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.

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.

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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