Buying a home in your own country can be daunting enough but when it comes to purchasing in France things can really get tricky. Here are seven tips to help you navigate the French property market with ease, from people who've done it.
You should take look around in winter
As everyone knows France is a beautiful country and unsurprisingly that's particularly true in summer.
That's why it's essential to visit the area where you're thinking of buying, especially if it's in deep dark, France Profonde, in mid-winter to see what you'll be letting yourself in for during the other half of the year.
And it's not just a question of getting the full picture in terms of the climate but also consider it as an opportunity to see which shops, bars and restaurants stay open for the whole year, as well as how much of the area is taken up by holiday homes.
It might be good to know if you'll have any neighbours during the cold months.
You should speak to a solicitor first
Before you put your house in the UK in the market and book your tickets to the French countryside, first speak to a solicitor so they can advise you on the rules around foreigners buying property in France. It's a good way to avoid any nasty surprises down the road.
Don't be fooled by the low, low prices
Remember that if a price seems too good to be true, it probably is.
While it can often look like you're getting a lot for your money in France, keep in mind that running costs can be high, with taxes, upkeep and heating bills all likely to swallow up heaps of cash. Not to mention the cost of any work you need to be done on the property.
And remember there's no rule against asking the agent or owner what the cost of running the house is likely to be.
Be wary of taking on big renovation projects
Even small projects can cost an arm and a leg, so really think things through before you decide to buy the empty shell of your dreams, unless you have the time and money to make it into a proper home.
While there are certainly some positive stories about people renovating beautiful old houses in the French countryside and turning them into the perfect property, there are also many (many) horror stories.
It's important to consider whether you're likely to make your money back on the renovation if you sell the house and remember that selling could take longer, much longer than you'd like.
And with that in mind, it's important to make sure you have enough money to make the house liveable without going bankrupt.
Think about renting first?
If you're unsure about exactly where you'd like to live in France or what kind of house you'd like to buy, then why not rent first.
That will allow you to get an idea of the way of life there and investigate the transport, weather, different neighbourhoods and shops, without the financial risk. By easing in slowly, you'll have time to work out your priorities in advance of making a purchase.
Also, you might find that by becoming familiar with a town and the people living there first, you'll find out about properties that are available to buy which aren't being advertised by an estate agent.
Spread the net wide
Similarly, it's important to visit lots of houses that pique your interest and use those to work out exactly what you're looking for.
Use Google Maps and even Street View (if possible) to get the best impression of the properties you're interested in from all angles, especially if you're going to be spending time travelling over from the UK. That way, you can avoid wasting precious time on houses that were wrong from the beginning.
It's best to hunt around
Don't restrict yourself to the estate agents in the area as you can save a lot of money on fees by avoiding them.
For example, France's most popular classifieds site Le Bon Coin has property listings and it's also worth familiarising yourself with the town hall and local solicitors in case they have any tips about properties that are (or will soon be) available.
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Rennes in western France. Photo: Sokoljan/WikiCommons
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