We would like to go and live in France and have been doing lots of research at the moment about their property prices. I came across this graph:
http://orgues.club.fr/PrixImmobilier.pdf
What does anyone think will happen next!!!????
Needless to say, we won't be moving there until the future is more certain!
Full Version: France - Rough Times Ahead!
True, quite a few regions of France have seen and will see prices stabilising, some dropping.
The Languedoc and notably the Herault should be an exception.
With the population of the Herault increasing by 1000 heads of population each month, and this set (according to Insee) to continue for the foreseeable future, land and property prices are unlikely to drop. This river of migrants is French. Better communications, airports, TGV etc, good climate have made this an attractive region for French retired, unemployed etc (why sit in the wet and windy North with little money when you can do the same in the sunny Mediterranean Herault?).
The TGV and better air service means that families can settle here, the husband commuting up to his Paris apartment for the week, coming home at the weekends, and others, with the spread of broadband, can work from home.
In English see Renover Louer for some details of state reaction to this.
In French RenoverpourLouer.com
The state is also looking to build more low cost housing in the Herault
New build starts are at record levels in this department, but because this is essentially a 'green' area there are huge bottlenecks and problems in finding more tracts of constructable land in the department.
Paris, I'd group in with the other major European capitals as a risk investment..
We cover quite a large area of France, but for best security of investment I would look no further than the Herault.
Best regards,
Rob Thorne of ***************
The Languedoc and notably the Herault should be an exception.
With the population of the Herault increasing by 1000 heads of population each month, and this set (according to Insee) to continue for the foreseeable future, land and property prices are unlikely to drop. This river of migrants is French. Better communications, airports, TGV etc, good climate have made this an attractive region for French retired, unemployed etc (why sit in the wet and windy North with little money when you can do the same in the sunny Mediterranean Herault?).
The TGV and better air service means that families can settle here, the husband commuting up to his Paris apartment for the week, coming home at the weekends, and others, with the spread of broadband, can work from home.
In English see Renover Louer for some details of state reaction to this.
In French RenoverpourLouer.com
The state is also looking to build more low cost housing in the Herault
New build starts are at record levels in this department, but because this is essentially a 'green' area there are huge bottlenecks and problems in finding more tracts of constructable land in the department.
Paris, I'd group in with the other major European capitals as a risk investment..
We cover quite a large area of France, but for best security of investment I would look no further than the Herault.
Best regards,
Rob Thorne of ***************
"The Languedoc and notably the Herault should be an exception."
Sorry, but it sounds to me like this classic argument "Ok house price may fall but not in my area because..."
Nothing is certain about the future but it seems the real estate bubble is global, price went up almost everywhere, nearly at the same time, so what goes up...
Sorry, but it sounds to me like this classic argument "Ok house price may fall but not in my area because..."
Nothing is certain about the future but it seems the real estate bubble is global, price went up almost everywhere, nearly at the same time, so what goes up...
Hi
I think we are talking supply & demand ?
So, if demand outstrips supply in Languedoc your theory is broken ?
Peter
I think we are talking supply & demand ?
So, if demand outstrips supply in Languedoc your theory is broken ?
Peter
As always there are other factors superimposed on the usual market ebb and flow. At one point in time Islington, Chelsea etc were very poor areas.
It would be hard to argue against the fact that the Languedoc is benefitting greatly from both structural changes (low cost airlines, internet access, new motorways, railways, decentralization of France, cross-border regionalism with Spain, rise of Toulouse as a major industrial city ) and demographic changes (migration to south europe from northern). Additionally the French population is becoming more familiar with the idea of property ownership rather than ownership and there are new financial incentives to doing so.
Interesting market report, a friends place in the rural Aude just sold in 10 days.
It would be hard to argue against the fact that the Languedoc is benefitting greatly from both structural changes (low cost airlines, internet access, new motorways, railways, decentralization of France, cross-border regionalism with Spain, rise of Toulouse as a major industrial city ) and demographic changes (migration to south europe from northern). Additionally the French population is becoming more familiar with the idea of property ownership rather than ownership and there are new financial incentives to doing so.
Interesting market report, a friends place in the rural Aude just sold in 10 days.
We have just spent the last few weeks in northern France on holiday, but while we were there we couldn't resist looking at one or two properties for sale.
We visited an estate agent who first showed us some properties last autumn - at that time, they were selling like hot cakes, and he urged us to choose and buy quickly "before all the good ones have gone!!!".
