August 9, 2007
New French property law may attract more investors
France recently enjoyed praises from International Living. Reports say that the country boasts of the best quality of life in the world. On top of that, there is another development that may interest buy-to-let investors. There is a new law that will make things easier for property investors who lease their freehold property to a management company. This is known as the leaseback scheme.
The leaseback scheme allows overseas investors to buy a freehold property and let it to an approved management company between nine and eleven years. The company is obliged to pay a fixed rental for the property even if it is not being utilized. This way, the investor is guaranteed a monthly income for the property and can make appropriate forecasts. However, this means that the rental income the investor gets during peak season will probably be relatively lower than the price that they can get in the open market, but this is a small price to pay for guaranteed regular income during the off-peak seasons.
Posted on: France
August 7, 2007
Property update on the South of France
The French like to holiday in their own country. Every August, thousands of French families pile into their cars and head south to their holiday homes in the sun. Now more and more Europeans are following suit: investing in property in the South of France. Either with a view to moving there permanently or to get their dream holiday home.
Catering to this demand are a number of new purpose-built properties. If one is interested in rubbing shoulders with the famous in Cannes, one could consider Résidence Odyssée des Homériales, situated in the commune of Vallauris. Picasso lived in the town for a number of years and Vallauris is still famed for its craftsmen and artisans. Close by are the beaches of Golfe Juan and 25 kilometres away is Nice airport. The development consists of two buildings containing one-, two-, and three-bed apartments which share communal gardens. Apartments are priced from £150,000 to £247,000 and completion is expected in spring 2008.
Posted on: France
March 16, 2007
French property now more attractive
French properties are now looking more and more ravissant, as the French would put it. Real estate in France has become even more attractive with recent changes in the way French Leaseback property is taxed on its sale. Recent changes in France have taken away the necessity to pay VAT on French Leaseback properties when they are sold. This makes this type of French property an attractive overseas property investment.
Posted on: France
March 1, 2007
The Sarkozy solution: A British view of France
A recent survey conducted by creme-de-languedoc.com revealed that half of British expats living in France would have voted for right-winger Sarkozy if they were able to vote. A total of 31 per cent would have voted for socialist candidate Royal. 19 per cent would have voted for centralist Bayrou. Contrastingly, 30 per cent of voters in France plumped for Sarkozy in the first round of the election.
According to a voter, Sarkozy is a bitter but necessary pill for France’s problems. The voter, echoing the opinion of many, says that he doesn’t like Sarkozy. “He seems a bit of a bully, but he knows what will get France on its feet, if only the French will take the medicine and accept change, the dirtiest word in the language along with the one we took from them – entrepreneur.”
Many believe that France is suffering both economically and socially. In fact, ninety per cent of respondents believe this. Eighty-seven per cent believe that employment laws need to be relaxed. About 83 per cent demanded that taxes be lowered. 70 per cent felt that France can’t afford its present levels of spending. About 67 per cent believe that the number of immigrants coming into country should be increased as long as France selected those with capabilities and talents that can help the economy. More than half (55 per cent) of the respondents felt that France needs more freedom in its education system.
These figures do not necessarily make France inferior to Britain in terms of quality of living. “With four generations of my family living alongside me, we have encountered most things that the healthcare system and the education system have to offer, and we have never been disappointed in the quality of what we have received,” claims Trisha Mason, founder of a French property company. Mason has known life in France for more than two decades.
Posted on: France
February 28, 2007
France looking increasingly attractive
South of France has traditionally been a hotspot for UK buyers looking to invest in overseas rental property. It has also been popular with retirees and professionals looking for a holiday home. However, it seems investors have widened their focus and are now snapping up property all over the country.
According to Pierre Williams of Inside Track Group (a company which conducts workshops for potential property investors), “Every region now has Brit ex-pats and holiday homeowners. Different regions hold different attractions and there are noticeable trends in who buys where.”
