Regional guides
France 2006 Market Report
A major market report found that the majority of French properties purchased by British buyers sold for 101,000 to 200,000 euros, and the most popular areas with British buyers were the Aquitaine and Limousin region
<P>VEF collated results from 486 of their clients between first January and 30th June. They found the average property price was 203,421 euros, an increase of 34 per cent on 2005. Thirty seven per cent of resale property purchased was priced 101,000 to 200,000 euros, followed by 24 per cent under 100,000 euros, 21 per cent over 300,000 and 18 per cent 201,000 to 300,000 euros. </P>
<P>The 101,000 to 200,000 price bracket was also the most popular within the new-build market with 42 per cent of purchases being made within this range, followed by 25 per cent under 100,000 euros, 25 per cent 201,000 to 300,000 and only 4 per cent over 300,000 euros. </P>
<P>Several other property developers testified that they saw similar patterns last year, stating that average prices for resale properties were around 181,000 euros and new-build 156,000 euros. </P>
<P>Many commented that new-build property sales have a lower price than resale as these tend to be small holiday homes whereas resale properties lend themselves to permanent moves with buyers willing to spend more in these occasions.</P>
<P>VEF's report also found that 37 per cent of resale property buyers fell into the 35 to 44 year-old age bracket. Twenty eight per cent were 45 to 54, 23 per cent 55 to 64, 9 per cent 25 to 35 and just 3 per cent over 65. The majority of new-build purchasers were also between 35 and 44 years of age, with 50 per cent falling into this category. 25 per cent fell in the 45 to 54 bracket, 14 per cent were 25 to 34 and 11 per cent 55 to 64. </P>
<P>Jane Dinsdale from jsdpropertyliason.com said: "I think the 35 to 45 age group is about right for moving across outright but also the 58 to 68 age group want a second home whilst keeping a base in Britain, particularly if they have grandchildren."</P>
<P>The Aquitaine and Limousin regions emerged as the most popular regions with British buyers, according to VEF's report. Each region made up 18 per cent of the buyers-per-region figures respectively. The only other regions to come close to match this popularity were being the Languedoc-Rousillin region with 10 per cent and Burgundy and Pay de la Loire with 8 per cent each. Dinsdale agrees that Aquitaine was the most popular region of last year and states that Picardie is now hitting the top for the beginning of 2007, possibly influenced by its low house prices. </P>
<P>The report also found that resale made up 88 per cent of British property purchase in France last year and that more mortgages were taken out on new-build property than resale, with 59 per cent taken out on new-builds compared to 45 per cent of resales. Frances McKay at Francophiles Ltd agrees that this is the general pattern. "Only a few clients who contact Francophiles require mortgages on resale properties," she says. "However, new build buyers inevitably want finance."</P>
<P>Many French property agents commented that buyers often require a mortgage on new builds whereas they generally use existing funds or the sale of their house to purchase resale, stating that this is influenced by investors who take out mortgages when buying off-plan property due to tax benefits and in order to free-up cash for other investments.</P>
<P>The period between first contract and purchase of French property was found to be between six months, and numerous French property agents agree that the completion of purchase averaged around four months. "Most of the clients that contact us and don't go immediately on viewings, don't buy," says Laetitia Hodson at French Property Shop: "The serious ones go immediately on viewings and end up buying between four and six months."</P>
<P>The future is looking bright for the French property market with many agents reporting a successful start to 2007 and Francophiles Ltd seeing their best January to date. VEF comment: "Since the VEF market report was published at the end of 2006, we have experienced an excellent start to 2007. Our January results have been better than expected and we are therefore looking to the rest of 2007 with great anticipation."<BR><BR><A href=http://outboundmediaandexhibitions.co.uk/imag/wpimag.html target=_blank>Click here to read the World of Property interactive i-mag FREE</A></P>
<P><A href="http://www.worldofproperty.co.uk/property_search-55.htm">Search for properties in France</A></P>
