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In This Month's Issue You'll Find:

Message from Alexis

Cost of Living in France

Save £20,000 when relocating from the UK to France

Let the haggling begin!

Recently renovated Béarnaise farmhouse

Getting the best deal on your overseas mortgage

What does the OGC Resource Centre know that you don’t?

The Essential Resource to Buying in France

Our renovation work continues…

Hi

Warm greetings to you from the South of France!  My husband and I arrived here a couple of weeks ago so this month’s newsletter comes to you straight from your favourite country and mine.  We drove down with our growing puppies, Eddie and Alfie, spent one night on the way in Orleans and arrived in the early evening at our new house.  What a complete joy it is to be here!  The house is huge and needs a lot of work doing to it to make it into a proper home, plus we have had snow and cold dry weather (unusual for this time of the year down here).  But I cannot tell you how happy we are to be here and how much we are looking forward to the coming months of renovation, finding out about our area and getting to know our neighbours.

The community spirit is almost tangible in France.  Everyone says “bonjour” to you in our village both in the streets and in the shops and we have only encountered friendly faces since we have been here.  Of course Eddie and Alfie have helped: they are so cute.  Plus Monsieur Dumont in our local “Tabac” gave me some postcards of our actual house!

So the work has begun in earnest and, as I write, my husband is plumbing in a shower in our main bathroom.  He has spent many an hour in our local “Bricomarche”, something like our B&Q in the UK, deciphering pipes, tubes and literally the nuts and bolts of French plumbing.  I was delighted to find him driving off the other day with my very own France Buying Guide by his side.  He said he found the list of shops and various other outlets useful and even used my list of useful phrases!  If you have not already ordered your own copy, you can do so by clicking here: http://www.francebuyingguide.com/guide.htm

We have some wonderful articles for you in this month’s edition.  We compare the cost of living in France to that of the UK, something which affects us all. I chat a bit about the cost of living …plus there is the offer of a FREE, indispensable report from Smart Currency dealing with currency issues when relocating abroad. I tell you about a wonderful charity event that my colleague Jackie attended in Cyprus and discuss that great British taboo – haggling. Finally there is something on how to insure your property and I chat about a highly recommended mortgage company before finishing with a wonderful farmhouse to show you, the next in my series of top tips and I share 2 photos with you this time, the first of our village in the snow – truly a picture postcard image.

So welcome to Spring!  The snow has now all gone and the sun is bright, it can only get warmer!  I hope this month’s newsletter finds you well, happy and ready to embrace the longer days.

Kind regards as always,

Alexis
France@OverseasGuidesCompany.com
France Buying Guide
The Overseas Guides Company Ltd
0207 898 0549 (call me!)

Cost of Living in France

There is no doubt that it is cheaper to live in France than in the UK.  Looking at the latest market research figures on the subject, this shows that it is roughly 20-25% cheaper overall.  Having said that, France is not as cheap as it was say 10 or 15 years ago and certain things are more expensive than in the UK, for example, white goods, sanitary ware and paint. 

A lot will depend on your own lifestyle and plans.  For example, do you run a car?  Do you have children at school?  Do you have a mortgage?  Will you be undertaking renovation work?   Let us take a look at several categories and do a rough comparison. 

Mortgage

In general mortgage costs are less in France and the euro retains its strength so this will normally be cheaper in France.  If you would like our help finding a competitive mortgage, do feel free to fill out our form here, we will be happy to give you the benefit of our recommendation. http://www.FranceBuyingGuide.com/resources.htm

Food and drink

Overall it costs less to do your weekly food and drink shop in France.  There is usually a vast and excellent choice of fresh fruit and vegetables in most supermarkets and practically every town and village has a weekly market selling everything from meat to beds and clothes!  One of the joys of living in France is to stock up at one of these markets; the quality is usually first class.  Although we have a massive choice of wine in the UK from all the wine growing areas of the world, in France it is much easier to buy extremely drinkable every day wine from as little as €2.  Eating out is generally cheaper too and most restaurants offer a fixed price menu at excellent value.

