Too old for a student Inter-Rail card but want to luxuriate in the experience of a lengthy railway trip throughout France?
You are never too old for a France Railpass rover ticket , it is valid on all trains running on the SNCF network - including high-speed TGV trains - and you can travel as much as you wish!
Prices range from £92 for a three-day ticket to £197 for nine days in any month. There is also a saver version, for two to five people travelling together and a Senior version for the over-60s.
For details: 08705 848 848 or see www.raileurope.co.uk
Sunday 17 December 2006
Saturday 9 December 2006
Why should I buy property in France?
With different regions offering climates to suit everybody, outstanding natural beauty, world-famous food and wine, lower cost of living and a slower pace of life, France really does have it all.
And you needn't feel guitly about making the move, you can share the health, wealth and lifestyle benefits with your family and friends - France will enrich their lives as well as your own.
An increasing number of families are re-locating completely rather than just buying holiday homes, they frequently cite the excellent health service and education system as reasons.
With regular charter and daily scheduled flights from the UK to so many French destinations, France is becoming more and more accessible every day - an increasing number of people even commute!
If you don't fancy the commute and you don't have transferable skills to slot into the French jobs market, you can even make your new location work for you - as a business.
France is classic holiday country and if you buy or convert property to provide Bed and Breakfast or gîte accommodation in the right location, your new home can even pay for itself - while you get on with the serious business of enjoying your new life in the sun!
And you needn't feel guitly about making the move, you can share the health, wealth and lifestyle benefits with your family and friends - France will enrich their lives as well as your own.
An increasing number of families are re-locating completely rather than just buying holiday homes, they frequently cite the excellent health service and education system as reasons.
With regular charter and daily scheduled flights from the UK to so many French destinations, France is becoming more and more accessible every day - an increasing number of people even commute!
If you don't fancy the commute and you don't have transferable skills to slot into the French jobs market, you can even make your new location work for you - as a business.
France is classic holiday country and if you buy or convert property to provide Bed and Breakfast or gîte accommodation in the right location, your new home can even pay for itself - while you get on with the serious business of enjoying your new life in the sun!
Wednesday 6 December 2006
French Property is getting cheaper !
It's official - it's a buyers' market! The average price of a property in France fell by 0.6% in November say the French estate agents' association FNAIM.
The fall is part of a slowing trend, while average property prices rose by 15% in 2004 they have only risen by 7.3% in the current year to November.
French property is still attractive to investors but a slowing market will keep prices reasonable and ensure that the French property ladder is still within reach of the average Brit!
The fall is part of a slowing trend, while average property prices rose by 15% in 2004 they have only risen by 7.3% in the current year to November.
French property is still attractive to investors but a slowing market will keep prices reasonable and ensure that the French property ladder is still within reach of the average Brit!
Tuesday 5 December 2006
How can I make money from my French house?
Owning a property in France is not just a dream come true - it's also a sound financial investment.
You too can place adverts in your local newsagents, supermarket or local newspaper to rent out your property and actually finance your mortgage payments! Your dream french property can actually pay for itself!
To ensure a maximum return on your investment you must remember the maxim 'location, location, location' and buy accordingly. Buy in haste, repent at leisure.
With up to 32o days of sunshine a year, southern France is the ideal place for year round rentals with holidaymakers, golfers and long-term tenants looking for a little 'dolce vita' in our long winter months.
There are many factors which will determine the amount of rental income your property will generate. Some of these factors include:
Maintenance and Repair Housekeeping Gardening Airport Collection for tenants Frequent site visits to put your mind at rest while you are away
You too can place adverts in your local newsagents, supermarket or local newspaper to rent out your property and actually finance your mortgage payments! Your dream french property can actually pay for itself!
To ensure a maximum return on your investment you must remember the maxim 'location, location, location' and buy accordingly. Buy in haste, repent at leisure.
With up to 32o days of sunshine a year, southern France is the ideal place for year round rentals with holidaymakers, golfers and long-term tenants looking for a little 'dolce vita' in our long winter months.
