What Type Of Property To Look For

1. Decide first of all why you want to buy a house in France. If you intend to live here permanently, you will have a different set of criteria than if you plan to buy a maison secondaire for holidays.
2. Proximity to shops, transport, neighbours, schools and recreational facilities may be irrelevant if you only visit your house five or six times a year but is important for long-stay residents. A big garden may seem attractive, but may not be practical if you are not there most of the time to cut the grass or weed the flower beds. A remote rural location may be perfect for a summer holiday but less ideal during the long winter months when you may rarely see neighbours.
3. If you are not always going to be in residence, an efficient time-controlled central heating system topped up with anti-freeze, a well-insulated roof and a modern plumbing system are vital.
4. If you may have to resell in the foreseeable future, remember that while overseas buyers tend to favour older properties, the French tend to prefer new or post-war houses that often carry a considerable premium, particularly as new properties under five years old carry a lower rate of Stamp Duty. While older homes have more character, space and scope for creativity and imagination, modern homes will give you less headaches, cheaper running costs and will probably sell quicker, unless you can find another overseas buyer.

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