| It's not difficult to see why French country | | | | the same as buying a French town house or a |
| property is attractive to so many people. | | | | flat in Paris, for example. Much of the |
| From small cottages in tiny rural hamlets | | | | process is the same, and the paperwork, and |
| (which nevertheless often have substantial | | | | I'm sure you'll do your research and get the |
| gardens) to grand manors and even chateaux, | | | | right advice and help. However, there are one |
| there's a French country property to suit | | | | or two things that you'll only come up |
| nearly everyone. | | | | against with rural French properties. |
| | | | |
| What's more, unlike the UK for example, there | | | | For a start you may well find you own bits |
| are plenty to go around. If you visit France | | | | and pieces of land that are not attached to |
| for the purposes of buying a French home | | | | yours - we didn't find out until after we'd |
| you'll find no shortage in rural areas no | | | | bought ours that we had a small garden half a |
| matter what your budget. Visit any small town | | | | mile away! Now this need not necessarily be a |
| in France and the local agents will | | | | problem, but with land sometimes comes |
| invariably have plenty to show you. | | | | responsibilities - fencing for example - you |
| | | | need to check this kind of thing. |
| A few words of caution though, from someone | | | | |
| who has been there and done it. | | | | Then there's sanitation. Frequently French |
| | | | country property is not on mains draining. In |
| I know how easy it is to get carried away. | | | | itself that's not a problem but there are new |
| It's all too easy to get caught up in the | | | | rules and regulations that could prove |
| romance of buying a home in France and | | | | expensive to some unwary buyers. |
| forgetting the things you would never miss | | | | |
| out if you were buying at home. Just like | | | | Then there are rights of way, rights of |
| buying any property you need to keep your | | | | access and 'chemin rural' (kind of a footpath |
| wits about you. | | | | although they can be driven down sometimes). |
| | | | This is something that should be checked |
| You need to be very careful about your | | | | during the buying process but it's wise to do |
| budget. If you're buying a house that's in | | | | your own investigating just to be sure. You |
| excellent condition this is less of a concern | | | | wouldn't want to find that your dream French |
| - as long as you check everything works as | | | | house had a farmer's track right through the |
| they claims it does - but if you're buying to | | | | middle of the garden. Don't think it couldn't |
| renovate things can add up rather quickly. | | | | happen - one of the houses we looked had |
| | | | exactly that. |
| There's a common belief that renovating a | | | | |
| property in France is cheap. Sadly that's | | | | The French house buying process is |
| just not true. Admittedly it may be cheaper | | | | complicated. It's not rocket science, but for |
| than where ever you currently call home but | | | | most of us it's different to what we know. |
| you can't buy a tumbledown cottage for forty | | | | There are different regulations and different |
| thousand Euros and then think you'll get it | | | | legal practices. |
| up and running and habitable for another ten | | | | |
| thousand. Think of at least doubling your | | | | Added to that there's the language that, |
| investment and you'll probably be nearer the | | | | unless you're fluent, is another hurdle to |
| mark. | | | | overcome. |
| | | | |
| But I certainly wouldn't want to put anybody | | | | However, it's my experience that if you do a |
| off. Searching for French country property | | | | little research and a little reading, and can |
| can be a joy in itself and the thrill of | | | | maintain a sense of humour for when things go |
| finding the place that's right for you and | | | | a bit astray, you'll be fine. Your French |
| eventually moving in are wonderful | | | | agent will normally go out of their way to |
| experiences. I'm just advocating a little | | | | make your search for a French country |
| clear-headed thinking in amongst all the fun! | | | | property as painless as possible. It's worth |
| | | | your while to go out of your way to help |
| Buying country property in France isn't quite | | | | them. |