Hello there!

I am feeling very positive this month and hope you are too: winter is just about over -Spring is most definitely in the air and the clocks go forward any day now so those longer light evenings will soon be upon us. This is the most wonderful time of the year to head off to France. Ferry prices are incredibly cheap, it is not crowded and one of the loveliest things to do, especially as the Spring flowers open up, is to wander around a bustling market in the sunshine. The rich offerings of fruit and vegetables on display at the French market stalls are truly a work of art. I also love the fact there is always at least one little café where one can linger, ‘people-watching’…and perhaps people listening too (great for your French)!

I had such a huge response to my February newsletter and am delighted to know that you enjoy them so much. I also have had several burning questions on many subjects so in this issue, you will find a bonus “Question and Answer” section to complement the already extremely popular one enclosed with our France Buying Guide: http://www.FranceBuyingGuide.com/guide.htm

Dusting off the cobwebs after what seems like a very long winter, I also have some great tips for treating mind, body and soul and making the most of your new life in France. Whether you are thinking of moving to France or simply having a second home, you will find some excellent hints on how best to benefit from your new plans.

As always, Charles Purdy will be offering his words of wisdom on how best to fund your currency for your purchase and I have found a stunning property to whet your appetite yet again!

Please do keep your emails coming or feel free to call me at any time. I have to say it is a complete joy to be able to help in some way with your France plans. You are also welcome to pop in for a coffee, our offices are right in the middle of Lyric Square, Hammersmith and the kettle is usually on!

So from one Francophile to another, enjoy the longer days now, happy reading and I look forward to hearing from you if you have any queries/questions/comments at all.

Kind regards as always,

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

A French treat to soothe your mind, body and soul

Moving to France could well have many positive effects on your health. There is much talk these days of keeping the brain happy and active and some evidence that doing so can ward off the onset of dementia. Certainly a positive lifestyle change will be beneficial. The basic idea is that it is important to challenge and exercise the brain. You could of course decide to take up rocket science but as a fellow France lover, it may be easier to capitalise on your new plans and stretching your brains in a rather more practical way!

If you move to France you will have a wonderful opportunity to stretch that brain every day. Of course, the first thing to think of is language and you will find it hugely rewarding to start learning now and look forward to some stimulating conversations with your new found friends and neighbors. Learning anything new is hard at the beginning but with a little effort you will soon find it not only becomes enjoyable, but you feel energised and inspired to learn more. Do let me know if you would like help on the best way to learn, we have some great suggestions. Just click on: http://www.francebuyingguide.com/links.htm#language

I know several people in the area of my own house, the Tarn et Garonne, who have delighted in learning at least conversational French. They take real pleasure in what they have achieved: you can do it too! In fact, communicating with new friends and neighbors is definitely one of the joys of living in France.

Further to learning French, think about physical exercise to give your mind, body and soul a boost. I have found this often accords with living in France. For example, I have a huge chimney in my own house and frequently have to delve down to my cellar to collect more logs to burn, carrying one or two a time up the stairs. This may sound like hard work but in fact it produces a great feeling of satisfaction and definitely helps towards physical and mental fitness! You may also choose to live in a village where you must regularly walk or perhaps cycle to your local shops. You can easily be far more active than you were before and getting about this way has the added bonus of allowing you to meet new people. French country folk are naturally friendly and it is common to say “bonjour” as you enter any village shop, not only to the owner but to your fellow customers!

Sport in France is very popular and neighbors of mine, for example, have a great social life through their local tennis club. No one will expect you to be the new Roger Federer but you may well meet new people this way and continue chatting away in French!

Last – but by no means least – there is eating healthily: an incredibly easy thing to do in France. As I said at the beginning, in my view one of the greatest things about being in or living in France is the markets. If you enjoy buying local produce and eating largely seasonal food, you have come to the right place. You could even combine this with growing a few of your own vegetables and fruit. I have two groups of friends in France who find great joy in owning a small allotment.

In the current rather gloomy climate, it is important to remember to nurture ourselves as much as possible and if you exercise your brain, your body, and eat healthily you will be doing yourself a massive favour. Somehow I have always found nurturing far, far easier in France -I hope you do too!

For more information on any of the snippets above, or if you would like my help with your France plans, take a look at what we can offer by clicking here: http://www.FranceBuyingGuide.com/links.htm

Where to for the £ against the euro?

by Smart Currency’s Charles Purdy.

Where to for the £ against the euro? This is a question I am often asked and, to be honest, it is near enough impossible to know what the answer is, especially at times like this when all economic reason seems to have been either discarded or disowned.

There is a belief that by the end of the year we will see sterling rise to €1.20/£1. That could be…but I think we have an equal chance of being at €0.90/£1 by the end of the year.

There are three main reasons why the future exchange rate for sterling is so uncertain. Firstly, sterling is unloved and is not one of the big boys, such as the €, the US$ and the Japanese Yen, when it comes to world trade. Secondly, the IMF views us as the most likely of the industrialised nations to be last out of the current recession; we have a government which is running a huge budget and balance of payment deficit. Thirdly, our economy is dependent on the financial sector, which is clearly in trouble.

