With
the cost of flights becoming cheaper, you can
purchase property in France and afford to maintain
it while living and earning in your own country.
You can find available property in the classifieds
and in French newspapers, some real-estate agents
may also have listings in your area. You must
also decide what you plan on using your new
property for. If you plan on renting it out,
then you will have to buy property in one of
the popular tourist locations, and this may
cost a lot more than say a house in the small
villages in the north of France. Also you can
factor in the added income from the rent of
your house towards paying for its purchase,
although the bank will not consider this when
you apply for a mortgage. If you plan on building
a new home or renovating an old one you will
have to fill out detailed applications seeking
permission from the mairie. You will also have
to hire a local contractor to do your work.
The south of France has excellent built-up houses
and villas for sale, popular tourist locations
here are the French Riviera and the Cote D’Azur
and Provence regions. In the north the most
popular locations are Normandy and Brittany.
Both regions offer competitive housing rates
and excellent location and climate. Before endeavouring
to purchase a property you should retain the
services of a good lawyer, who is familiar with
the land laws and can advise you on all aspects
of the sale agreement.
Other Useful Information
Airports
France has approx 10 international airports linking the outside world to France. The 45 domestic airports link all the major and urbane cities in the country making the travel between places easier. Air France dominates the domestic airline, but with the arrival of private / foreign airlines, domestic air travel has become inexpensive alternative to all kinds of travellers.
Apartments
Apartments in France are easily available but finding one can be tough if you don’t speak French. While looking for an apartment you will have to go through several classifieds and local newspapers, which advertise the apartments available for rent. Most apartments come fully furnished but you should make sure that the basic amenities like water, gas and electricity are provided. Landlords normally expect a 2-month advance in the rent when you sign the rental agreement.
Hotels
Hotels in France offer the visitors a wide variety in terms of accommodation and at reasonable rates. They are rated on star rating system from 0 to 4 stars with each level representing hotels with different services and rooms on offer. The size of accommodation is given much more importance than level and quality of service. A novel ideal is to look around for good hotel checking out the accommodation size, quality and level of service.
Mortgages
Once you have decided on the type of property you want to buy and determining if you have sufficient funds for the same, you may take a mortgage from several national and international institutions. To apply for a mortgage full proof of identity, income, bank statements, loans payments etc. are required. All lending institutions are required by law to ensure that the mortgage applicant is financially able to meet the repayments.
Travel
France lies in the center of Europe and so has both; Atlantic and Mediterranean regions. Bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Spain, it exhibits a diversity of climate as you travel the region. The northern region has more historical monuments and old tows than the south which is known for its beautiful sandy beaches and Mediterranean climate.
Villas
France has some excellent local accommodation in the form of villas and apartments. Most of the villas come fully furnished and there are proper rental agreements to be filled out by the tenant. While renting a villa here you should make sure that basic utilities like water, electricity and gas are provided for. Villas are excellent for large families rather than paying for several rooms in a hotel.
