Strong euro is good news for property investors in France
Strong euro is good news for property investors in France
The pound may be floundering against the euro, but the French property market remains buoyant.
The Times reports on the "buzzing" industry across the Channel and how the strong euro is beneficial in more ways than one.
Estate agents say that sales have never been stronger and this is being put down to Britons' trust in
France, even in times
of global economic problems. David Frere-Smith, of property portal French Property Links, explained that people
"feel really comfortable with France", and that they were seeing particular interest in "old favourites" like
the
Dordogne and
Provence.
The strong euro is having a two-fold effect on the property market. Firstly, vendors are being encouraged to offer realistic selling prices in order to attract the British market. Secondly, there is less competition for properties, as some more speculative buyers have been forced out of the
game.
There are several areas recommended to prospective buyers. Provence and the Côte d'Azur are, according to Stuart
Baldock of Property Vision, "becoming less seasonal", in particular Rémy-de-Provence, which is busy from spring
through to Christmas. With its "excellent" communication links, Gascony also constitutes a sensible choice; estate agent Fiona Bennet claims that "now is a good time to invest" and that vendors are "being far more realistic about prices". Meanwhile, the
Languedoc region offers investors good value for money with all the charm of Provence and
the Riviera; property prices are on average 30 per cent lower than in Provence, according to one estate agent.
However, would-be buyers looking for a little bit of home should head to the Dordogne, which with its nickname 'Little Britain', is "synonymous" with Britons settling in France.
This story was brought to you by holiday
lettings.co.uk, the UK's No.1 holiday home website.
28 May 2008
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