With so much uncertainty I think it is important not to second guess what is going to happen – rather work out a plan which will limit your downside risk [and remove some, if not all, of the stress] based on where we are now. Unless you are a committed gambler, I suggest you make sure that you don’t suddenly have to find another £5,000 to cover the increased cost of buying those euros for your house purchase should sterling continue to lose even more ground against the euro.

Also you shouldn’t risk the value of your monthly pension going down even further. We know that, even with deflation on the horizon, every lost € hurts and can reduce your enjoyment of a “life in the sun”.

If you haven’t had a chance to discuss in detail what the alternatives are for either larger or more regular payments, and how to minimise your currency risks, then please give us a ring and we will be happy to talk about your possible options.

To read the latest on Serling and the Euro go to: http://www.FranceBuyingGuide.com/Currency260309.htm

Why overseas property buyers lose money...
...and how you can avoid it!

This 10-page educational report outlines:

• Case Study: When Property Buyer, Mr Reed, Purchased an Overseas Property, he Made Three Mistakes that Cost Him £10,256...learn how you can avoid them...
  
  
• How the Banks make HUGE profits from their long-standing unsuspecting customers
  
  
• Ways to safeguard yourself against adverse fluctuations in exchange rates (or in other words, helping you to keep your money in your pocket)
  
  
• The entire process of moving money from the UK to any overseas location, so that you're armed with all the knowledge you need to make intelligent decisions about your money
  
  
• How you can ultimately save £100’s and £1000’s so that you have ample money to buy furniture and white goods…
  
  
• More case studies of people that lost money due to foreign currency strengthening against the pound, so that you learn from other peoples mistakes rather than your own!
  

And just a couple remarks about the report from our readers...

" We have found your free report to be extremely helpful... Wendy Watson"

"I have read and absorbed the information in the stories outlining the mistakes which the uninitiated can make when transferring currency. It is very illuminating and essential that any one,like myself, who is in the process of buying an overseas property should be aware of. I would go so far as to say that every agent selling overseas properties should be compelled to advise their prospective purchasers that it is paramount that they use a currency expert such as yourselves. Regards, Eric Thomas"

To get a copy of the report at no charge go to: http://www.smartcurrencyexchange.com/freereport.htm

To get a Better-than-Bank rate go to: http://www.smartCurrencyExchange.com/smartsquotation.htm
or call Carl on 08081 630 102 freephone.

Property in the French Alps

Les Balcons d’Aix, La Feclaz, Savoie Grand Revard, French Alps

When ever you buy a property, you need to realise that you may want to sell at some time in the future. You need to approach the property almost in the way that an investor would, making sure that you have a property that others will want to buy. I have recently seen just such a property and I thought I would share it with you.

Three reasons jump out at me to make this a brilliant purchase. There are many more, but these three really tweak my interest:

1. It’s in France. France has consistently been a steady, reliable property investment market – but then, with you, I am talking to the converted here!

2. It’s a ski destination, always a winner, close to the UK for ease of access

3. You can make use of the French Government’s lease back scheme.

Let’s go through it in more detail:

1. Large Apartments with terraces (from 42,7 sqm to 70 sqm)

2. High Rental Yield

3. Prices From €118,000 ex VAT

4. VAT Refund of 19.6%

5. Minimum Cash Invest €9,231

6. 3 Weeks personal usage OPTION

The property is laid out like a small hamlet, centred around the hotel with individual apartments grouped in small buildings and villas with a spa. Almost all have balconies. All the apartments have fully tiled bathrooms with sunken bath. The kitchens are fully equipped with hob, fridge, oven, and ample storage place. The sitting room is perfect for spending the evening with family or friends whilst enjoying the view from the picture window. And finally, the spacious apartments are made larger thanks to a balcony or terrace so that the Alpine air can be enjoy while sipping on a cup of coffee or glass of gluvine!

The property is:

1. Located in France's most popular ski area

2. 20km from Chambery train station with direct TGV links to Paris

3. 1h30 from Lyon and Geneva International airport

The Alps are popular both in summer and in winter as a destination for sightseeing and sports. Winter sports (alpine and Nordic skiing, tobogganing, snowshoeing, ski tours) can be practised in most regions from December to April. In summer the Alps are popular with hikers, mountain bikers, para-gliders and mountaineers, while many alpine lakes attract swimmers, sailors and surfers. A multitude of airports around the Alps (and some within), as well as long-distance rail links from all neighbouring countries, afford travellers easy access from abroad. The Alps typically see more than 100 million visitors a year.

The residence is conveniently located 15 km from Aix-les-Bains and Chambery du Lac du Bourget. Finally, in addition to being close to these economic centres, the Residence Les Balcons d'Aix is at the crossroads of major cities in the Northern Alps such as Annecy (35 km), Grenoble and Albertville (70 km). In addition, the Italian border is less than 100 km away with Geneva a mere 90km.

