France, French property and the French lifestyle has held an appeal for the British for many years; but not just as a place to buy property, either for rental income, or as a second home for their own use. Buying property in France could include anything from hidden away country cottages in the rolling green countryside to luxury apartments on the coast, and ski chalets in the mountains. So it is no surprise that buying property in France, coupled with the ease and low cost options of being able to travel virtually to every part of France is very attractive. As a consequence, more and more of us are not just thinking about buying property in France, but we are doing it!  

France country profile
Capital City: Paris
Area: 547,030 sq km or 211,208 sq miles
Population: 60,400,000
Time Zone: GMT +1
Country dialing code: 33
Currency: Euro

Climate in France
France has a temperate climate and except for the mountain areas and the far north east of the country, the winters are quite mild.

In the North West the Atlantic influences the weather which can result in high humidity and strong westerly winds. The North East has a typical continental climate with hot summers and cold winters whilst in the centre of the country and the Paris basin the lowest annual rainfall is recorded but can be erratic. Around the coastal plains there is a pleasant Mediterranean climate where rain in the summer and frost in winter are unheard of.
 
France country highlights
One of the largest of the European countries France is a popular destination country all year round for British tourists with its wealth of history, heritage, architecture and terrain and has coastline on the Mediterranean Sea, the Bay of Biscay and the English Channel with its resorts including Biarritz, and those on the The Cote D'Azur such as Monte Carlo, Cannes and Nice.

Paris is one of the most visited cities in Europe with the iconic Eiffel Tower, The Louvre and Notre Dame being some it's most famed attractions. France also has over 8,000km of slopes and is the largest ski area in the world - a strong lure for those buying property in that area.   

Accessibility
France has excellent air transport, sea and rail links from the UK with direct flights from most UK airports. The main carriers are British Airways, Air France, BMI, and Easyjet. Eurostar operates 24 hours per day from Waterloo direct to Paris and Eurotunnel runs from Folkestone – Calais. The flying time from anywhere in the UK is around an hour and a half.

Permanent move to France
There are no restrictions on living and working in France for EU Nationals however you must obtain a residence permit if you are residing for more than 90 consecutive days although this is a formality rather than a requirement. You will not require a work permit for France. 

Buying property in France
Those interetsed in buying property in France are attracted by its close proximity to the UK and its easy and simple access. Buying property in France has always been a popular choice for the British wishing to own a second home that is close enough to use on a regular basis.

In recent years because of the surge of interest in buying property in France, property ownership prices have increased somewhat, particularly in the coastal areas and the ski regions of the Rhone-Alps and Midi Pyrenees.

Paris, the capital of France, is still one of the most expensive cities in Europe for those buying property. There are property bargains to be found but these are generally in the lesser known towns and villages where facilities and access may not be readily available. If you are thinking about buying property in France, some of the least expensive properties are those that require modernisation and renovation. 
  
Destination Hot Spots

Provence and the Cote D'Azur
Well known as the millionaire's playground, this region is probably the most up-market and expensive of the French coastal regions with the towns of Monte Carlo and Nice and is still a popular choice for buying property. Property here is at the top end of the market.  A beautiful seven bedroom waterfront property between St Raphael and Cannes overlooking Monaco will set you back 330,000 euros, whilst a one bedroom apartment in Nice will be about 185,000. Inland Provence has two bedroom villas for around 260,000 euros and a stone built 4 bedroom house for 220,000 euros.

Paris
The capital of France has seen foreign property buyers steadily rising over the last 10 years and the British are the second most active. 250,000 euros will see you with a studio apartment whilst a one or two bedroom apartment will cost upwards of 375,000 euros, 4 and 5 bedroom houses are in excess of 1,000,000 euros

Ski Resorts
France has two main ski areas the Rhone-Alpes and the Midi-Pyrenees that always have appeal for those buying property. The most expensive of these is the Alpes where studios will set you back anything from 90,000 euros and a two bed apartment from 150,000. In contrast at Haute Pyrenees a 5 bedroom character village home is available for around 288,000 euros and a three bedroom apartment for 150,000 euros. 

Normandy and Brittany
A very beautiful region of France with the historical towns of Rouen and Nantes, a rugged coastline and beaches. A popular area with the British where there are is a range of property to suit every taste; for example a two bedroom  timber framed building in Orne that requires extensive renovation is available for just 32,000 euros and a fully restored  two bedroom cottage in Camembert for 92,000 euros, whilst in Brittany on the Cote D'Armour a newly refurbished three bedroom house and garage with 700m2 of English style gardens can be purchased for a reasonable 139,600 euros and in the rural Brittany countryside a semi detached 2 bedroom house with one hectare of land will cost about 170,000 euros.

Languedoc – Roussillon
The peaceful villages, the high mountains and the impressive old cities make this region quintessentially French with Toulouse and Montpellier with its pastiche of architecture being the best known cities and of course the world famous Cognac Brandy. There is a wide range of property available in this region and many have wine growing influences. A large 3 bedroom former vineyard house is available at 210,000 euros and a magnificent 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom stone house just outside Perpignan is on offer for 210,000 euros and in the town of Nimes there are studio apartments for 47,000 euros.

Search for property in France  

Articles about buying property in France:
Discover the Averyon department of France
Exploring Provence and the French Riviera
Buying property in France is different
How and where to buy off plan in France
The pitfalls of restoring a French property
France 2006 Market Report
Postcard: Students in Paris
Mortgaging the Maison

Useful websites:
The French Tourist Office
A comprehensive guide to skiing in France
The official French guide
A site packed with information about France
France Travel Guide
Interesting site dedicated to French wines

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Article first published in May 2006 and updated in June 2007