Real Estate & Rental & Lettings News in France from Propertyshowrooms.com

Leaseback sales in France attract foreign buyers

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Foreign investors are being attracted to leaseback properties in France being put up for sale by Irish owners.

This is according to Sextant Properties, a French estate agent, which noted that the number of Irish nationals looking to offload their overseas properties has risen.

Speaking to Overseas Property Professional, Rachel German from the company, explained: "With the leasebacks the sellers can often be in financial difficulty so want to sell quickly. And they need high rental yields to attract clients so prices can be lower."

She added that the majority of interest is coming from investors in the US, Asia and Gulf region.

The length of a leaseback on properties in France is usually between nine and 11 years and is renewable. Rent is normally set at a fixed rate that is linked to inflation.

Investors that purchase a leaseback in France will also be entitled to reclaim the VAT paid on the purchase, which is charged at 19.6 per cent.

Increased air travel in France could interest buy-to-let invvestors

Wed, 8 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

An increase in air travel to France's Nice Cote d'Azur airport is likely to come as welcome news to buy-to-let investors in the region.

Figures have revealed a 9.1 per cent increase in the number of holidaymakers choosing to travel to the region.

Speaking to Overseas Property Professional, Charlie Williams, business development manager of Terresens, said: "Investing in property on the French Riviera is simply common sense.

"High rental yields can easily be achieved with the large volumes of tourists visiting the French Riviera each year along with the abundance of annual conferences and events taking place especially in Cannes, making the South of France an excellent choice for your overseas property investment."

Meanwhile, demand for real estate in the country could be set to rise after it was revealed that the country has beaten off competition from Germany, Holland, Portugal and Spain to secure the 2018 Ryder Cup.

It could prompt a number of buy-to-let investors to purchase property in France to take advantage of the massive tourist boost that the competition will bring.

Property in France an evergreen investment

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

French real estate is an "excellent purchase" when approached in the right manner, people undertaking a search for properties in Languedoc-Roussillon will be pleased to hear.

According to Shelter Offshore, demand for holiday homes in France is strong and consistent, meaning people should have no trouble renting out their Rhone-Alpes property to holidaymakers.

The firm also stated that well-priced property is still available in France, although people will have to hunt for bargains and then negotiate hard to get the best deals.

"You will probably have to be prepared to update and upgrade any real estate you do buy to make it appealing to rental tenants if you want to enjoy the best returns. However, an investment in a property in France can be a very slow burning, steady commitment that can return you decent capital appreciation as well as rental income," the company added.

Last week, data from Chesterton Humberts highlighted that the most popular areas of France for second home owners are Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, followed by Languedoc-Roussillon and Rhone-Alpes.

French leaseback likely to tempt investors

Fri, 9 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The number of investors looking to purchase French leaseback properties is expected to rise steeply in the coming months, it has been claimed.

Speaking to Overseas Property Professional, Athena Mortgages has predicted that the product is likely to benefit from the introduction of a number of 100 per cent mortgages.

Previously, the news provider claims that UK-based investors have found it difficult to secure leaseback properties in the country because of strong competition from native buyers.

However, the new products are expected to raise interest levels in the market from overseas property buyers.

Athena Mortgages director John Busby claimed that the "higher level of loan-to-value means there is very little money to transfer to France to complete the purchase".

"The developers I have spoken to expect demand for their leaseback properties to increase dramatically over the next few weeks as news of these finance products filters out," he added.

Individuals may want to look at Aquitaine real estate listings for their ideal leaseback property, with the region home to the popular tourist and wine-making destination of Bordeaux.

France benefits from holiday home purchasers

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

New figures have shown that last year an increasing number of British investors purchased a holiday home, rather than an investment or buy-to-let property.

Holiday rental company HomeAway.co.uk published statistics detailing the amount and type of investors who were stalking the overseas housing markets in 2009, before releasing details of the types of purchases witnessed.

Among the regions to benefit from the return to the traditional holiday home is France, which attracted Brits thanks to its good weather and quality of life.

