France Best Five Property Country Page

France has long been a leading destination for overseas property buyers, particularly among British and Irish investors thanks to its close proximity, better weather, beautiful scenery and amazing diversity. From the vineyards of Bordeaux to the sun-drenched beaches of the Cote d’Azur, the mountains of Rhone Alpes or the rural beauty of Brittany, France has always attracted the second home buyer keen for a generous slice of La Belle Vie.

Although the French property market is by no means cheap, it does represent excellent value for money. Property prices in most cities, including Paris, are reasonable, and invariably increase steadily, rather than dramatically, making them good locations for investors seeking a second home or property with good rental potential. France’s strong economy, which is rarely beset by crises on any grand scale, coupled with its transparent property laws and well-developed real estate sector, make it a safe bet. Besides, with such excellent accessibility, wonderful food and wine and a smattering of ecstatic expats living in harmony up and down the country, France sells itself pretty well on its own.

Country Capital: Paris
Population: 10,102,000
Time: GMT +1
Dialing: 33
Currency: Euro (€)

Climate: The climate in France is extremely varied thanks to its size and location on the northwest shoulder of Europe. The northern and western coast has a similar climate to that of southern England, albeit with slightly higher temperatures and less rain year-round. The northeastern lowlands are mild throughout the year; the mountainous southeast endures snowy and cold winters while the southern coast has a typically Mediterranean climate of hot and dry summers and mild, damp winters.

Getting There: France is perhaps the most accessible country in Continental Europe, no matter where you are travelling from. Brits can take the Eurostar, numerous ferry crossings of a wide selection of low-cost airline routes, while Irish investors can enjoy ferries from Cork and low-cost flights from most of the main airports. Flights between southern England and Northern France are extremely cheap and easy to come by, due to increasing competition from the ferry companies and the Eurostar.

Special Features: France is, and has been for some time, the most visited country in the world, attracting over 70 million tourists in 2007. It is still illegal to name a pig ‘Napoleon’ in France.

Buying Property in France: Purchasing real estate in France is extremely straightforward, with a wealth of information available to buyers to ensure that the process runs as smoothly as possible. As a general rule, it is important to appoint independent legal advice to act on your behalf, as all property transactions in France are carried out by an independent notary who represents both the buyer and the seller, so employing somebody with a good understanding of French property law (and the language!) is the most important thing you can do when buying property in France.

So where to buy? The centre of Paris, St. Tropez, Provence and many of the ski resorts have astronomically high prices, yet on the whole property in France is of good quality and is well-priced. Some of the more up-and-coming regions for overseas investment include Normandy, which is tipped to benefit from the UK’s property slump thanks to its close proximity to England – it is feasible for people to purchase a four-bedroom property for as little as €200,000 in Normandy and still commute to the UK. The Limousin region, farther south, has proved popular with British buyers over recent years thanks to its great climate, good transport links and affordable property – the average spend has been €150,000, which is often enough for a detached three-bedroom property. Other regions worth investigating include Champagne, Languedoc-Roussillon and Lot and Quercy.

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