Last week his attitude had completely changed - he indicated that a high proportion of houses on his books were owned by English families, who are selling fully furnished! He also told us that things have slowed down a lot compared to last year, and he has far less enquiries from potential purchasers.
I have been told that the French property market follows the UK property market, in the past by a delay of 18months - 2 years, but some say that due to the internet this time the delay may be shorter!
Interesting times!!
We visited an estate agent who first showed us some properties last autumn - at that time, they were selling like hot cakes, and he urged us to choose and buy quickly "before all the good ones have gone!!!".
Last week his attitude had completely changed - he indicated that a high proportion of houses on his books were owned by English families, who are selling fully furnished! He also told us that things have slowed down a lot compared to last year, and he has far less enquiries from potential purchasers.
I have been told that the French property market follows the UK property market, in the past by a delay of 18months - 2 years, but some say that due to the internet this time the delay may be shorter!
Interesting times!!
QUOTE(Shabby-chick @ Jul 24 2005, 01:14 PM)
We have just spent the last few weeks in northern France on holiday, but while we were there we couldn't resist looking at one or two properties for sale.
We visited an estate agent who first showed us some properties last autumn - at that time, they were selling like hot cakes, and he urged us to choose and buy quickly "before all the good ones have gone!!!".
Last week his attitude had completely changed - he indicated that a high proportion of houses on his books were owned by English families, who are selling fully furnished! He also told us that things have slowed down a lot compared to last year, and he has far less enquiries from potential purchasers.
I have been told that the French property market follows the UK property market, in the past by a delay of 18months - 2 years, but some say that due to the internet this time the delay may be shorter!
Interesting times!!
We visited an estate agent who first showed us some properties last autumn - at that time, they were selling like hot cakes, and he urged us to choose and buy quickly "before all the good ones have gone!!!".
Last week his attitude had completely changed - he indicated that a high proportion of houses on his books were owned by English families, who are selling fully furnished! He also told us that things have slowed down a lot compared to last year, and he has far less enquiries from potential purchasers.
I have been told that the French property market follows the UK property market, in the past by a delay of 18months - 2 years, but some say that due to the internet this time the delay may be shorter!
Interesting times!!
As a matter of interest in what area specifically were you looking?
The agence immobilier who has lots of English owned fully-furnished properties for sale is based in the Mayenne (53), but also sells houses in the Orne (61). You can get an awful lot of house (plus garden and outbuildings), for your money in that area, but there's usually a drawback. As in many remote rural areas of France - making a living can be difficult - most of the indiginous population are farmers - and many seem to live 'on the bread-line'.
I suspect that over the last 5 - 6 years the farmers/smallholders have felt as if they won the lottery, when a foreigner came along with lots of money to buy their property!! I also suspect and have been told that lots of Brits only last a couple of years in rural France, before either moving to another area ( probably nearer a city) or returning to the UK (with a lot less money than when they arrived in France!)
Having visited the above two areas quite a lot, we've now decided to property hunt elsewhere - towards the north or west coasts of Basse-Normandie, and nearer to a large town/city. We also suspect that their prices are due for a substantial downward correction - they have so many houses for sale at the moment, that it can only be a matter of time!!
I suspect that over the last 5 - 6 years the farmers/smallholders have felt as if they won the lottery, when a foreigner came along with lots of money to buy their property!! I also suspect and have been told that lots of Brits only last a couple of years in rural France, before either moving to another area ( probably nearer a city) or returning to the UK (with a lot less money than when they arrived in France!)
Having visited the above two areas quite a lot, we've now decided to property hunt elsewhere - towards the north or west coasts of Basse-Normandie, and nearer to a large town/city. We also suspect that their prices are due for a substantial downward correction - they have so many houses for sale at the moment, that it can only be a matter of time!!
QUOTE(Shabby-chick @ Aug 16 2005, 10:33 AM)
The agence immobilier who has lots of English owned fully-furnished properties for sale is based in the Mayenne (53), but also sells houses in the Orne (61). You can get an awful lot of house (plus garden and outbuildings), for your money in that area, but there's usually a drawback. As in many remote rural areas of France - making a living can be difficult - most of the indiginous population are farmers - and many seem to live 'on the bread-line'.
I suspect that over the last 5 - 6 years the farmers/smallholders have felt as if they won the lottery, when a foreigner came along with lots of money to buy their property!! I also suspect and have been told that lots of Brits only last a couple of years in rural France, before either moving to another area ( probably nearer a city) or returning to the UK (with a lot less money than when they arrived in France!)
