjoyment. However, surveys have shown that this is true of only about half of those moving to France. For many others, the move to France does not work out, and they either leave France or they decide to use their property as a holiday home rather than a full-time residence.

There are a number of reasons for the dream not working out. One of the leading issues is employment. Finding a job in France is generally much harder than finding work in the UK. This is especially true if one isn’t fluent in French. Furthermore, while the cost of living in France (food, property, etc.) is generally lower than in the UK, for many professions, wages are also lower. Consequently, those who see the low prices in France and imagine how much further their salaries would go, should take care to first investigate if their salaries (both pre-tax and post-tax) in France would be the same.

Another leading issue is the language. Speaking French is important both for work and socially. Although it is possible to live in France without speaking French (particularly in areas such as Dorgogne which have a large English population), it is limiting. If you want to fit into the local community, it is important to speak some French. It is also important, even if you only know a few words, to use your French on a regular basis so that your language skills gradually improve. If you can at the same time take a language course, this is also useful, especially if one starts before moving to France.

A third reason that people change their mind about a permanent move to France is family and friends. As exciting as it can be to start a new life abroad, the separation from family can be very difficult for some people. While one will make new friends in France, leaving behind all one’s existing friends can also be hard, especially at first.

These are probably the three main reasons (employment, language, family and friends) that a move to France does not work out for everyone. Of course, there are a variety of other reasons that affect individuals: health problems, change in financial situation, divorce, and so on. However, if one can manage to ensure that the main three stumbling blocks are not a problem, then it is very likely that one’s move to France will be positive.

However, one wants more than to merely have a positive experience. The move to France should be a source of as much pleasure as possible. In this regard, the choice of a suitable French property is key. One needs to carefully consider what one is looking for:

• A place that is ready to move in, or a romantic ruin in need of renovation?
• The space and peace of a home in the country, or the excitement and facilities of living in town?
• A large, rambling French property, or a small and easily maintained apartment?
• An older character property or a comfortable and easily maintained modern house?

It is true that the choice of the type of home will largely determine one’s lifestyle. Furthermore, not everyone in the family will necessarily have the same interests, so it may be necessary to compromise. A good family discussion on the pros and cons of the various approaches is a good start. One can then start looking for a suitable property; there are many good internet sites that will allow one to examine a good selection online, from the comfort of your home. This is a useful step in terms of developing an idea of what is available and at what price, in the different areas of France. Then, when one starts visiting estate agents and going to see various properties in France, one is already well-informed in advance.