Su Bishop from developers Arena Park France, specialists in Burgundy, described 2009 as a turning point for the company.

She continued: "As the purpose-built identikit resorts spread across once virgin coastlines fell from favour, there was a marked return to a real home in a real village surrounded by real native neighbours.

"Today our clients tend to be better off [and] do not necessarily need mortgages."

The National Association of Estate Agents International recently predicted that house prices in the country would be at the most affordable for years during 2010.

Investors can capitalise on the affordability of property in France

Mon, 1 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

French property is looking like it could be at its most affordable for years, according to one expert.

Keith Baker, vice chairman of the National Association of Estate Agents International (NAEA), has revealed his predictions for the country's property market in 2010.

He believes that although the global economic downturn made it hard for the real estate industry, France has benefitted from not having an overpriced market and a more cautious approach to mortgage lending.

"French property is likely to be the most affordable for many years. Property prices are now at a more reasonable level of affordability and are set to continue stabilising in the coming months," he said.

"It is still a buyer's market and confidence is very much apparent. Good quality properties in great locations are always highly sought after."

The NAEA also stated that investors will be looking to purchase property in less risky and more stable environments this year.

European Union figures, released late last year, show that France and Spain are among the countries with the most foreign citizens living within their borders.

French property boost as ECB signals wind-down of stimulus

Sat, 5 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The European Central Bank (ECB) has revealed that it is to wind down its stimulus package in recognition that economic conditions are improving.

Measures to boost liquidity will be gradually scaled back in the coming months, ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet announced.

At the same time, the body held interest rates, maintaining the primary refinancing operations level at one per cent, something that may help keep the cost of euro mortgages down.

The improvement in conditions in the eurozone economy - which is now out of recession - may spell good news for investors in France, as better circumstances could help the growth of property values there.

One place in France that buyers might wish to look is Paris, according to a recent Daily Mail feature on the French capital.

The paper pointed out that because it is built up with little space to expand and has high level of buyer demand, the city will always hold its value.

Another advantage it noted was its ease of access, being two hours and 15 minutes from St Pancras via the Eurostar.

Eurostar 'makes south-west France more accessible'

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Many parts of France are now much more accessible and therefore attractive to Britons because of the Eurostar, it has been stated.

A Times feature on the issue found that Britons are increasingly keen to live in certain parts of France, Germany and the Low Countries that have easy connections with the cross-channel service, so that they can get back to Britain quickly at any time.

This includes areas served by other high-speed rail, such as the south-west of France, according to sales manager for international property firm Assetz Martin Sadler.

He remarked: "Eurostar's connection to the TGV has opened up areas of the south-west of France, which previously had been hard to get to."

Being close to such connections can add a premium to the price of up to 15 per cent, noted head of Savills International Charles Weston Baker.

Earlier this month, director of expat portal Shelter Offshore Rhiannon Davies said the "fantastic lifestyle and an affordable cost of living" draws many Britons to rural parts of the country.

Tourist areas 'best for French property'

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Those keen to buy property in France should concentrate on tourist areas for the best returns, it has been stated.

Head of research at investment firm Property Frontiers Christopher Chadd advised: "In France I would look at all the areas where tourism levels remain high, anywhere on the south coast perhaps in the region of Languedoc."

He said the country offers government-backed guarantees where 25-year leases exist with seven per cent returns, something he suggested was the best investment to look for.

Mr Chadd also recommended prime real estate in Paris as something that will always have high value.

At present, France has a "stronger" property prospect than neighbouring Spain, which is still in recession, he concluded.

The comments come after a uSwitch.com report on quality of life issues placed France as the best place to live out of ten European nations, with Spain second and Britain in last place.

Buyers 'looking to Europe again'

Thu, 8 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

British buyers are starting to look to purchase second homes on the continent again, it has been claimed.

Editor at A Place in the Sun Magazine Richard Way said a UN survey highlighting Norway, Iceland and Australia as the best places in the world to live did not tell an accurate picture for Britons looking for a second home.