Renovation

This is probably roughly on a par with UK prices, depending of course on how much you do for yourself!  The French have a 35 hour work week and will always take at least an hour for lunch so it may take longer to get a job done but the actual cost will likely work out about the same.  Certain goods are dearer however, notably paint, which is far more expensive in France, as well as white goods such as fridges, washing machines etc. It may in fact be wiser to buy such things in the UK.  Power tools and wood burners tend to be cheaper, although smaller items such as screws, nuts and bolts etc. are actually far more. 

Driving

Petrol is cheaper in France as is car insurance.  The roads are well maintained and there is less traffic although most motorways have tolls.  However, there is no road tax.  It is wiser to buy a car in the UK or Germany as second-hand car prices are much higher in France.

Clothes

This depends on where you buy them!  In smaller boutiques as well as general stores such as Galerie Lafayette the prices are roughly on a par with the UK.  However, many of the large supermarkets stock an excellent range of clothes, in particular children’s clothes and these are very good value.

Utilities

These bills are generally less than the UK.  The 2 property-based taxes are far less than the Council Tax and electricity and water bills are a little cheaper.  Two things to bear in mind: many properties have water meters so if you are in the South where it is hot, for example, you may have to watch how much water you use.  Secondly, if you use air conditioning in a hot region, that will wrack up the bills.

As I said at the start, your own cost of living will depend on how you live: whether you have children, run a car, eat out a lot, are considering doing renovation work etc. Remember also that certain areas are cheaper to live in than others.  Overall though, you will not find living in France as expensive as the UK.

For much more information on living in France, including my personal top tips and an overview of every area, get yourself a copy of my France Buying Guide here:

Save £20,000 when relocating from the UK to France

The mere fact that you are reading this means that you may be thinking of moving money abroad for one reason or another. There are so many things to think about that sometimes the most obvious ones get overlooked. But what can be more important than making sure that, when transferring your money abroad, you get the very most money that you can to your destination?

The alarming thing is that many people are unaware that they have any options or control whatsoever in this process. They pop into their high street bank, give details of where the money should be transferred to…and ultimately get ripped off.

Why do I say that? Well, the truth is that you do have options and there are ways in which you can save yourself money - and sometimes huge sums of money.   

Smart Currency Exchange Ltd has a new, FREE report out that shows you step by step how you could save yourself as much as £20,000 when relocating from the UK to any overseas destination and making an international payment. Incidentally, an ‘International Payment’ is any payment that you need to make where one currency is exchanged for another and the exchanged funds are then transferred to an onward destination.

This report will reveal the choices that are readily available and will explain how much you actually stand to lose unless you understand and use your options.

If you go directly to your bank as opposed to an International Payments Specialist to exchange and move your money, you could pay up to 4% more due to poor exchange rates alone. Work it out: on each £100,000 that’s an extra £4,000 more paid for absolutely no reason.

In most cases, people who are moving abroad (rather than just buying an overseas property) will have lost out on even more money as they not only move funds for property, but often move their entire savings to their onward location.

This report will explain in clear, layman’s terms:

• The full process involved in making an international payment so that you can clearly see where and how losses can occur
  
• The specific differences between using a bank and using a specialist so you know how to win rather than lose at the international money transfer game
• How financial organisations charge for currency so that you can ensure you’re not getting overcharged
• The nature of exchange rates and how they change every second – so you’re better able to buy at the right time

It also sets out how it is possible for specialists to offer better rates that the banks, along with an explanation of the ‘Interbank rate’. Plus you will understand how to set about choosing the right currency company – one that you can trust and rely on.

Remember, you can lose even more money by failing to plan a currency strategy in advance.

Part of the report includes a detailed forward strategy for sending your money abroad. Why do you need a strategy, you may ask? The short answer is that yet again it may well save you money!  Much of the information in this report may surprise you and it may also open your eyes as to how you can save yourself a significant amount of money – and who doesn’t need to do that today? For your copy please go to:
http://www.smartcurrencyexchange.com/emigrationreport.aspx

Smart’s ‘Help for Heroes’

On the 26th February 2010 Peace and Harmony Freemasonry Lodge of Paphos held a Grand Charity Event and raised almost 24,000 euros for "Help for Heroes", www.helpforheroes.org.uk in the UK.