Posted on: France
February 12, 2007
Paris: the lovers’ favourite
Up to this day, Paris still remains to be the world’s most romantic holiday destinations. In a recent Homebuyer Show poll, the French capital was closely followed by Edinburgh and Cote D’Azur in the south of France. This poll emphasizes the fact that property investors should be wary not only of the rate of capital appreciation but also its rental potential.
The poll also shows that France is the world’s most popular tourist destination. About 78 million people visit the country over the course of 2006. Paris remains to be one of its main cultural assets.
The Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe are iconic symbols that tourists visit in droves. Paris’s popular cultural and artistic centres make Paris a dream destination with the Sacre-Coeur, the Louvre and Notre Dame Cathedral among others.
Posted on: France
February 7, 2007
Property Update on the South of France
Just like in every country, the French likes to have fun – vacationing here and there, or getting their dream holiday in France. But this nation likes to keep it permanent now, with the idea that they would invest in a home in France and work for their dream house.
With this idea comes new-found property in the heartland of France. For those who would like to rub elbows with the rich and famous, try Residence Odyssee des Homeriales in Cannes, located in the commune of Vallauris, home to Picasso. Near this piece of property are the beaches of Golfe Juan, and a little further by is the Nice airport. The property consists of two buildings which contain one to three bedroom apartments that have shared gardens. These cost 150,000 to 247,000 and expected to bloom in spring 2008.
Posted on: France
January 7, 2007
France’s heritage for sale
If you’re looking for property with a bit of history and heritage attached to it then the way to go is France. A special division was recently created to look at the French government’s real estate for resale.
The French state owns about 28,000 properties. These properties are jointly worth about $50 billion. About $2 billion’s worth of property has already been sold off in the past three years.
One building of interest that is going to be sold early in 2007 is the Hotel Majestic. Situated in central Paris, the hotel is a great historical structure because it is believed to be the command centre for the Nazis when they occupied France. It is estimated to be over 500 million Euros.
Posted on: France
November 30, 2006
Overseas property in winter resorts: France
Those who don’t like to take property investment risks might want to consider France if they’re on the lookout for ski properties. The eastern-most part of the French Alps is home to some of the most popular ski destinations in Europe like Méribel, Chamonix and Courchevel. The breathtaking scenery and jet set lifestyle makes the French Alps a dream destination.
“France is easy to access from the UK and you can choose how you want to travel and whether you take your car or not. You can choose to go by train, ferry or plane,” claims Dario Nabavian, the director of international marketing at Pierre & Vacances Property Investments. According to Nabavian, the snow in the French Alps is guaranteed. “There is over 600 kilometres of pistes linking Courchevel, Méribel, Les Ménuires and Val Thorens, 335 downhill ski slopes and 119 kilometres of cross country skiing.”
Posted on: France
October 10, 2006
Burgundy and Loire Valley explored
Burgundy and Centre regions own some of the finest wines and culinary delights in the world. Centre, more known as the Loire Valley, is already famous with expats. But the Brits have yet to be aware of Burgundy which is filled with places such as Dijon, Chateaneuf and Bourgon Chablis. Located near Paris, the regions are two of the biggest in the country. Loire Valley has a population of almost 2.5 million while Burgundy, or Bourgogne to the French, has around 1.6 million population.
The Loire Valley consists of six departments: Eure et Loir in the north of the region; below it, Loiret and Loir et Cher; in the south-east, Cher; Indre at the south, bordering the Limousin region; and south-west is Indre et Loire. Nearest to Paris is Eure et Loire which has been influenced by the Ile-de-France region to its east. Chartres, its main city, is populated with about 40,000 people. Its two cathedrals and fine art museums with religious tapestries display clear ties to its Christian past.
The Loire river is the longest in France and runs through the region and the prefecture capital, Orleans. In 2000, UNESCO bestowed world heritage site status on the picturesque Loire Valley.
Posted on: France
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