Of these three, only Australia is a popular location for UK buyers, as the other two lack warm, sunny weather, he stated.

Mr Way remarked that Britons are focusing on familiar European destinations, as these are the places they are "comfortable with and that are easy to get to from the UK".

He predicted a "gradual" increase in overseas purchases in these places over the next two years, rather than a sudden boom.

The improved popularity of traditional European property hotspots was highlighted by overseas mortgage providers Conti last month.

It noted that a greater proportion of enquiries it received were about France and Spain this year than in 2008, with the French sector seeing these more than double.

France 'remains stable' for property buyers

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The French property market has retained a high level of stability due to the way French banks have gone about their lending policies, it has been stated.

Director of overseas mortgage brokers Conti Clare Nessling told the Independent that this has led to loans for buying homes being more readily available.

She remarked: "They [French banks] certainly haven't taken the extreme view that most UK lenders did. Throughout the credit crunch we've still been able to get 100 per cent mortgages in France for loans over EUR250,000 (GPB230,000)."

The paper reports that four-fifths of mortgages in the country are fixed, which the paper remarked may be another reason for the country's property market performing better than Britain's.

Evidence for this came from the French National Association of Real Estate Agents, whose figures stated that prices rose by 3.9 per cent in the second quarter of this year.

British buyers will make up 20 per cent of those purchasing French property in 2009, according to the country's leading mortgage lender BNP Paribas, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Britons 'to have 20% share' of French market

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A fifth of overseas property buyers in France this year will be Britons, it has been predicted.

Such a forecast comes from French bank BNP Paribas, the largest lender to foreign buyers in the country, the Times reports.

In its feature on property in the Languedoc region, the paper suggested Britons would go for developments such as the Domaine de Lavagnac estate, which has a range of facilities including sporting and shopping amenities.

The location also has 500 villas and flats for sale, starting at €395,000 (£340,830) and ranging up to €1.6 million.

Such homes may appeal to those looking to buy in the south of France.

Last week, overseas mortgage firm Conti said that France has seen a major rise in its popularity since last year.

The country has accounted for 31 per cent of enquiries the firm has received about international mortgages so far this year, more than double last year's total.

France 'offering wide range of bargains'

Tue, 8 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

British buyers looking to offload their French homes are presenting a number of bargain opportunities for buyers, it has been noted.

In a feature on overseas property markets, the Times quoted Brittany-based estate agent Mary Hawkins from Leggett Immobilier, who noted that many of these are UK residents looking to sell up and re-enter the UK sector as British prices start to rise again.

She also stated that opportunities in Brittany are arising from a change in Breton lifestyles.

"Bretons are selling their traditional houses and opting instead for newly built bungalows, so there are a number of stone cottages that are competing for potential buyers," Ms Hawkins remarked.

Earlier this month, the Daily Mail reported that some French property sellers have dropped their asking prices by as much as 30 per cent.

It calculated that such a fall means the cost of buying there now is cheaper than in 2007, as the fall more than compensates for the fall in the value of sterling against the euro.

French property prices 'holding steady'

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Property prices in France are stable at present, a mortgage provider has stated.

Director of French property firm Athena Mortgages John Busby remarked that a mixture of price rises and regional variations is giving "overall stability to the French market", Country Life Magazine reports.

The publication noted that this has seen variations such as a 1.6 per cent rise in Brittany but a 14 per cent drop in Normandy over the past year.

Athena's latest report shows banks to be increasingly willing to lend, the magazine noted.

Such a situation could help those keen to buy in France to pick up a property at a price that suits them.

Overseas mortgage expert with Conti Finance Michael Axelrod wrote on the Mortgage Solutions-Online website this week that the current market in the country is "calm" and that obtaining mortgage finance there is easier than in Britain.

This is because French banks had less exposure to the US subprime losses, he noted.

French property boost as Ryanair announces new flights

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

People looking to buy property in France may benefit from a range of new flights being launched by budget airline Ryanair.

The carrier has revealed it is establishing a new hub of operations at Leeds-Bradford Airport, with a number of French destinations among the locations it will serve.