But first of all - what is the charity for? Well, “Help for Heroes” is all about our men and women of the Armed Forces who are injured in the course of their duties.  All profits raised will be donated to the charity, which in turn will use these funds to transform the lives of wounded service personnel.

Smart are very proud to have been involved.

If you haven't opened a Smart account yet it’s the number 1 recommendation that the OGC makes when it comes to saving money and avoiding unnecessary risks.  Call on freephone 0808 163 0102 (+44 0207 898 0541) or fill out the online Account Form at:
http://www.smartcurrencyexchange.com/applyOnline.aspx

When does a cheeky offer become a silly one, or – even worse – an insulting one? That’s the question that needs to be the first you ask yourself if you decide that you are going to offer less than the asking price. The last thing you need to do is to rush in with guns blazing and offend anyone. Neither, however, do you want to pay any more than you have to…

Each country has a different take on the thorny issue of exactly how much lower you should offer than the asking price. Take Spain for instance. Although property prices have fallen – and some developers are really desperate to sell - most properties are realistically priced. That does not mean that you can’t make an offer well below the asking price, and here’s where a really good local estate agent could advise you. An agent with extensive knowledge of both the rules and regulations of the country’s property laws plus of the local vendors is worth their weight in gold. They will know local price trends and they will also have a good insight as to how the property game is played in their neck of the woods.

Both the vendor and estate agents need to know that you are a serious buyer and not just wasting their time so it is important to get organised before you make an offer. If you have all your ducks in a row in terms of what is needed to buy - things like a bank account opened in Greece, a NIE registration in place in Spain, a mortgage agreed to in principle, a good Experian credit reference to hand - they will be far more likely to take an offer from you seriously. Even if it is lower than another offer they may receive, the fact that the sale will probably go through quickly will weigh in your favour.

Another thing to bear in mind is that, although the vendor may not be prepared to accept a lower offer, they may well be prepared to consider other incentives to encourage you to buy. Things such as paying your closing costs, landscaping your garden, providing white goods in the kitchen…if you don’t ask, you don’t get!

Remember, if you are buying from a Brit who will be moving the proceeds of the sale back to the UK, the exchange rate from euros into sterling may be more favourable than when they bought so they can perhaps afford to drop their price and still make a profit…

It’s worth remembering that Brits are no longer buying in huge numbers in countries such as Spain, France and Portugal since the recession of 2008/9 and this has left a hole in the market. The recession also meant that a lot of buyers got their fingers burnt, buying at the top of the market and seeing the value of their properties plummet.

What does this mean to you?

It means that as a buyer you may be a fairly rare species and that fact allows you to haggle. It also means that you need to consider your purchase carefully. You don’t want to be one of those buyers with burnt fingers!

So…to summarise:

1. Leave your British reserve at the door! Remember, after the sale, you may never see either the estate agent or the vendor again. You are not trying to make a new best friend…
2. Do your research before you set foot in your country of purchase. Try and get a feel for possible prices, the state of the market etc.
3. Make sure that you have all those irritating bits of paperwork tied up BEFORE you start looking if at all possible and that you are ready to sign a deal immediately (gives massive bargain power to be able to move fast)
4. Get your finances set up so that you know exactly what you want to spend. This should include all purchase costs
5. Then, by all means put in an offer, but make it a sensible one
6. Best case scenario would be that you do this acting under advice from a local estate agent who has a handle on the local market
7. If your offer is rejected, try to get other incentives to sweeten the sale

Good luck!

If you need any help at all, for instance with recommendations on estate agents, Financial Advisors, mortgage providers etc please just phone the OGC Resource Centre at 0207 898 0549. We have a number of property professionals that we have either sourced or who come highly recommended by other OGC readers.

Alternatively, fill in our OGC Resource form at: http://www.FranceBuyingGuide.com/resources.htm

Recently renovated Béarnaise farmhouse

Price 235,000 euros

This attractive Béarnaise farmhouse has been recently renovated creating large, light and airy open plan living spaces whilst still maintaining its charm and original features.

It is situated in a small village in the Pyrenees Atlantique over looking the beautiful countryside, with the snow capped mountains of the Pyrenees in the distance and yet just a short drive away from the bustling market and tourist town of Aire sur l’Adour.

