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Important
LINKS
You Should Know About!
(If you just want to link to this website or have me provide a
link to your website, click
here)
France
Buying Guide Services
Before
going to France
Getting
and Going to France
Property
Buying and Completion
Living
in France
France
Buying Guide Services
France
Buying Guide
Buy the
full France Buying Guide and get the start to finish, step-by-step
definitive guide to buying in France . View the Table
of Contents and get more information on the guide below.
The
France Buying Guide
France
Buying Guide Forum
Although
this forum is relatively new, Alexis Goldberg (a France Buying
Guide researcher and team member) has added a substantial amount
of information. Please check the Forum for information on all
sorts of subjects...and remember to post some more questions
or perhaps help us out and answer some of the questions asked.
Visit
the France Property Buying & Investment Forum
Smart
Overseas Property Buyer Finder Form
Looking
for a property in France and want some help in choosing an agent?
Check out our property professional matching service where we
will put you in touch with reliable and quality professionals.
Smart
Overseas Property Buyer Finder Form
Smart
Overseas Property Buyer Resource Form
Looking
for a service professional that helps people buy in France?
Check out our resource page and let us know if you're looking
for a mortgage, solicitor, currency specialist, removals company
or anything else you might need!
Smart
Overseas Property Buyer Resource Form
France
Buying Guide MORTGAGE
Looking for a mortgage broker that helps people
buy in France? Check out our mortgage page and let us know what
your exact requirements are!
Smart
Mortgage Matching Service
Before
Going to France
Check
out your Credit Rating Before Applying for a Mortgage
Before ending
this section, I just wanted to mention a site that you might find
helpful. Check out: JoinCreditExpert
as it allows you to enter your details and get a free credit report.
This will allow you to check your credit history BEFORE you apply
for a mortgage to ensure that it’s correct and avoid any
unnecessary delays.
Order
Books on France
In order to
save you time and money buying the wrong information, I review
various publications and offer reviews in my monthly eNewsletters.
I often find the best selection of books on buying property in
France can be located at Amazon.co.uk
To check out the latest books, reviews and synopsis
on Buying Property in France , follow this link to Amazon.co.uk
and it will take you straight to the France Property book section.
Lonely
Planet: Whatever stage you're
at with your overseas property search - you're never better prepared
than when you're armed with a Lonely Planet Guide Book. I've travelled
extensively and have never been far without a trusty Lonely Planet.
Whether you're in the first stages of research or are planning
your new life in France , check out the extensive range of guide
books Lonely Planet have to offer - they're invaluable, whether
you're looking for somewhere to stay, somewhere to eat or even
for directions or translations.
Learn the French Language
Although some French people speak English very well, it’s
in your best interests to at least learn the basics of the language,
if possible. Whether you need to have repairs done, help at the
local grocery store, to consult a local builder or even just be
able to programme your answer phone, understanding and speaking
the basics will reduce your stress levels and those of people around
you. Furthermore,
the locals will respect you more for making an effort to learn
the language most important to them. Start learning as soon as
you know you’re going to execute your plans!
You
can check out the #1 language-learning software in the world,
Rosetta Stone, TheRosettaStone.co.uk/en.
From what I’ve been told, this is the best system available
to learn a new language. HOWEVER, if you’re not totally
serious about learning the language to a fluent level, there is
a great UK website that offers audio-books. There are 70 audio
sets on languages alone – take a look at the Audible.co.uk
website

Do you own
a property in France, but don’t understand the language?
France Support
are a team of native speakers and ex-pats who offer an English
speaking helpline and translation service. Make your time spent
in France as stress free as possible. Let them help you with your
language problems. For further information visit: www.francesupport.com,
e-mail your questions to: info@francesupport.com
or call +33 (0) 613610902. We look forward to helping you manage
your French administration with ease.
http://www.francesupport.com/index.html
Travel
Insurance for France
Recently I had to claim twice. Just a while ago I went overseas
and for the whole duration of my trip I did not have my luggage.
It simply stayed in Heathrow while I went crazy trying to find
clothes to tide me over. If I had not taken insurance, the airport
would have only paid out 25 pounds/day whereas my insurance covered
all of my costs (and they amounted to well over 25/day, believe
you me!)
American
Express
This website has insurance for everything - home, motor, identity
and, of course, travel insurance. If you click on the link above,
you'll go to the Travel Insurance area. Personally, I feel that
their prices are outrageous compared to others, but see what you
think.
Columbus
Direct
I get my travel insurance from Columbus or Direct Line - one or
the other is always cheaper than everyone else. The website could
not be easier to use – it’s not crowed with all sorts
of services…it just offers travel insurance. All you do
is enter a few details, determine what kind of insurance you want
and decide if you want to pay the price. The site offers regular
travel, over 64, adventure, pet insurance and more.
