Useful Information
House Hunting Advice
Decide on your budget as we all know it has a tendency to wander. If you are planning to buy an older property, have you set some money aside for renovation or maintenance work? Enquire about a mortgage, see the links section should you require assistance with a French Mortgage. Not all English Banks will lend on a foreign property. Know where you stand financially in advance.
What type of property are you looking for?
House, Flat, property to renovate, piece of land, investment property.
Where would you prefer to be located?
In a town, in a village, close to a town or village, rural/remote location. You may have found a beautiful area to live in, but have you visited it during the summer when it is likely to be at its busiest and you struggle to find a parking space or during the winter and found it to be completely deserted with few if any shops open.
What accommodation are you looking for?
Size does matter. As in UK, the larger the property, measured in square metres, the more you will be taxed. When viewing a property, it is important to ask how much the ‘Taxe Fonciere’ and the ‘Taxe d’habitation’ are. This will also enable you to realistically calculate your living costs.
Consider carefully your personal circumstances.
If you are retiring to France, will this be the house you intend to ‘grow old’ in? If so, consider whether you need a large house, with numerous bedrooms - think of the on-going maintenance of the house and that huge garden. Is it practical to have a house with more than one floor? Is peace and quiet really what you want, or do you think you may feel too isolated? Is your doctor close enough for a call out should you need one? These may seem harsh questions to ask yourself when you are considering the move of your dreams, but you have to be realistic - old age comes to us all and the more prepared we are, the easier it will be.
Are you planning to work in France?
Have you researched the job prospects in this area in advance? Is there a particularly high level of unemployment here? Can you communicate at a business level in French or do you think you can get by on the French you learnt at school? Why not start learning or improving your level now. Have you considered on-going tuition when you get to France? Do you have the necessary contacts to help you either find a suitable job or start your own business? Although France is part of Europe, it has its own rules governing employment - do not assume UK rules apply. If your income is uncertain to begin with, have you considered renting initially until you find your feet and know what your income/expenditure is likely to be.
Are you moving to France with Children?
Have you looked into the school situation? You have seen the house of your dreams, but how far is it from the School? Remember that unless there is a private school in a larger town close to where you would like to live, your children will have to go to the rural school in your commune. If your children currently have outside interests such as horse riding or ballet, can they continue them in the area you have chosen in France? Rural living may be the life you crave after your stressful existence in UK, but is it really the best thing for your children?
If you are searching for a property yourself.
There are an enormous number of French Estate Agents (Agent Immobiliers) whose agencies have an internet site, however the following advice, although perhaps not true in all cases, may be useful to know: A picture does not always paint a 1000 words and along with the basic property description supplied, the photos, if any, are often of little use. In our experience, an emailed request for additional photos is usually ignored on the grounds that what you see is what they have.
There is no easy way to find out if the property is still available. You could email a message in your best French and they may reply, but it will not be instantly, so be patient. The other option is to phone the agency and hope that there is someone there who speaks English. The agencies in the more rural parts of France are beginning to understand the importance of an English speaking agent, but fluency levels vary enormously.
This is a move for life, be flexible, be prepared, but above all else, be realistic!