<P><STRONG>For more information visit:</STRONG><BR><A href="http://www.vefuk.com/" target=_blank>www.vefuk.com</A><BR><A href="http://www.frenchpropertyshop.com/" target=_blank>www.frenchpropertyshop.com</A><BR><A href="http://www.francophiles.co.uk/" target=_blank>www.francophiles.co.uk</A><BR><A href="http://www.jsdpropertyliaison.com/" target=_blank>www.jsdpropertyliaison.com</A></P>
<P>The 101,000 to 200,000 price bracket was also the most popular within the new-build market with 42 per cent of purchases being made within this range, followed by 25 per cent under 100,000 euros, 25 per cent 201,000 to 300,000 and only 4 per cent over 300,000 euros. </P>
<P>Several other property developers testified that they saw similar patterns last year, stating that average prices for resale properties were around 181,000 euros and new-build 156,000 euros. </P>
<P>Many commented that new-build property sales have a lower price than resale as these tend to be small holiday homes whereas resale properties lend themselves to permanent moves with buyers willing to spend more in these occasions.</P>
<P>VEF's report also found that 37 per cent of resale property buyers fell into the 35 to 44 year-old age bracket. Twenty eight per cent were 45 to 54, 23 per cent 55 to 64, 9 per cent 25 to 35 and just 3 per cent over 65. The majority of new-build purchasers were also between 35 and 44 years of age, with 50 per cent falling into this category. 25 per cent fell in the 45 to 54 bracket, 14 per cent were 25 to 34 and 11 per cent 55 to 64. </P>
<P>Jane Dinsdale from jsdpropertyliason.com said: "I think the 35 to 45 age group is about right for moving across outright but also the 58 to 68 age group want a second home whilst keeping a base in Britain, particularly if they have grandchildren."</P>
<P>The Aquitaine and Limousin regions emerged as the most popular regions with British buyers, according to VEF's report. Each region made up 18 per cent of the buyers-per-region figures respectively. The only other regions to come close to match this popularity were being the Languedoc-Rousillin region with 10 per cent and Burgundy and Pay de la Loire with 8 per cent each. Dinsdale agrees that Aquitaine was the most popular region of last year and states that Picardie is now hitting the top for the beginning of 2007, possibly influenced by its low house prices. </P>
<P>The report also found that resale made up 88 per cent of British property purchase in France last year and that more mortgages were taken out on new-build property than resale, with 59 per cent taken out on new-builds compared to 45 per cent of resales. Frances McKay at Francophiles Ltd agrees that this is the general pattern. "Only a few clients who contact Francophiles require mortgages on resale properties," she says. "However, new build buyers inevitably want finance."</P>
<P>Many French property agents commented that buyers often require a mortgage on new builds whereas they generally use existing funds or the sale of their house to purchase resale, stating that this is influenced by investors who take out mortgages when buying off-plan property due to tax benefits and in order to free-up cash for other investments.</P>
<P>The period between first contract and purchase of French property was found to be between six months, and numerous French property agents agree that the completion of purchase averaged around four months. "Most of the clients that contact us and don't go immediately on viewings, don't buy," says Laetitia Hodson at French Property Shop: "The serious ones go immediately on viewings and end up buying between four and six months."</P>
<P>The future is looking bright for the French property market with many agents reporting a successful start to 2007 and Francophiles Ltd seeing their best January to date. VEF comment: "Since the VEF market report was published at the end of 2006, we have experienced an excellent start to 2007. Our January results have been better than expected and we are therefore looking to the rest of 2007 with great anticipation."<BR><BR><A href=http://outboundmediaandexhibitions.co.uk/imag/wpimag.html target=_blank>Click here to read the World of Property interactive i-mag FREE</A></P>
<P><A href="http://www.worldofproperty.co.uk/property_search-55.htm">Search for properties in France</A></P>
<P><STRONG>For more information visit:</STRONG><BR><A href="http://www.vefuk.com/" target=_blank>www.vefuk.com</A><BR><A href="http://www.frenchpropertyshop.com/" target=_blank>www.frenchpropertyshop.com</A><BR><A href="http://www.francophiles.co.uk/" target=_blank>www.francophiles.co.uk</A><BR><A href="http://www.jsdpropertyliaison.com/" target=_blank>www.jsdpropertyliaison.com</A></P>