Travel
Insurance Online
This company is part of Jade Stanley Limited which is regulated
and authorised by the Financial Services Authority. They provide
Annual Travel Insurance for UK Residents only. The insurance seems
fairly cheap so check this site against the others to find out
where you can get the best quote.
Direct
Line Travel Insurance
On a previous trip to Cyprus I tried Columbus Direct
and the website wasn't working. Annoyed, I tried American Express
and discovered I would have to sell an organ to pay their prices.
After thinking about providers, I remember Direct Line - those
commercials with the little red phone must have worked on me!
Anyway, getting a quote from Direct Line and purchasing your insurance
on-line could not be any easier. Click on the link below:
- see what you think about them.
Phone
Calls in France: SIM CARD Resource
SIM4travel is this awesome pay-as-you-go service for people travelling
overseas. By purchasing a travel SIM from SIM4travel, you can save
up to 85% on calls in over 100 countries worldwide. It’s free
to receive calls in over 60 countries worldwide too. The cards are
only £29.95 and the website explains everything. This is a
MUST get if you’re going to use your phone overseas, and who
of us can live without our mobiles?!Go to: SIM4travel
Website Getting
to France
Airline Related Websites for France
UK
Airport Parking
Holiday
Extra’s
This site is so simple. Click on the link above, enter
what city you’re leaving from and within seconds you get
a bunch of offers for up to 60% off what you would normally pay.
I did a few checks and this site definitely seems the cheapest
for airport parking by far.
Airlines
Air
France
On the Air
France website you can book airline tickets, flights and your
hotel along with your rental car. Like British Airways, you can
enter the dates you would like to travel and then view a calendar
that allows you to choose other days that offer lower (or higher)
cost flights. I really (and I mean really) like websites like
this as they allow you to save money. Provided you are flexible
with your flights, you have the opportunity to save money by going
on different days.
British Airways
I have
never looked here for flights to France due to the low-cost carriers:
however, someone mentioned that they were doing really good deals.
Well – let me tell you…I cannot recommend more highly
the entire process of buying and flying with British Airways (and
that goes for flying anywhere in the world).
To begin,
I booked my tickets over their website and it was really impressive.
You can specify whether or not you can fly +/- 3 days or +/- 7
days in order to see the various prices on each day. By booking
this way, I found that it was £100’s of pounds cheaper
to go out on a Saturday rather than a Sunday. If I hadn't known
this, I would have simply booked the days I originally had in
mind or used a low-cost, no frills carrier.
Then…when
I arrived at the airport, all I had to do was go to a machine
that looked like a cash machine (hole-in-the-wall) and enter the
Credit Card I had used to purchase the tickets. After about 3
minutes of answering the security questions on the machine, my
tickets popped out and I was instructed to go to the baggage drop-off
point. The entire booking process took no more than 7 minutes.I
highly recommend BA if you fly anywhere…they truly are a
class act!
Travel
Booking Webservices
I use the following two websites when I want to compare the prices
of different airlines. It's easier than calling a travel agent
as you simply enter your preferred dates and let the website work
its magic. With both Opodo and eBookers I have never experienced
any problems.
Opodo
This website is fantastic – it is one of those sites that
checks all air carriers at once. Every time I fly home to Rochester,
New York, I use these people. It’s easy to use, the online
system checks all the airlines flying to your particular destination
and then ranks them according to price, dates or what you choose.
The tickets are sent out automatically or you can get electronic
tickets. I’ve used this company at least 14 times and have
not once been disappointed. The only thing I don’t like
is that you can’t see the prices if you travel 1 day earlier
or 3 days later as you can on British Airways.
eBookers
eBookers is an excellent site. You can book flights, hotel, car
rental and anything else to do with travel. The site is easy to
use and I find the prices very competitive. When booking flights
I often check this one and Opodo. eBookers sends out eMails if
the flight changes so I always feel confident that I know what's
going on.
Thomas
Cook
Don't forget to go to the Thomas Cook website before you book
your flights. There may just be a holiday offer that would slot
in with your plans to view property - a whole lot cheaper perhaps
than it would cost you through a high-street travel agent. There
is no better way to decide where to buy than to spend a holiday
there, preferably out of season. Look at Thomas Cook's website
for inexpensive holidays.
www.thomascook.com
Car
Rental in France
I’ve found that in most countries it pays to sort out your
car rental prior to flying over. In Spain, Germany, Cyprus, France
, America and France I’ve successfully used Sixt Car Rental
and truly feel that you get the best value for money. Hertz has
always seemed to be the most expensive incidentally...
Sixt
Car Rental (This is my 1st choice...just make
sure that you can pick up the car at the airport and don't have
to take a bus to some far off pick-up point)!
EasyCar
is another good car rental option...