It has listed Limoges, Montpellier and Nantes among the "17 exciting destinations all over Europe including France, Italy and Spain among others" that will be served by the airport from March 2010.

Of these, 14 are new routes, with three existing destinations also being served from Leeds-Bradford.

Those keen to get to France from Yorkshire may find this aids their access to and from Britain.

Last month the Dordogne region was described as being the most beautiful part of France for people to buy in.

Frenchestateagents.com offered such a view of the area and noted that Limoges is one of the three airports that offers access from the UK.

Appeal of France 'still remains'

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Investing in property in France is something Britons are still keen to do, it has been stated.

Estate agency Stuart Baldock of buying agent Property Vision told the Daily Telegraph that many UK buyers have been held back from buying in the country recently due to the weak value of the pound.

However, the paper noted, it is not expected that this situation will last, as sterling is gaining in strength against the euro and the appeal of France has not diminished.

Summarising the benefits of the country to the paper, owner of a home once lived in by singer Edith Piaf Rupert Scott said: "At the end of the day, the tax is still cheaper and you get more house and land for your money."

Speaking as publisher Archant announced a French property exhibition to be held in London in September, editor of French Property News Karen Tait remarked that recent falls in French prices are "outweighing" the weakness of the pound.

Alsace tourism appeal hailed

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This year will provide some notable extra events in the Alsace region of France, it has been stated.

Official for tourism promotion organisation Alsace in the UK Tony Oliver noted that this year will see the 100th anniversary of the production of Bugatti's first car, which took place in Molsheim near Strasbourg.

"Any car lover should be there", he remarked.

Mr Oliver also noted that the International Beer Festival 2009 will be taking place in Strasbourg, instead of being held in Montreal as usual.

Such events may interest those thinking of buying French property in the Alsace region.

Mr Oliver also stated that there are many cycle routes in the region, which features one stage of this summer's Tour de France, as well as tourist routes including ones based on wine, chocolate, asparagus and cabbage, the latter due to the proximity of Germany with its penchant for sauerkraut.

The region's wine growers will be represented by a stand at the London International Wine Fair next month, with viniculture being another factor that may attract UK buyers.

Short-haul trips hailed as most popular

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Britons are increasingly tending to favour shorter distance trips overseas during the recession as a way of ensuring they can still enjoy holidays despite the credit crunch, it has been stated.

Travel firm Expedia.co.uk's travel hotspots barometer showed that the majority of the most popular locations are close to the UK, something that may benefit investors in holiday rental property in locations such as France.

Noting this, head of product marketing at the company Jonathan Cudworth said: "The most recent data saw [that] seven of the ten destinations featured were less than a three-hour flight away from the UK."

He added that this suggested European destinations will still be favoured this year, as there are bargains to be had even with the weakness of the pound against the euro. French property could offer a number of possible cheap holiday destinations, the Daily Telegraph noted earlier this month.

Among the deals featured by the paper were a Brittany cottage, a village stay in the French Alps and lakeside apartments in the Dordogne.

French property 'available at low cost'

Tue, 7 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

There are a number of properties to be found in France for less than GPB 150,000, it has been stated.

Such low prices exist because many British second home owners have decided to cash in their assets and are willing to offer discounts, the Times reports.

Joanna Leggett of Leggett Immobilier's Dordogne office told the paper: "Old holiday homes are being sold at a steal," noting as an example a recently renovated cottage with two bedrooms in the south-west of the country on offer for GBP 98,645.

The paper also revealed that there are homes available in Provence such as one-bed apartments for GBP 88,900 and a two-bedroom stone home from GBP 125,000.

Another area in which French property may appeal to UK buyers is the ease of accessibility to the country.

The northern region of Picardy is well served in this way, noted Marketing and PR manager for Picardy tourist board Claude Chaboud recently.

He commented: "From London there is the Eurostar and the ferries, so it [Picardy] is very, very accessible."

French tourism 'still doing well'

Wed, 3 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In news that may interest those looking at buying into tourist rental property in France, a minister has said the country has managed to sustain its visitor numbers much better than many of its neighbours.

