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I think most of us are still wondering when the British summer is going to start – which it seems to me has only served to make many people keen to pursue a French property dream. The reasons we love it don’t change... they stay constant: proximity to the UK, beautiful countryside, great food, fabulous wines, peaceful but cultured lifestyle, much much more for your money. Bargains still abound, and when Kim and I visited the Dordogne a little while ago, she was blown away by some of the properties we were shown around with views to die for…. Talking of Kim and I, I thought it would be a great idea to enclose a picture of the two of us, rather fittingly alongside a magnum of Bordeaux wine Kim spotted in a little shop in St. Emilion on one of our recent visits! Many of my readers have wondered: hmmm, Kim & Alexis – a couple? Two men? A man and a woman? Yes, our names are interchangeable but to clear up any confusion and so that you know who you are talking to in the future, here we are, again in St. Emilion, I am the one with the bag!
Another lovely weekend for me in Montjoi since my last newsletter. The minute I got off the plane in Toulouse I felt the rise in temperature, it was glorious. My daughter, who is taking a year out teaching in France, has a French mobile phone which she occasionally lends to me if she is back in the UK and I am over there! This time over I took full advantage of the excellent SIM4travel service. This is a pay-as-you-go service for people travelling overseas - 'pay low wherever you go' is their motto. 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. The cards are very reasonably priced and their website explains everything. For much more information click on: Sim4Travel Buying overseas is a huge undertaking, no doubt about it, exciting though it is too. Our Guide is specifically designed to make it as exciting and as stress free as possible. We wish you well in your quest and as always, welcome your feedback and questions. You can always find me at: mailto:Alexis@overseasguidescompany.com
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Feature Article: OUR CONTINUING LOVE AFFAIR WITH FRANCE – A SHORT STUDYDespite a surge of interests in emerging markets and the ease of buying abroad generally these days even in some of the most far flung countries of the world, did you know that France remains no. 1 choice in Europe as the preferred destination of the Brits. It is second only in the world to Australia. Let’s have a brief look at some of the reasons. I am quite sure I am talking to a captive audience here, since the very fact you are reading this means you must have a great interest in France and I bet you have your own individual ideas of what makes France so very popular. Please tell me if you do! I love to hear your views. Write to me at: Alexis@overseasguidescompany.com More than 150,000 Brits live in France permanently and another half a million have second homes there. There must be very many “pros” – here are some I have thought of: • A slower pace of life. France retains its rural identity and people have not forgotten how to live life as a community. Although times have changed a little, the lunchtime break is still a big deal and you will often find families getting together for a sociable meal rather than “eating on the go”. Most villages and small towns still make a real effort to organize fetes and get togethers. Everyone has a role and there is little discrimination between young and old. I have been to many weddings in France and always love the way little children are there dancing away with the grannies and grandpas, not to mention teenagers. Everyone mixes in much more readily. • Public holidays. The UK has 8 public holidays, France has 11. What does that tell you? Yes, a more relaxed society, for sure. Although not all of the fete days are compensated for with another day off if they fall on a weekend, if one of them falls on a Thursday you will often find people taking the Friday off also to make a 4 day weekend. This is known as “faire le pont” or making the bridge – sounds so civilized to me! Incidentally, the biggest fete of all is on Bastille Day, 14th July which also marks the beginning of school holidays. • Climate. France is a huge country with different weather systems, this we must not forget. Having said that, tradition has it that once you have crossed the River Loire, you are pretty much guaranteed some good hot summer sunshine. Once you get down to the Cote d’Azur you are getting into the Mediterranean climate with consistent sunshine and hardly any rain in the summer months. Although popular areas such as Brittany may not differ hugely from Britain in its general weather pattern, it is often much warmer and sunnier than England. • Travel. Getting to France is so easy these days with a wealth of options by air, road, rail and sea. Regional airports have increased hugely in the last few years and we are spoilt for choice. According to Flightmapping.com there are 31 airports in France with direct flights to and from the UK! For Northern France the ferry system has been simplified in keeping with competition from the Channel Tunnel. You can hop in your car, drive down to Dover for example, to a choice of over 40 crossings each and every day to Calais. Trains are