Accomodation
in France
Cottages4you
is an interesting website that has many cottages/villas in France
. The quick search isn’t self explanatory, but that shouldn't
let it stop you from searching possible places to stay. Go to
the site, select France under ‘Choose Country’ and
then in the middle screen all the regions of France will come
up. You can then narrow to your area of preference… And
the number below the region drop down is for the number of people
going!
This is also
a great website to check out what properties are renting ou for
(or at least what landlords are trying to get for rental). Check
out Cottages4you here!
Property
Buying & Completion
Save
money buying a property in France
Many buyers unknowingly pay £1,000's to £10,000 more
than they have to - don't let this happen to you. By using a currency
exchange specialist rather than a bank you can save money by:
1.
Buying at a better rate (save 2% - 4%)
2.
Creating a strategy to buy at the best time
3.
Eliminating French Bank receiving charges that can be in the
£100's
Go
to Smart
Currency Exchange Limited to find out how
much money you can save on your property in France or call on
their freephone on: 0808 163 0102.
Smart
Currency Exchange offers a FREE full report on how the Currency
Exchange Market works AND weekly currency updates on whether it’s
a good time to buy, sell or hold tight. Simply go to the site
below (It’s NOT boring - I promise): http://www.smartcurrencyexchange.com/freereport.htm
Legal
Assistance
www.pannone.com
- The residential
conveyancing process: existing property, "off plan"
purchases, leasebacks
- Contracts
and other legal documentation
- Commercial
property / company formation
- Inheritance
considerations
- Wills
and probate
- Tax planning
- Matrimonial
and family issues relating to property
- Litigation
- Power
of attorney
- Accidents
abroad
- Bilingual
legal documents
- General
ad hoc advice and "follow up" service
Removals
for France
Moving
your valuables to France can be quite easy. At least 4 months
before you plan to move to France send me an eMail or fill out
my resource form
and I'll happily get a good moving company to contact yo and
have a chat about this.
Taking
pets to France
Pet
Exports
The website states that international relocation with pets is
sometimes a minefield of legislation, veterinary requirements
and logistics. It is advisable to consult an experienced professional,
conversant with exporting domestic animals. This site aims to
provide all the necessary advice and information in order to
make this seemingly complicated process as simple as possible.
Check these people out as they work with people going to France.
Pets
Passports
Pets Passports is the leading pet relocation specialist and
as such are devoted to the safety and welfare of all animals.
They have a good website which I am sure you will find informative!
Living
in France
There
are lots of useful links in the France
Buying Guide. Buy your copy today!
Banking
in France
Credit Agricole
has set up a service for non-residents to open an account called
Britline – www.britline.com.
Rather open an account only when you have decided where you are
going to purchase – don’t be persuaded to open an
account by property developers before that time. They often get
commission from the bank on new accounts. As far as travel money
exchange rates go, the worst rates are at railway stations and
the best are sometimes at busy tourist areas, contrary to what
one may have expected.
French
Tourism Website
http://France
tourism.com/
Other
Useful Links
THE
NEWSPAPER FOR YOU - Special offer for Overseas Guides readers
Are you looking
for a way to find out about what is happening in France and authoritative
information about life there? The Connexion, the monthly newspaper
for English-speakers throughout France and Francophiles everywhere,
is the answer.
The Connexion
comprises national French news - in English - and quality articles
on the health system (how it applies to you) as well as essential
tax and financial issues, education and property updates and a
question and answer section to really assist you with your everyday
life in France .
Order a free
trial copy by logging on to www.connexionFrance.com
and quote ‘overseas’ in the promotional code box.
If you then
decide to receive The Connexion on a regular basis, Overseas Guides
readers can benefit by having 14 editions for the price of 12.
That means 14 editions of The Connexion delivered to your French
home for just EUR 26 (EUR 35 to a UK address). Once again, simply
quote ‘overseas’ in the promotional box as you subscribe.
British
Cornershop

(I will
add more links as and when I find them!)
Link
Exchange
If you would like to set up reciprocal links between this website
and yours, please email me at: mailto:Kim@OverseasGuidesCompany.com
I am interested
in linking to high quality websites related to buying property
in France or getting to and around France.
If you put
up my link on your website, please send me a link as to where
I can see it, and then send me your link AND a description about
your website. Once I publish your link, I'll send you and eMail
confirming the location.
Here is my
link for placement on your page: Please cut and paste:
URL
http://www.France
BuyingGuide.com/France .htm
Description
FREE France Property Buying & Investment Guide
Newletter
Get your FREE French Buying Guide Newsletter now: a newsletter
offering educational and easy-to-read tips, processes and methods
to ensure your property purchase in France is a success. Find
out how to save money, find your ideal home or investment property
and access a series of resources to help you with your research.
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