Articles from property_sale_france

Another House In France

It is not without good reason that many people decide to buy another home in France, or decide to live there, or retire to France, on a permanent basis.  France, and specifically the south west of the country, offers every ingredient for a really great life: a good climate with mild winters and warm summers, friendly and hospitable people, superb food and attractive property prices.  South-west France also offers a huge diversity of French property - from historic chateaux, to villas and country cottages.

Whether you are looking for a French property with only one bedroom or five, there is a large availability of properties, both existing and off-plan, to suit your needs. You can choose between many types of French homes - apartments, townhouses, small cottages, gites, large villas and even historic chateaus in stunning countryside locations - with all sizes of plots.

You can have the convenience of living in the centre of a town by purchasing an apartment which is located close to all amenities, or opt for the privacy of a villa with a large plot of land in a quiet surrounding outside an urban area. You can even make your dream come true by becoming the owner of an historic chateau, a real French castle.

The cost of living in France, especially in the countryside areas, is usually lower than the cost of living in other European countries like the United Kingdom, Ireland or the Scandinavian countries. This lower cost of living combined with the attractive and affordable prices of French properties means France is a great country to call your second home. And, being part of the European Union, buying a home in France and relocating there for EU passport holders in particular, is not much different to relocating within the United Kingdom.  Actually, you'll find it's much more rewarding because it means starting a new life in a new country, experiencing a new culture and making new friends. And, most importantly, being able to buy the type of French property you've always wanted.

Obviously moving to another country also brings along other issues, such as the language. While many people in the larger towns would be able to speak at least some English, you could find that many others in the countryside, especially the elderly, don't. And if you don't speak any French, it might lead to some initial challenges.  But most of us speak at least 'schoolgirl' French.  It is easy to improve your French by participating in a French course, and interacting with the local population on a daily basis. You will soon conclude that the French are very open and helpful to outsiders, and it will not take too long for you to feel at home.

With the high price of property generally in the UK, and the reasonable prices of French property, particularly in the south-west, owning a second home in France is one of your dreams that can quite easily become reality. So be sure to grab the opportunity and take the first step to becoming a part-time of full-time resident of one of the most interesting countries in the world.

Seymour James operate a property sales website at property_sale_france . Although not currently active in this region, Seymour-James have useful articles about buying property in France.