There are many factors which will determine the amount of rental income your property will generate. Some of these factors include:
- Location of the property
- Distance from the beach, golf course and airports
- Property size and number of bedrooms
- Local amenities (promimity to cafés, shops etc)
Making money from your property rather than leaving it standing empty does, however, entail some risks. These risks can be minimised by employing the services of a property management company who will provide reassurance and a number of important services which will add to your tenants' holiday experience, these include:
So why not unlock the full potential of your home in the sun?
Monday 4 December 2006
How Much do I pay the Notaire?
When you buy a property in France you need to cover not only the price of the property but also the costs involved in the buying process - estate agent's fees [See How Much do I pay the Estate Agent?]and Notaire's fees.
The conveyancing cost consists of notaire's fees, land registry fees and stamp duty - and all are payable to the notaire.
If you're buying property under construction or less than 5 years old, these charges would normally amount to between 2% and 4% of the purchase price.
If you're buying property over 5 years old these can amount to between 6% and 8% of the purchase price (on a sliding scale with higher priced properties attracting a lower overall percentage).
As well as these conveyancing costs there are costs for registering the bank's charge if you have arranged a loan from a French lender. This varies according to the amount of the loan, €1,659 for a loan of €150,000 for example.
The notaire's fees and the stamp duty are based on fixed national tarifs and charges should not vary between different notaires. However, if you are buying a property direct from the Notaire without passing through an estate agent, the notaire will charge a sales commission fee.
None of these fees can be included in the amount of the loan so you need to have some capital put to one side to cover these costs.
The conveyancing cost consists of notaire's fees, land registry fees and stamp duty - and all are payable to the notaire.
If you're buying property under construction or less than 5 years old, these charges would normally amount to between 2% and 4% of the purchase price.
If you're buying property over 5 years old these can amount to between 6% and 8% of the purchase price (on a sliding scale with higher priced properties attracting a lower overall percentage).
As well as these conveyancing costs there are costs for registering the bank's charge if you have arranged a loan from a French lender. This varies according to the amount of the loan, €1,659 for a loan of €150,000 for example.
The notaire's fees and the stamp duty are based on fixed national tarifs and charges should not vary between different notaires. However, if you are buying a property direct from the Notaire without passing through an estate agent, the notaire will charge a sales commission fee.
None of these fees can be included in the amount of the loan so you need to have some capital put to one side to cover these costs.
Who is the Notaire?
The French Notaire replaces the British solicitor in property transactions - but only one is necessary and he represents neither vendor nor buyer!
The Notaire is an independent public official who has the monopoly on conveyancing (cessation des biens immobiliers) and who collects the taxes due on a property transfer on behalf of the French government.
Unlike in the UK where the vendor and the buyer each have their own solicitor to look after their respective affairs, in France the same notaire usually acts for both parties. It is his duty to ensure that the transaction is valid, that there is legal proof of ownership (the seller's title) and there are no outstanding debts or claims of ownership on the property.
He conducts searches, prepares documents and is responsible for the collection of frais de timbre (stamp duty) and droits d'enregistrement (registration fees).
While most transactions use just the one notaire, you can, if you wish, instruct your own - this will not increase the the total fees, the same sum is then split between the two notaires.
As the buyer it is your duty to pay the frais the notaire (notaire's fees) [see How Much do I pay the Notaire?] and it is always advisable to make the initial deposit and subsequent balance payable to the Notaire not the estate agent.
The Notaire is an independent public official who has the monopoly on conveyancing (cessation des biens immobiliers) and who collects the taxes due on a property transfer on behalf of the French government.
Unlike in the UK where the vendor and the buyer each have their own solicitor to look after their respective affairs, in France the same notaire usually acts for both parties. It is his duty to ensure that the transaction is valid, that there is legal proof of ownership (the seller's title) and there are no outstanding debts or claims of ownership on the property.
He conducts searches, prepares documents and is responsible for the collection of frais de timbre (stamp duty) and droits d'enregistrement (registration fees).
While most transactions use just the one notaire, you can, if you wish, instruct your own - this will not increase the the total fees, the same sum is then split between the two notaires.
As the buyer it is your duty to pay the frais the notaire (notaire's fees) [see How Much do I pay the Notaire?] and it is always advisable to make the initial deposit and subsequent balance payable to the Notaire not the estate agent.
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