Perched on a hill, and accessed from a country lane through black wrought iron gates and up the tarmac driveway, is this charming and interesting property that offers 175m2 of habitable space.

The front door leads into the entrance hallway, with access to the bathroom. To the rear are a small store room with built in cupboards and a staircase leading to the first floor.

To the right of the hallway is the large open plan living area with a corner kitchen and at the far end an inglenook fireplace still with the original bread oven. Charm and character are in abundance in this room and the unusual spiralling staircase is a fantastic central feature.

The first floor is a wonderful attic conversion also totally open plan, creating a warm and stylish space with exposed stone walls and plenty of beams. There is a second toilet and wash hand basin at the far end.

The property benefits from a reversible heating system providing heat in the winter months and air conditioning in the summer months. Wooden double glazed windows have been fitted throughout and the roof is new.

Outside the property sits on approximately 8800m2 of land and there is a large attached outbuilding providing scope for further development.

The village, although small, boasts a bar/restaurant/tabac which is renowned throughout the area for its food.

Pau international airport is just over 30 minutes away and, on completion of the new A65 Bordeaux to Pau motorway, this time will be greatly reduced making this part of the world more accessible than ever before. With under a 2 hour drive to both the sandy beaches on the Atlantic coast and the stunning mountains of the Pyrenees, this property really does have a fabulous location.

If it is an old and interesting property you are after then look no further. Please just phone the OGC Resource Centre on 0207 898 0549 and chat to them about your potential new home – or you can fill in the brief form at:
http://www.FranceBuyingGuide.com/property.htm

That’s if my friend and colleague Carol doesn’t buy it first – she’s totally smitten with it!

Getting the best deal on your overseas mortgage

Anybody who reads a newspaper listens to the radio or watches TV must be aware that it is a whole lot more difficult to get a mortgage today. This applies not only to the UK but generally is a world-wide phenomenon. Finding competitive rates and terms for larger mortgages has become more challenging as high street lenders 'cap' the maximum mortgage amounts to individuals.

That being stated we have however found a Mortgage Broker who can arrange mortgages at very competitive rates for UK nationals, foreign nationals, British expats, UK residents earning in foreign currencies or non-domiciled UK residents secured against UK property assets. This company came highly recommended to us and have now helped a number of OGC readers, who cannot speak highly enough of them. They have been providing an exemplary mortgage service to their clients for well over 25 years – that’s a recommendation in itself!

If you are buying a residential property overseas then they are able to access finance from banks located in the same country as your purchase.  Overseas banks rates are very competitive and they work with a number of financial institutions in Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, Bulgaria, Turkey, Germany, Florida and most US states to bring you the best deals. They are also able to arrange foreign currency mortgages. A US Dollar mortgage, Euro mortgage, Yen mortgage and Swiss Franc mortgage can be secured against your UK home or your new home abroad – this may be an enormous help if you are earning or paying in a foreign currency. 

Please call the OGC Resource Centre at 0207 898 0549 and have a chat f you are interested – the team are always pleased to hear from you or fill out the following form

Mortgages

What does the OGC Resource Centre know that you don’t?

The OGC Resource Centre team are available to assist people with the many questions that arise when buying property and/or moving abroad. They work to help educate overseas property buyers on how to avoid pitfalls, minimise risks and save money! Talking to hundreds of people on a daily basis means they we have come across most of the problems that can arise and in many cases have been able to help.

The OGCers have many relationships with helpful experts that may be of benefit to you, some of whom they have sourced or used and others that come highly recommended by other OGC readers. We can put you in touch with:

1. Property developers and agents
2. Mortgage brokers
3. Independent financial advisors focusing on countries abroad
4. Lawyers and solicitors
5. Foreign exchange specialists
6. Removal experts
7. Property insurers

Please think of them as your 'personal assistants' to buying or investing in property abroad, or to helping you with the many questions that arise when you seek to either purchase property or to move abroad permanently.

They don't charge the service as of yet, so please take advantage of this while they come at no cost...just phone 0207 898 0549 – there is no catch, I promise!