Having visited the above two areas quite a lot, we've now decided to property hunt elsewhere - towards the north or west coasts of Basse-Normandie, and nearer to a large town/city. We also suspect that their prices are due for a substantial downward correction - they have so many houses for sale at the moment, that it can only be a matter of time!!
I suspect that over the last 5 - 6 years the farmers/smallholders have felt as if they won the lottery, when a foreigner came along with lots of money to buy their property!! I also suspect and have been told that lots of Brits only last a couple of years in rural France, before either moving to another area ( probably nearer a city) or returning to the UK (with a lot less money than when they arrived in France!)
Having visited the above two areas quite a lot, we've now decided to property hunt elsewhere - towards the north or west coasts of Basse-Normandie, and nearer to a large town/city. We also suspect that their prices are due for a substantial downward correction - they have so many houses for sale at the moment, that it can only be a matter of time!!
Thanks for this information, I was thinking about the Quimper area in Brittany if you know it?
Whiterabbit, I've only been to Brittany twice on holiday - first time stayed close to Ploermel and second one near Rennes.
I do know of two families who together bought a holiday home in the north - not sure exactly where but it's about a 2 hour drive from Roscoff. They bought about 3 years ago and planned to rent it out to cover the mortgage etc..... I've recently heard that they've had great difficulty in renting it out and so reluctantly have decided to sell. Apparently the gite business generally in France, has become saturated (I'm told that in the Dordogne there are 6 beds for every person who wants to holiday there!!)
Have you read this forum - it's loaded with info'?
http://forums.livingfrance.com/default.aspx
As regards buying in France, according to an article in Le Monde:
http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-...1-646528,0.html
they reckon they have a 20% chance of there being a property crash next year and 70% chance in 2007. So for the time being we'll just be 'window shopping' and practising our gallic shrug ...........................!
I do know of two families who together bought a holiday home in the north - not sure exactly where but it's about a 2 hour drive from Roscoff. They bought about 3 years ago and planned to rent it out to cover the mortgage etc..... I've recently heard that they've had great difficulty in renting it out and so reluctantly have decided to sell. Apparently the gite business generally in France, has become saturated (I'm told that in the Dordogne there are 6 beds for every person who wants to holiday there!!)
Have you read this forum - it's loaded with info'?
http://forums.livingfrance.com/default.aspx
As regards buying in France, according to an article in Le Monde:
http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-...1-646528,0.html
they reckon they have a 20% chance of there being a property crash next year and 70% chance in 2007. So for the time being we'll just be 'window shopping' and practising our gallic shrug ...........................!
good move shabby chick.
My personal opinion is that the market in resales from brits who need to move back will be a source of bargains for anybody with in depth knowledge of a particular area.
Mind you I never could understand why people would want to live in the french countryside. It is rapidly turning to specialised monoculture,and the old slow ways are gone. People are searching for a dream that ended some years ago.
Good luck with your plans though
Bon Journee
My personal opinion is that the market in resales from brits who need to move back will be a source of bargains for anybody with in depth knowledge of a particular area.
Mind you I never could understand why people would want to live in the french countryside. It is rapidly turning to specialised monoculture,and the old slow ways are gone. People are searching for a dream that ended some years ago.
Good luck with your plans though
Bon Journee
QUOTE(picnic @ Aug 17 2005, 10:09 AM)
good move shabby chick.
My personal opinion is that the market in resales from brits who need to move back will be a source of bargains for anybody with in depth knowledge of a particular area.
Mind you I never could understand why people would want to live in the french countryside. It is rapidly turning to specialised monoculture,and the old slow ways are gone. People are searching for a dream that ended some years ago.
Good luck with your plans though
Bon Journee
My personal opinion is that the market in resales from brits who need to move back will be a source of bargains for anybody with in depth knowledge of a particular area.
Mind you I never could understand why people would want to live in the french countryside. It is rapidly turning to specialised monoculture,and the old slow ways are gone. People are searching for a dream that ended some years ago.
Good luck with your plans though
Bon Journee
I was kind of looking into it as somewhere to live full time as I am fed up with London. On visits there it looked nice to live. I am talking about in the city of Quimper itself. Also I heard the schools were much better there, I have a two year old. I work from home anyway so location isn't really a problem. Thanks for the point about Brits selling, I agree there is no way you can BTL in that area. I may rent there initially to see how it goes.................
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