Junior tourism minister Herve Novelli said the country had seen less Americans this summer because of the weak dollar and less Chinese visitors because they were hosting the Olympics, Forbes reports.

However, he continued, more Middle Eastern holidaymakers had come to France, boosting numbers, while tourists from other European countries - including Britain - have remained loyal.

Such news may be a good indicator that the credit crunch has not depressed this market and that France remains very popular both as a tourist destination and a place to buy property.

French property remained the most favoured choice for UK overseas buyers last year, accounting for 25.4 per cent of such purchases, according to figures from the Association of International Property Professionals.

First-time buyers look abroad

Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

First-time buyers (FTBs) from the UK are increasingly considering investing abroad, an expert has revealed.

Nick Fullerton, managing director of FC Exchange, stated that the housing market in Britain is currently in a state of "turmoil".

This, he said, has led to people who are looking to get on the housing ladder for the first time looking elsewhere.

Mr Fullerton said FTBs do not wish to take a hit in the domestic market and believe that investing abroad offers better growth potential and value for money.

He added that other buyers in the UK are concerned about the plummeting house prices in Britain and would prefer to invest in expanding markets overseas.

As a result, FC Exchange has seen a surge in the amount of enquiries related to purchasing a house abroad.

Mr Fullerton said: "These record figures are encouraging and demonstrate the continuing appetite to invest in overseas property."

According to research by A Place in the Sun magazine, France and Spain are currently the two most popular markets with British property buyers.

Consumers take trains to France

Wed, 9 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

France's rental market could be boosted by the growing popularity of travelling by rail.

According to Virgin Trains, many people are choosing to use the railways to travel to short-haul destinations such as France.

The organisation said the rail networks and Channel Tunnel services are being "well-used" and are increasingly being seen as a good alternative to flying to France.

This could be good news for owners of rental property in France, as visiting holidaymakers will require temporary lodgings.

Philippa Richardson, communications manager for Virgin Trains, commented: "More and more people are choosing [the railway] as a means to get to destinations they might have previously gone to by car or plane."

She added that trains are a far more environmentally-friendly mode of transport than aircraft.

The comments come soon after Eurostar launched a high-speed service between Paris and London, which offers reduced journey times of just two hours and 15 minutes.

British expats buy houses in France

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Lifestyle buyers from the UK are increasingly opting to purchase property in France, an expert has revealed.

Marjorie Mansfield of financial advice group Siddalls stated that the country is currently one of the most popular destinations for British expats.

Speaking to the Telegraph, she said a growing number of people from the UK are setting up in France every year.

This has prompted her to recommend that expats try to reduce the stress of moving overseas by being well-prepared in advance.

Ms Mansfield commented: "The more you know about where you are moving to the better."

She encouraged people to find out whether there is sufficient healthcare provision in their chosen market, as well as other public services such as schools.

In addition, she encouraged people who will need to find a job to research whether there is local demand for their skills.

Earlier this month, currency exchange firm HiFX said that last year, France accounted for more than a quarter of all the enquiries it received from prospective property buyers.

'Good rental returns' in the south of France

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

British property investors can look forward to "very good" rental returns if they choose to buy in the south of France, according to the director of a property consultancy firm.

Olivier Morvan of Cluttons France explained that there are many factors that could attract investors to the area, including the proximity of airports in which low-cost airlines operate.

He suggested that people may want to investigate opportunities for investing in university towns or places which attract tourists on short-term stays, such as Cannes or Antibes.

"If you want pure rental return, you would make use of the good tax advantages by the French government on buy-to-let schemes - that's very good," he commented.

According to data from the Office for National Statistics, France was the second-most popular destination for UK residents to visit within Europe in 2005.

Some 11.1 million visits were made to the country by Britons during that year.

French property market "sheltered"

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Experts assert that the French property market is by and large sheltered from the current US sub-prime crisis due to a stringent legal framework that will not allow sub-prime risks to penetrate.