Here’s what a happy OGC reader has to say:
“…Let me say how happy Philip and I are with your [OGC Resource Centre] service. You have opened so many doors for us….I like to take things one step at a time, to fully take on board every situation, but I could never have been prepared for the multitude of options that you have presented us with. …You can be sure that we will be using your recommendations because we are gaining more and more confidence in your company and that is all down to the interest you take and the advice you give.”

http://www.FranceBuyingGuide.com/resources.htm

The Essential Resource to Buying in France

The media is filled with doom and gloom, but just because the economic outlook is a little on the gloomy side it does not mean you have to postpone your plans to either buy a second home or move abroad. On the contrary, it actually couldn’t be a better time to buy, providing you do your sums correctly, buy in the right place and use reliable, professional people to help you.

Let the Guides help you with all this – and more. Every step is clearly and simply outlined, starting with the initial idea to buy all the way through to areas, how to buy land, investment options and many top tips. What is more, there’s a money-back guarantee if you don’t like the Guide so you have nothing to lose!!

The Guides are written by OGC staff members who know the country intimately and in many cases own their own homes there. They cover Cyprus, France, Greece, Portugal, and Italy plus there is a wonderful Emigration Guide that would benefit anyone thinking of moving abroad on a permanent basis. The Guides are utterly honest and take a straightforward, no-nonsense approach to the property buying process and all the other aspects that such a move will raise.

This is what Eric and Mary White wrote about one of the guides:

I am sure it is through your efforts that many people that would have given up the idea of having a home or emigrating abroad have only succeeded by following the path through your Guides. Also your following support has made it possible, I am just at the beginning of the long path but with your help I know we will end up living in our tranquil surroundings in our dream home.
For your continuing support Mary and I thank you both,
Eric and Mary White

There are many steps that need to be thought out in advance, but with the help of the Guides you will succeed! Just order your copy now. You are also welcome to phone the OGC Resource Centre where you will find a team of friendly and helpful people happy to assist with your queries. The number is 0207 898 0549.

To get more information on each guide on offer, please select the country below:

http://www.CyprusBuyingGuide.com/guide.htm
http://www.GreeceBuyingGuide.com/guide.htm
http://www.ItalyBuyingGuide.com/guide.htm
http://www.FranceBuyingGuide.com/guide.htm
http://www.PortugalBuyingGuide.com/guide.htm
http://www.EmigrationGuide.com/guide.htm

Our renovation work continues…

It is simply wonderful to be down here in the south of France for several months now – even though we have had all that snow!  There is a real feeling of peace down here; it really feels as though people know how to enjoy life.  As I write this, I am sitting beside a log fire, looking out on the 14th century church opposite our house.  We have masses of work to do on it as you know but we have decided to enjoy the journey, knowing we will be rewarded when our house is brought back to its former glory.

Are you thinking of doing something similar?  If so, I would encourage you to go for it now.  This is a great time to buy in France and, with Spring just around the corner, there is a real feeling of looking forward.  I would be delighted to help you with some ideas; it is never too early to start planning.  You are welcome to let us know your requirements here http://www.FranceBuyingGuide.com/property.htm

I have had some lovely messages lately from my blog followers; it is great to know our story may help you too.   Here is a recent one:

Hi Alexis,

How lovely to keep reading these posts as your story unfolds, and as you actually live in the experience you are describing. It is great to find someone who understands so well, in a way that has to be experienced, what rural France and its village life is really like. It's something I wish everyone could feel, and I think we would all improve by adopting something of their lifestyle and attitudes!

It's great to hear how very happy you are, and I look forward to the next installment!

Regards,
Michelle

You can follow my blog each week here; it is the story of our French house renovation: http://francepropertybuyingguide.blogspot.com/

Finally, I promised you another picture.  I am sure you would like to see what our house looks like so here she is!

I hope this newsletter find you well and on the way to achieving your French dreams.  Let me know how I or one of the team here at OGC can help you, we are always at the end of a phone and love to hear your stories too.

Until next time, my very warmest wishes to you.

Kind regards,

Alexis
France@OverseasGuidesCompany.com
France Buying Guide
The Overseas Guides Company Ltd
0207 898 0549 (call us!)

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