France is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe with the most varied landscape and infinite variety, including beautiful unspoilt countryside for nature lovers; magnificent historic towns and châteaux for history enthusiasts; an abundance of mountains and waterways for sports lovers; vibrant Parisian night-life for the jet set; vintage wines and haute cuisine for gourmets; a wealth of culture, art and serious music for art lovers; and tranquillity for the stressed. Nowhere else in the world is there such an exhilarating mixture of culture and climate, history and tradition, sophistication and style. It’s often said that when buying real estate in France you aren’t buying a home but a lifestyle!

After having decided to buy a home in France, your first task will be to choose the region and what sort of home to buy. If you’re unsure where and what to buy, the best decision is to rent for a period. The secret of successfully buying a home in France (or anywhere else for that matter) is research, research and more research, preferably before you even set foot there.

One of the things that attracts many buyers to France is the relatively low cost of property compared with many other countries. However, the French don’t generally buy domestic property as an investment, but as a home for life, and you shouldn’t expect to make a quick profit when buying property there. Property values generally increase at an average of around 5 per cent a year (or in line with inflation), meaning you must own a house for around three years simply to recover the high fees associated with buying. Property prices rise faster than average in some fashionable areas, although this is generally reflected in higher purchase prices. The stable property market in most areas acts as a discouragement to speculators wishing to make a quick profit, particularly as many properties require a substantial investment in restoration or modernisation before they can be sold at a profit.

Research

There’s an overwhelming choice of property for sale in France, which is a buyers market in most areas. As when buying property anywhere, it’s never advisable to be in too much of a hurry. Have a good look around in your chosen region and obtain an accurate picture of the types of properties available, their relative values and what you can expect to get for your money. However, before doing this you should make a comprehensive list of what you want (and don’t want) from a home, so that you can narrow the field and save time on wild goose chases.

The most important consideration when buying a home anywhere is usually its location – or as the old adage goes, the three most important points are location, location and location! A property in a reasonable condition in a popular area is likely to be a better investment than an exceptional property in a less attractive location. There’s no point in buying a dream property in a terrible location. France offers almost anything that anyone could want, but you must choose the right property in the right spot. The wrong decision regarding location is one of the main causes of disenchantment among foreigners who have purchased property in France.

Note that it’s often difficult to compare homes in different regions as they usually vary considerably and few houses are exactly comparable.

Although property in France is relatively inexpensive compared with many other European countries, the fees associated with the purchase of properties older than five years are among the highest in Europe and add 10 to 15 per cent to the cost. To reduce the chances of making an expensive error when buying in an unfamiliar region, it’s often prudent to rent a house for a period, taking in the worst part of the year (weather-wise). This allows you to become familiar with the region and the weather, and gives you plenty of time to look around for a home at your leisure.

Wait until you find something you fall head over heels in love with and then think about it for another week or two before rushing headlong to the altar!

One of the most common mistakes people make when buying a rural property in France is to buy a house that’s much larger than they need with acres of land, simply because it seems to offer such good value. Don’t, on the other hand, buy a property that’s too small. Bear in mind that extra space can easily be swallowed up, and when you have a home in France you will inevitably discover that you have many more relatives and friends than you ever thought possible! For many foreign buyers, France provides the opportunity to buy a size or style of home that they could never afford in their home countries.

Buying a huge house with a few acres may seem like a good investment, but bear in mind that should you wish to sell buyers may be thin on the ground, particularly when the price has doubled or trebled after the cost of renovation. In most areas there’s a narrow market for renovated rural property.

There are usually many buyers in the lower 300,000F to 500,000F price range, but they become much scarcer at around one million francs unless a property is exceptional, i.e. outstandingly attractive, in a popular area and with a superb situation. In some areas even desirable properties remain on the market for a number of years. Although it’s tempting to buy a property with a lot of land, you should think about what you’re going to do with it.

After you’ve installed a swimming pool, tennis court and a basketball court, you still have a lot of change left out of even a few acres. Do you like gardening or are you prepared to live in a jungle? Can you afford to pay a gardener? A large garden needs a lot of upkeep (i.e. work).

Before deciding to buy a home in France, it’s advisable to buy a few books especially written for those planning to buy real estate, or live or work there, such as Buying a Home in France and Living and Working in France, both published by Survival Books (www.survivalbooks.net). Bear in mind that the cost of investing in a few books (and other research) is tiny compared with the expense of making a big mistake. However, don’t believe everything you read!

The author - David Hampshire is the author or numerous books on living, working and investing overseas. His website features his highly - acclaimed, best-selling series of Survival Handbooks - C L I C K   H E R E