In my many years of doing this job, I have viewed thousands of properties so I thought it might be helpful to draw up a 10-point list of the major factors I make sure to consider when I view a house for a client: 1. Location (of course) Consider factors such as proximity to amenities, schools, and healthcare facilities and an international airport or train station if you are likely to be travelling abroad often or receiving overseas visitors. Can you walk or cycle in the immediate vicinity of the house and, for example to a school, to a village shop, a bakery, a café, a pharmacy? How far is a ..read more

In the latest ‘Ville de Reve’ (dream town) survey of the almost 40,000 towns and communes across France, the small town of Bagnères de Luchon, here in the foothills of the Pyrenees, came 10th (out of 34,900 towns surveyed). Pretty impressive for a town of just 2,220 inhabitants. This is, of course, great news for the town but I think it is also indicative of the generally high quality of life that exists in this region (probably not always appreciated by the locals but definitely appreciated by those of us not born and bred locally!) Bagnères de Luchon is an ancient, elegant spa town and ski ..read more

  If you have always wanted a holiday home in France but need to make sure that you can justify the running costs and maintenance, it might worth be considering renting it out for holiday lets when not using it yourself. This means ensuring that you choose a property that works both for you and for holiday accommodation. There are plenty of benefits of renting out your holiday home: Demand is strong for self-catering holiday accommodation all over France from the French as well as foreign tourists and, more importantly demand is growing in both markets. France gets more tourists than any ..read more

January can be a tough time of year as the winter chill sets in and the holiday festivities wind down, but it is also a time of new beginnings, fresh starts and the perfect time to think big and long-term, a time to set the stage for positive changes. For anyone looking to make the dream of owning a property in France a reality, January can offer the perfect opportunity. Planning a property purchase now means that all the motivation and optimism that come with the beginning of a new year can be channelled into actual steps towards realising this dream. In addition, an effective property searc ..read more

While the Autumn colours and blue sky days are still in full swing here in the foothills, snow has arrived up in the mountains of the Pyrenees and thoughts are turning to skiing, winter sports, log fires, warming cassoulets and vin chaud. In terms of property search enquiries, the focus is now on ski properties either in small mountain villages or in the bigger towns in the valleys with easy access to various ski resorts and facilities such as cafés, restaurants, and spa facilities all within walking distance. While the Alps have become overpriced both for property and for skiing, here in the ..read more

Location: consider the orientation of the house, the proximity to amenities, the access to the things you are most interested in doing (nice restaurants, good walking, cycling, local markets, community, skiing etc). They are your ‘whys’ of buying a house in France in the first place. Budget: determine your budget and look for houses within that price range. Don’t assume that you can negotiate a much better price especially here in France where French sellers usually expect to get asking price or as near as and are often not in a rush and happy to wait until they do. If you need a mortgage, u ..read more

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As the temperatures steadily rise at this time of year, the French head to the water; either to the seaside, or to one of the many inland lakes dotted around France. Here in the Ariège, we are lucky to be able to choose either the Atlantic coast or the Mediterranean for a day trip or short break but closer (and more appealing in summer when the coasts are packed) are the beautiful mountain lakes and the crystal-clear rivers and streams high in the Pyrénées. These run directly from their mountain springs, starting as trickles which turn to streams and gradually increase in size as they make t ..read more

As in many countries around the world, French mortgage rates are starting to rise. During 2022, mortgage interest rates rose from the 50-year low of 1.05% in December 2021 to 2.5% in December 2022. Currently it is still possible to find a mortgage offer at 2.95% fixed rate over 20 years but there is talk of another rise in the Euribor possibly reaching 3.849% by December 2023 according to the ECB. However, despite the rises this year, mortgages are still good value in France compared to many places and, because the majority of house buyers take out a fixed rate for the term of the mortgage, t ..read more

The Haute-Garonne and Ariège regions in southwest France are known for their breathtaking landscapes and unspoiled natural environment and have always attracted new arrivals looking for a better quality of life. However, in recent years, the region has also become a popular destination for an even rarer visitor looking to set up home here; storks (cigognes in French). The storks that have arrived in the Occitanie in recent years are mainly white storks, which are known for their distinctive white plumage and black wing feathers. These birds are migratory and travel to Europe from Africa duri ..read more