Nestling comfortably next door to one another on the west coast of France are the regions of the Pays de la Loire and Poitou-Charentes. Home to their own micro-climate and easily accessible from most parts of the UK in under three hours they have proved a perfect spot for British holiday retreats and retirement homes for some time now. With the laid-back lifestyle of good food, fine wine, countryside and coastal living that both regions offer, it will come as no surprise that property prices in some areas have risen by more than 15 per cent in the past year and half. The coastal areas of these regions, including beachside towns and villages in the Charente-Maritime, the Vendée and the Loire Atlantique, have risen in popularity in recent years and currently come in a close second behind the Côte d'Azur in the domestic tourism stakes. Unfortunately for bargain hunters this popularity has meant that real ocean-side steals are becoming increasingly hard to find in recent times. However, for those willing to compromise a little on a property's proximity to sand and surf, as you venture inland you will be opening yourself up to a world of property opportunities you may not have considered in your haste to catch a view of the waves.

Poitou Charentes
Situated on the Atlantic coast sandwiched between the vineyards of Bordeux and the spectacular châteaux of the Loire Valley is Poitou-Charentes, a top tourist destination and one of the sunniest parts of France's western coast. It is an area already popular with the British and, along with some fantastic attractions, it has a beautiful coastline. According to Rodney Marshall of Papillon Properties, the thing that really brings in the people from UK shores is the mild climate that results in 2,300 hours of sunshine every year. "Poitou-Charentes is far enough south to get great weather without having to travel too far from home. It is easily accessible by ferry and has three airports, including one at the region's capital, Poitiers, and another in La Rochelle, a town generally considered to be the most beautiful port in France."
 
The region is divided into four departments, each with its own unique character. Charente-Maritime lies to the west and incorporates the region's entire coastline, whilst Charente lies to the south and is home to Cognac and a very varied landscape. To the east is Vienne where you will find Poitiers and to the north Deux-Sévres remains a relatively undiscovered rural landscape of fields and hedgerows. Charente-Maritime is the region's westernmost department incorporating all of the Poitou Charentes coastline and the most exclusive of the region's resorts. According to Angie Moore from the Granny Network property prices here  have levelled off recently after year upon year of price rises. "Last year was the worst in 12 years but I see that as the inevitable result of a property market getting carried away with itself. We were seeing silly prices in the area, especially on the islands, and that had to stop eventually", she says.

Île d'Oléron and Île de Ré are amongst the most desirable of the islands that Moore mentions and have become havens for film stars and celebrities looking for privacy in the sun. Marshall believes that the reason for the popularity is because they remain unspoilt. "Îll de Ré is filled with trendy people and is becoming increasingly exclusive because, unlike the Côte d'Azur, they haven't allowed it to be built up so it has kept its natural beauty." Across the bridge that connects the island to the mainland sits La Rochelle. It is a picturesque port, home to a large boat building industry and the largest marina for pleasure boats in Europe. Properties are more readily available here but prices in the town are relatively expensive as the city is popular with French tourists in the summer. During these months staying in La Rochelle can be costly and as such the town makes a good investment for rental purposes and, if the right location is chosen, the resale price is also likely to be good. Here, you are unlikely to find a three-bedroom house for under 250,000 euros. If your budget simply won't stretch to this then, according to Moore, it may just be worth your while to take a look inland. "If you are looking for a sizeable property at a bargain price then there is not much point in looking close to the coast." Marsh agrees with this sentiment: "If you a willing to move 15 minutes inland then prices start to come down significantly", he says.
 
In more rural market town locations like Melle, St Jean d'Angély, Surgères and Saintes it is possible to pick up a three-bedroom detached property with a large garden within walking distance of the town for around 150,000 euros, says Marsh. "Longères are particularly popular in these areas at the moment. These are long houses generally with all the accommodation on the bottom floor, stones on the outside walls, red Roman roof tiles and shutters on the windows. These can be picked up outside many a bustling market town."
 
To the north-east of Poitou Charentes sits the Charente region. According to Katherine Green from the Granny Network the most popular areas of the Charente for Brits include Confolens in the far north-east of the department and along the eastern line of the Charente border to Montbron. The larger villages such as St Claude and Champagne Mouton are definitely worth a look, whilst the market towns of Ruffec and Aigre are also very popular to the north and slightly west of the department. Another popular area is the small town of Barbezieux St Hilaire in the more south-west area of the department. "Styles of property are varied", says Green. "from the typical barn conversion to traditional Charentaise cream stone and rendered properties and the increasingly popular bungalow or basement-style houses. A bungalow with three bedrooms and a garden can set you back from 160,000 euros or you can buy land and choose your style from a range of builders' plans."

When it comes to location Green observes that property is typically cheaper in the north and east compared to the western, southern and more central areas. "A small two-bedroom village or town type property with a courtyard garden and some renovation to do can be found from around 90,000 euros upwards, whereas its counterpart in the west will cost from about 110,000 euros upwards. Ready to move into family-style homes with gardens can be found from 180,000 to 250,000 euros, according to area, but bargains go quickly", she says.
    
Further inland still the departments of Deux-Sèvres and Vienne also have plenty to offer. Deux-Sèvres takes its name from the two rivers, both of the same name, that run through it. The department is made up of three quarters arable land and the majority of the rest is given up to farming. The result is that it has retained its traditional market town atmosphere with much of life revolving around the buying and selling at local markets. As with most of the region's property, prices in Deux-Sèvres have risen in recent years but it is still generally regarded as the best place to find a real bargain. The Vienne takes its name from the River Vienne, which flows right down the centre of the department. The Vienne attracts tourists from all over the world who come to take a look at its fantastic architecture and the recently built Futuroscope theme park. Poitiers is where the majority of the department's population can be found and is home to some notable buildings such as the Église Notre Dame la Grande, which dates back to the 11th century. Property prices have risen since Parisian buyers started buying up second homes in the area but both Poitiers and Montmorrillon will provide a stable and reliable yield environment for any investor.