Serge Grzybowski, chief executive of property development group Icade, argues that France is protected from this vulnerability as a result of the way in which its mortage system is set up, with banks tending not to lend excessively to mortgage borrowers.

In the US a combination of uncapped floating rate loans and relatively high lending in relation to disposable income leaves many borrowers susceptible to base rate fluctuations.

"Floating-rate loans are often capped in France and banks don't lend more than 33 per cent of an individual's disposable income," explained Mr Grzybowski to the French press, according to Forbes.

He continued to state that French property groups tend to have little exposure to "the more speculative property markets" or foreign property markets.

A spokesperson for Association Integration Kreizh Briezh maintains that UK property investors with an eye on the French market would stand to benefit from French language classes in order to make the process and transition easier.

House prices increasing in France

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

House prices in France are on the up with UK property buyers currently in a position to take advantage of investment opportunities, it is claimed.

Rightmove Overseas has said it has received 251,824 French property searches last month alone with popular provinces including Brittany, Normandy and Languedoc-Roussillon.

In addition, the south of France is emerging as the most popular region with investors and holidaymakers seeking a traditionally French way of life and hot temperatures.

"Whether on a buying trip or holiday to the South of France, expect rental prices to reflect the popularity and status of the destination," Rightmove Overseas head Justin Figgins said.

"Sarkozy's plans will not take effect until later in 2008, giving investors time to purchase French properties before the boom and watch the price of their properties quickly appreciate," he added.

Meanwhile, according to Cluttons France spokesperson Olivier Morvan, many British residents are choosing to spend their retirement in the French Riviera.

While the Spanish Costas have been the destination choice for many retirees, "the French Riviera has a certain prestige," he said.

European property set to outperform UK

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Rental growth forecasts suggest that European property will outperform the UK across all sectors, an expert has claimed.

According to Morley European property head Ben Stirling, a total return of 6.6 per cent per annum is forecast between 2007 and 2011, an increase on the current income yield of five per cent for European property recorded in June, Investment Week reported.

Germany is one of the strongest European economies across all sectors, while the French market is attractive due to Paris office space, opportunities are present in retail on the Spanish market and southern Europe is also strong, Mr Stirling said.

Growth in the activity of pan-European investing over the last ten years also brought increased liquidity and transparency to Europe, a process that has been largely stock driven, he claimed.

"Stock selection is the key driver … 80 per cent of the assets are bottom up and only 20 per cent of the performance is top down."

Meanwhile, New Star has said there is buoyant growth in continental European office markets, such as Germany, the Netherlands, Scandinavia and France, because improved economic growth has led to occupier demand and falling vacancy rates across most markets.

Infrastructure investment 'boosts French property prices'

Thu, 5 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Investment in France's infrastructure is on track to boost property prices in various parts of the country, offering better transport links for investors.

According to the director of Investors Provident, improvements that have been made to French rail networks are likely to result in an increase in local property prices, having a regenerative effect on different regions.

Hetal Shah states that new infrastructure developments are on track to boost property prices, while investors will be encouraged by new development.

"People who have been very sceptical about those areas will start to see that there is more new development coming in," he explains.

"More infrastructure means more money coming in to the area as well."

Similar infrastructure developments in Spain have worked to open up previously untapped areas, according to experts at Spanishpropertyinsight.com.

Tourism a 'major factor' in French property market

Wed, 4 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Both capital growth and rental value of an overseas property are often determined by demand within the tourism sector, a trend particularly evident in the French real estate market, one expert has claimed.

Hetal Shah, director of Investors Provident, argued that if there is limited demand from local occupiers, then investors often have to rely on the strength of the tourism sector to boost their investments.

"France has always been a very well known tourist destination, and not just from Britain; from all over the world," Mr Shah said.

Tourism is therefore an important factor affecting investments in the French property market, he added.

Earlier in the year, Trisha Mason, managing director of VEF, argued that France boasted a better market for making profits than Spain, following recent fears over a property sector crash in the country.

As a "mature" economy, France is a safer location for property investment than in many emerging markets, she stated.