You
may find a house in France easily enough and
there are no restrictions for foreigners buying
property. The best way to find properties in
France is to check the local classifieds and
newspapers and English language publications
like French Property News and Living France.
Generally land in the south of France is more
expensive than in the north. Also since you
don’t need a have a licence to sell property,
most of the property in France is sold privately
and you may have to drive around till you find
a property for sale, advertised with a ‘for
sale’ sign (A VENDRE). To finance your
new property, you may take a loan in the form
of a bank mortgage from any of the local or
international banking chains in the country.
It’s always a good idea to retain the
services of a good lawyer who can advise you
on the different ways of owning a French property,
your mortgage options and the inheritance and
tax rules in France. Mortagge banks with service
in English are; Abbey National, Barclays, Banque
Woolich or Banque Populaire though most French
banks have a dedicated service for their English
speaking clients.
Before sanctioning a loan the lender will require
statements of your financial situation and you
need to have the following documents available
at the time of application for the mortgage:
passport, birth certificate, last three months'
credit card and personal bank statements, and
proof of deposit. The mortgage period in France
is shorter than most European countries and
is around 10-15 years. Also when you take out
a French Mortgage you are required to take out
a life insurance policy as well. The interest
rates are fixed and the entire mortgage systems
is standardised all over the country with rates
at 3.90 to 3.98% and a 10-day period is given
for you to evaluate the decision before committing
to it.
Other Useful Information
Airports
The most popular airports in the south are Saintes, Limoges, Angoulame, Periguex, Grenoble, Bordeaux, Nice, Cannes and Marseille, with Nice and Marseille making themselves 2nd and 3rd largest airports respectively in terms of traffic density. The domestic flight market is dominated by Air France, of late with many private and foreign airlines entering the market; the domestic air travel has become cheaper.
Apartments
Renting a house in France is a good idea if you plan on living there for more than a few months as staying in a hotel will surely cost you a bundle. Apartments in France are easily available but finding one can be tough if you don’t speak French. The south of France has some excellent apartments in the Corte d’Azur region and Provence with place like Menton in the East, Nice, Cannes and along to St Tropez.
Hotels
Hostels in France are an excellent alternative to expensive hotels. They are becoming more popular with tourists as accommodation is tough to find during the summer and festival season. These hostels have evolved into reasonably priced comfortable accommodation sometimes even better than some luxurious hotels.
Property
Buying property in France is a good investment if you plan on renting it out. If you plan on purchasing property in the country, then mortgages are a good way to finance it. The rate of real-estate in the country varies with the region and as a general rule; the south of France has more expensive property than that in the north.
Travel
France has rich history and cultural heritage, drawing in an estimated 70 million tourists a year and it ranks as the number one tourist destination. The best time to visit France is during spring as you can enjoy its beautiful beaches and Mediterranean climate through longer days than in winter.
Villas
France has some excellent local accommodation in the form of villas and apartments. Villas owned by families are often rented out at reasonable rates all over the country. The north of France has a number of picturesque villas for rent in the Normandy, Paris, Champagne and Lorraine. The Corte d’Azur and Provence regions have excellent villas and townhouses.