Pays de la Loire
Situated to the north of Poitou Charentes and extending up the coast to southern Brittany, the Pays de la Loire region is famous as much for its impressive Châteaux as for the outstanding wines it produces. It is easily accessible with frequent Ryanair flights to Nantes, the TGV (high speed train) and a number of good motorways. To the north, the Mayenne is a rural department made up largely of farmland, and to the west, Sarthe is home to Le Mans and the world famous 24-hour race. In the centre of the region, Maine et Loire is renowned for its fruit and veg exports whilst the coastal departments of Loire Atlantique and, in particular, the Vendée are the main areas for property interest. Much of the area shares the warmth of climate that Poitou-Charentes enjoys, making it perfect for holiday homes.
 
The Vendée is the first department encountered after crossing the River Loire along the Atlantic coast. Red Roman roof tiles replace the grey slate, emphasising the change of climate. According to Liz Jordan from property agents Homes in Real France, it offers an exceptional range of landscapes including a beautiful coastline with miles of sandy beaches backed by pine forests, the rolling wooded bocage with its lakes and windmills and the Marais Poitevin, the 'Green Venice', where land and water merge in a maze of tree-lined canals. "This diversity is reflected in the sporting activities available with the yachting marinas, riding centres, many excellent golf courses, long-distance canoeing, tennis and squash clubs", says Jordan. Sandie Marshall from the Granny Network believes that the Vendée makes perfect sense as a place for people to purchase a holiday home. Says Marshall, "People who have holidayed all over France have decided on the Vendée because it is far enough from the UK to have a noticeable improvement in climate and there is something to suit everyone".

According to Marshall, many people who want to relocate permanently to Vendée are nearing or at retirement age. They tend to look for property a little further inland, and therefore less busy in the tourist season, but still within reach of the coast. More often than not, they want to be within walking distance of the restaurants and have a doctor close by." Areas around Sainte Jean de Monts, Les Sables d'Olonne, and La Trenche sur Mer, are popular with those who seek a seaside residence, but for the permanent resident, says Marshall, "places like Fontenay le Comte, Luçon and La Roche sur Yon are popular towns, so many look to be relatively close to one of these, but in, or on the edge of, one of the many pretty villages which surround them. Further inland, the areas around Chantonnay and Pouzauges, are also sought after."

The bad news if you have yet to invest is that property prices in the Vendée have risen some 15 per cent in the past 18 months and prices are still rising, although less abruptly than before. "There are many properties on the market and it is a 'buyers' market' at the moment. That said, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a property that is immediately habitable for less than 150,000 euros, if you want a large garden and three bedrooms. However, it is possible to find a small two-bedroom village holiday home with a small garden, or a two-bedroom renovated fermette with nice gardens in a more rural location for this price", says Marshall. At the bottom end of the scale it may be possible to find a barn for renovation for around 90,000 euros. At the top end, upwards of 200,000 euros will buy you a very decent house with good gardens, depending on locality and if you are lucky enough to have over 300,000 euros at hand, you may find a house with gîte or potential for a B&B, or a renovated farmhouse with land. However, break the 400,000 euros mark and you can almost take your pick with longères, bourrines, four-plus bedrooms with swimming pool, an acre or more of garden, and so on. The Loire-Atlantique department was once a part of Brittany and, in a cultural sense, not much has changed. It is made up of of ancient forests, long beaches and vineyards producing the famous Muscadet wine. The region's capital, Nantes, sits on the banks of the River Loire and has beautiful parks, interesting museums and cheap but classy cafés and restaurants. It is a friendly city with a lively town centre and a fantastic atmosphere. However, in recent years second home buyers have discovered the countryside around Nantes and have largely rejected the city itself. A three-bedroom property in a village 15 minutes outside Nantes will cost around 250,00 euros. Elsewhere, as with the rest of the region's coastline, seaside areas such as Sainte Nazaire and Saint Brévin are becoming increasingly popular with British and French investors but so far they have largely managed to retain their French identity. Properties in the Loire-Atlantique range according to their proximity to the coast with a newly renovated three-bedroom detached house costing anything from 250,000 euros upwards.

In Sarthe property remains good value for money. Despite appearing attractive, the Le Man's rental market only really comes alive around the annual motor race as the majority of Sarthe's visitors tend to stay in the warmer areas close by. In Maine et Loire better accessibility to the department has given the property market a boost. Saumur is the main hotspot and is a popular place for investment in gîtes, which benefit from a good rental market. Also, Angers has an active and very healthy property market. In Mayenne property prices are still affordable, although with Parisians wanting nearby weekend retreats this may not be the case for much longer.

So how do you choose between these two wonderful regions of France? When it comes to climate, there is not much between them, Poitou-Charentes might just shade it in the average temperature stakes but both regions benefit from a micro-climate. In terms of travel time, a flight to Nantes might be a little shorter than a flight to La Rochelle but the later benefits from being on the coast if you are looking for quick beach access. Throughout the area as a whole average property prices are around seven per cent cheaper in the Poitou-Charentes but bargains can certainly be found in both regions. Styles and range of property available are similar and the opportunity for growth in equity will depend entirely on where you purchase within each region. Finally a toast! The wine from Pays de la Loire is spectacular but, if brandy is your thing, Poitou-Charentes' cognac is unbeatable.

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For further information:
Papillon Properties  
Charente-Maritime Granny 
Homes in Real France  
Vendée Granny 

Article first published in March 2006