great in France too, they run on time, are very fast and the network is extremely well organized. Driving? A pleasure! There is an excellent motorway network and far far less traffic on the roads. More tolls, yes, this is true but then there are less roadworks. • Cuisine. France has long been world renowned for its cuisine. Every region has its culinary speciality and almost everywhere you go you will find food markets with the most fantastic selection of fresh vegetables and fruit and local butchers selling locally grown meat. You are literally spoilt for choice! Most restaurants offer a fixed price menu and it is still a pleasure to travel through the tiniest of villages and find a reasonably priced menu sometimes with a good glass of wine thrown in! Near my own home there is a tiny restaurant with a hand written board outside almost permanently, but with a changing menu each day by the local patron. The cost is €11 for 3 courses and it is all freshly cooked and delicious! The French attitude to food is different from ours, the table culture is very strong and a meal is a social occasion to be savoured with separate courses for meat, vegetables, salad – all in all a more refined way of eating. • Good property. Although there has been a general increase in prices over recent years and the bargain you find today may not be as great as the one, say 10 years ago, France is a country which still offers you far far more for your money than the UK. Many people are thrilled to find out that for the price of a 2 bed flat in a major city of UK they can buy perhaps a sprawling farmhouse sometimes with outbuildings in parts of France. The standard of living you will have in France is higher than you would have in the UK. My good English agent friend who has lived near Bordeaux for almost 20 years has a huge sprawling house set high on a hill with views to die for. When you are there you begin to wonder what on earth we are doing back here! • Space. Here’s an interesting statistic for you that you may not have thought of – although true you may have noticed when you are tootling about the French countryside – did you know that France has about 108 people per sq.km. at the last count and the UK has about 244? And you could fit the whole of the UK into France many times over too! The feeling of space means less stress: there is room to breathe, not many traffic jams, people are calmer. It is good for the soul. Put quite simply, France has a huge amount to offer in terms of quality of life. When you are looking for your dream property, important though this is, remember that moving to France is more than simply buying your house. There are bound to be things which are unfamiliar to you but your love affair will continue when you embrace the French way. For a little
more help along the way to your new life in France, allow me to
do some of the donkey work for you by filling out our short property
form at: http://www.francebuyingguide.com/property.htm
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TOP TIP: Successful communicationI talked about our love affair with France earlier. And like any continuing love affair, communication is the key to its ongoing success! Language is the place to start. You will find the French welcome you with open arms if you attempt to speak to them in their language and do take heart that there are many French words which they have “borrowed” from us: the words “football, hamburger, weekend, camping” spring to mind. My favourite one? “businessman” to be said with a pronounced French accent even though they have their own word “homme d’affaires”.Click on and have
a look at the number 1 language-learning software in the world, Rosetta
Stone. Once you have started, keep listening – have your French radio station on, seek out French people to speak to, ask questions and when you are in France, watch children’s TV in French! Contrary to popular belief, the French actually have a very positive attitude towards us Brits living in their country – the Entente Cordiale is still alive and well!
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Top Frequently Asked Question / Burning Question:Q: I am looking to retire to a less stressful life with warmth and sunshine – where shall I look in France? Certainly one of
the reasons British people move to France is for a less stressful life,
of that I am quite sure. France has a huge amount to offer in terms
of landscape, good weather, gentle rural ways, history, cost of living
etc. but you know I think another reason why us Brits are drawn there
is that there is a feeling of nostalgia that France is more like England
USED to be! |
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Looking for Property in France?Due to the fact that I'm in touch with many buyers and several property professionals, I have a huge amount of good contacts. If you're just started your search or are ready to buy, please feel free to fill out our property form. This will enable me to help you on your journey. |
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(New) The France Buying Guide Forum We have around 21 posts on the form...I would really like to get some more information on it... Please spend a couple minutes to write me a question on the forum and I'll respond ASAP. |
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Alexis |
