French Property of the Week

4-bedroom bungalow near Langon, Gironde (SW France)

Near Langon, pretty single storey house with 4 bedrooms, lounge with chimney, equipped kitchen, cellar, large veranda. Separate garage. Wooded enclosed grounds of 1550 sq metres

Price: €189,000

Best Value Region of the Week:  Limousin Property
Reduced Prices: 589 reduced prices on French Property

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Champagne-Ardennes - what crisis

One of the loveliest areas of France in Autumn is the Champagne-Ardennes just as grapes are to be harvested. However, this year the financial crisis is having a great effect. The champagne houses are warning of huge cuts in this year's grape harvest as they battle with the impact of the financial crisis on consumers of luxury goods in Britain and the US.

Figures published show that exports of champagne fell significantly in the first six months of 2009, sending panic through an industry reliant on its international market. Exports were down 45% in value and 41% in volume on the same period last year.

While the crisis remains, there will be huge property bargains around - property from 20,000 euros. For example, here is a property to renovate within this budget!

Small terraced house. Stone building from the end of 19th century. Structure in good condition (walls, timber and roof). The inside is entirely to renovate.
Details: Small terraced house to renovate, with courtyard and garden
One of 5000 French Properties for sale at 1st for French Property.

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Is 2009 The Year of Real Estate Bargains? Posted By : Ki Gray

This article looks at the current real estate market and prices. http://bit.ly/S6IdI

Introduction to French Regions

Not sure where you want to buy in France? Then the French Videos will help you get the flavour of each area...

Videos By Regions:
Alsace Region
Aquitaine Region
Auvergne Region
Brittany Region
Burgundy Region
Centre Region
Champagne-Ardenne Region
Franche-Comte Region
Ile-de-France Region
Languedoc-Roussillon Region
Limousin Region
Lorraine Region
Lower Normandy Region
Midi-Pyrenees Region
Nord Pas-de-Calais Region
Picardy Region
Poitou-Charentes Region
Provence (PACA) Region
Rhone-Alpes Region
Upper Normandy Region
Western Loire Region

We also have more detail about each region- including Properties, Tourism, Vacation Rentals, Weather,Books, Maps, and What's On .....
Alsace region
Aquitaine region
Auvergne region
Brittany region
Burgundy region
Centre region
Champagne-Ardenne region
Franche-Comte region
Ile-de-France region
Languedoc-Roussillon region
Limousin region
Lorraine region
Lower Normandy region
Midi-Pyrenees region
Nord Pas-de-Calais region
Picardy region
Poitou-Charentes region
Provence region
Rhone-Alpes region
Upper Normandy region
Western Loire region

Demand improving in areas of France?

It has been a tough time in the Dordogne in the Aquitaine region of France and surrounding areas for the past 12 months - prices have falled back but now the Brits are appreciating the competitive prices and are returning to the area as buyers

Georgina Caldwell of French Property News says "most estate agents in the area are reporting a reversal of fortunes after a tough 12 months and points out that official figures by FNAIM, the French federation of estate agents, show further evidence of stability."

'I spoke to an agent in the Tarn-et-Garonne department a few days ago who said he'd sold a house every week for the past four months,' says Caldwell. 'The outlook in the market is positive.'

The Dordogne and surrounding departments has been a firm favourite for the Brits - lovely warm and sunny summers in rolling landscapes with the river Dordogne dominating the area. With good access to the coast - Arcachon and the massive dunes - there is plenty to enjoy.

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Burgundy Region Video

We have been busy again - a new video featuring the Burgundy region of France. This time of year is a great time to visit Burgundy - the vineyards will be flourishing with much activity, weather will be sunny and warm, and the food & wine superb!

If you looking for a Burgundy property on your visit - please check out our selection including the Morvan National Park.

We have videos for each region of France: France Videos

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Skiing in France this winter?

Thinking about skiing in France this winter. Came across this new site: Leisure Direction is a self drive holiday specialist with accommodation in the French Alps and Pyrenees. They offer a selection of cross channel options including the Eurotunnel and a variety of ferry routes.

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More encouraging signs coming out of France

More encouraging signs on the French Economy .....

France's headline unemployment rose by a relatively mild 10,700 in July after falling for the first time in a year the previous month as the intensity of job cuts appeared to slow compared with earlier in the year.

Also, plans for a national loan to rebuild and redesign French industry were outlined yesterday by President Sarkozy of France.

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Pyrenees-Orientales - our favourite department in France

Perhaps I am biased after owning a house in this delightful area of France. Situated on the Med Coast adjacent to the Spanish border, Pyrenees-Orientales offers a great diversity - from landscapes to culture.

We bought on the outskirts of Perpignan - so easy access to the sandy beaches and within 1 hr of the ski slopes. In April, we had a bizarre experience of walking in the snow on the ski slopes, and then later in the day sunning ourselves on the sandy beaches.

If you are visiting the area - as well as the beaches and fabulous walks in the Pyrenees with breath-taking views - be sure to check out Collioure, Perpignan, Sorede and Villefranche (and the yellow train).

Pyrenees-Orientales Property prices are expensive on the coast - although marina apartments are reasonable - but inland village property are competitively priced. Currently we have property from 40,000 euros.

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Video Guides to the French Regions

We hope you enjoy our selection of French Tourist videos to help you acquaint yourself with France and her many & varied regions. Travel from North to South, along the Med Coast, up the Atlantic coast and down the Loire valley into the Central area.

From Burgundy to Languedoc-Roussillon, we can give you a flavour of a Region - helping you to narrow your choice of French location.

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Can you recognise a fake?

The BBC website reports:

"Holidaymakers could be fined thousands of pounds - or even jailed - for buying fake designer goods when abroad, copyright lawyers are warning.

Authorities in France and Italy are not just targeting those who produce and sell fakes but also those who buy them.

In France, the maximum fine is 300,000 euro (£260,000) or three years in jail"

Hope you can spot the fakes! French Legal Advice system might have their hands full with this one.

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Where in Provence?

Yes - Provence is chic and great but tell me more about the living in this region and the Provence lifestyle. Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur is made up of Var, Vaucluse, Bouches-du-Rhone and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Alpes-Maritimes. A much varied landscape offering something for everybody and as a little bonus this year Taxes (TVA) for cafés and restaurants in France were lowered at the beginning of this summer (2009) from 19.6% to 5.5%.

So in today's post, let's introduce Var. As the gateway to the Cote d’Azur and the Verdon Gorges, the Var offers various landscapes, its sunny Mediterranean climate provides residents with an exceptional quality of life. Boasts of 300 km of shoreline on the Mediterranean Sea. Beautiful sandy beaches, wild cliffs plunging straight into the sea, protected islands like Porquerolles, well known beach resorts such as St Tropez, St Raphael, Ste Maxime, and  Bormes les Mimosas.

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Barns back in vogue? Great value in France

Remember the days in the UK when people were buying barns for renovation at grossly inflated values? Perhaps the Barn renovation business will get a shot in the arm with French Barns - typically less than 50K euros in France.

Here is an example:

Huge French barn with around 3 acres of land. There is no planning permission but if you are looking for a place to store things or a quiet workshop this could be for you. Located in the Poitou Charentes (Western France). >> Brigueuil Barn details

Price: a mere 35K euros.

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RBS targets 86p/Euro

RBS this morning suggests a short term target of 86p to 1 euro. This as a result of the UK's huge and widening trade deficit.

Of course, for Brits wanting to buy a property in France they should be looking to fix their exchange rate by forward buying - details about French Currency exchange here. You can save pounds with this strategy.

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Two favourites in France - where to buy in France?

What are two of the most popular regions in France for the Brits?

Well the Dordogne Valley in Aquitaine is often top of the destinations for British buyers. Aquitaine property has come off its highs in recent months, and there are some good bargains around. This green and pleasant valley is full of Brits but many villages are still not overrun and you get the authentic French flavour.

Further south is the chic region of Provence (or more strictly Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur). The land of the rich and famous - certainly along the riviera. But venture inland to find real Provence and fabulous lifestyle - read our Provence blog to sample life here. Inland Provence property prices fall dramatically so our advice is to head inland. Read our Provence Guide to learn more about the various areas of Provence.

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French Property Prices Holding Steady

Property prices in France are stable at present, a mortgage provider has stated. John Busby, Director of French property firm Athena Mortgages, remarked that a mixture of price rises and regional variations is giving “overall stability to the French market.”

However, there have been marked regional variations, such as a 1.6% rise in Brittany but a 14% drop in Normandy over the past year.

Although some news from Ryanair has been disappointing, the setting up of a new base by Ryanair at Leeds Bradford International Airport will see new routes opening up to Carcassonne (Languedoc-Roussillon Property), Limoges (Limousin Property), Montpellier (Languedoc-Roussillon) and Nantes (Western Loire), making these areas more accessible for buy to let property investors, Montpellier and Nantes (Western Loire or Pays de la Loire), in France.

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Recession in France Ends

Today - August 13 2009 - France is officially out of recession with some positive growth. Germany has also come out of recession. So signs are looking good for Europe.

Of course, the property market in France will be encouraged too - although it has weathered the storm well in general and property prices have not drifted low as in many European countries. As always, there are bargains where you can still negotiate substantial discounts.

In the short term, we can expect to start seeing some price increases in the French property market, so if you intend to buy this year - get your skates on.

French Property Market
Where to look? Brittany Property has always been a favourite destination for the Brits so recovery could start quickly here. Limousin property has always been very attractive in terms of prices and there is a good supply of property in the 50K to 1ooK euros budget. Perhaps our main recommendation would be the Poitou Charentes property - great micro-climate and very attractive pricing in the East of the region.