The resort features an array of fantastic facilities such as personalized welcome through the reception room, restaurant, bar, heated swimming pool, SPA and hammam. All forms of entertainment in the residence are offered by the management company team whose experience in tourist management helps them provide that "little extra" that makes a holiday unforgettable.

The facades of the residence will be in harmony with the landscape and the materials used environmentally friendly. Thus, coatings and wood siding will be in the colours of the dominant trees and buildings will not be more than 3 floors in order not to distort the landscape. In addition, the residence is located 150 metres from the departure tracks much to the delight of vacationers who can reach the peaks even faster with the new lifts installed in 2005.

Sound like something you may be interested in? Please just pick up the phone for a chat: 0207 898 0549. If this doesn’t suit you, I am always happy to source one that does. Do send me through your property form on the link below with as much detail of your requirements as possible and I will do my level best to find you just what you are looking for…

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

Funding your French home purchase

I am frequently asked about the best way to fund your new French home and offer a few tips here for you, although please do feel free to ask if you would like further advice from a bilingual solicitor. I do feel this is an important step to safeguard your hard earned cash when you come to buy. We can put you in touch with such a person, we only recommend the very best professional people to our readers, those who we know we can trust.

You will need to consider the following before you start house hunting:

• If you are looking to fund your purchase with a mortgage you will need to decide whether to take out a mortgage in the UK or with a French lender.

• You will need to make a shrewd decision as to how much money to transfer over to France and how and when to do it. Here is where Smart Currency Exchange will help you. They offer an entirely personal service and since the exchange rate you will receive when you transfer your deposit or make your monthly mortgage payments will be dependent on this, it pays to get the very best possible rate. (www.smartcurrencyexchange.com)

• You must consider insurance and budget for it. This must be fully in place by the time of the final signature, the “Acte de Vente”.

• If you are moving to France and the property you are looking to buy will be your main residence, it is important to consider your life insurance requirements carefully if you are taking out a mortgage. If you are buying a second home or investment property however, you may consider life insurance as a secondary issue. As a general rule, all French mortgages need the protection of a life insurance policy covering the person whose income is assessed to meet the repayments but each lender will have a slightly different view on this.

• As a general rule it is easier to arrange life insurance cover in the UK rather than in France.

• The most important thing to remember when you are going through ways of funding your French home purchase is that there are many different scenarios to consider and so it is vital to consult a professional insurance advisor or mortgage advisor to find the very best option for your own circumstances.

Please click on the link below:
http://www.FranceBuyingGuide.com/resources.htm

or simply call me on 020 7898 0549 or email me at:
Alexis@overseasguidescompany.com
We are here to help you!

Holidays Uncovered

I have found such a wonderful website that I just have to share with you! It’s called Holidays Uncovered and contains no nonsense reviews by people just like you and me. Personally I will never book a hotel again without referring to this website!

I tested it by typing in a hotel I had actually visited and up it came with a couple of reviews. One had pretty much my thoughts on the hotel, but funnily enough it seems that not all the rooms were as good as the one I had stayed in. After reading that I would insist on seeing the room before checking in…and how useful is it to know that?

The site includes most countries worldwide. Not only are there comprehensive hotel reviews but general travel reviews with all sorts of interesting bits ’n bobs, best to see, a weather chart and a forum that you can join. I was reading this sneakily while at work, but this weekend I plan to dash off a few reviews of hotels I have stayed in around the world – it’s the least one can do for one’s fellow travellers!

I recently visited Ladakh in Himalayan India – my second visit actually to this really out of the way place. I feel honour-bound to share with folk the two or three really spectacularly good hotels that I discovered there – through much trial and error I might add!! If you want to have a look, go to:

Holidays Uncovered

and remember to add your reviews if and when you use the service as it helps us all out ;)

Rent or advertise a rental property

Do you have a holiday home that you want to rent out? OR

Do you want to take a ‘test-drive’ and stay in a holiday home – in other words, ‘try before you buy’? I found that holidaylettings.co.uk is an excellent resource.

This site really has to be one of the most easy and clearly laid out sites that I have seen – within a few seconds I was viewing a lovely property in France…plus instructions as to how to get there, where to eat….this could become addictive! Over 2 million holidaymakers visit the site each month, so that speaks for itself. And if you are advertising your own property that is really music to the ears isn’t it?

To find a property to rent, you can use various search criteria and restrict your choices to location, dates, price and various other options. Late deals, early bargains, holiday ideas – it’s all here. If you know what you want it’s here, and if you don’t, they will help you to find it!

As for renting a property out…Rather than getting tied into a monthly direct debit or a commission type payment there is only a small annual fee required. For the fee, you’re allowed a full page of text with up to 20 photos, an availability calendar and an easy system to get the information onto the website.

Before recommending the site to you, I did a bit of background research…The company has been around since 1999, and have grown continuously since then - by an amazing 100% in each of the last 4 years! Over 17,000 owners advertise over 28,000 properties on the site and they have over 2 million visitors to the site every month.

I’ve been informed that HolidayLettings.co.uk also has an excellent reputation for telephone customer service provided by real people in their Oxford, UK office. They were ranked in the top 10 of the most visited property websites throughout 2008, ahead of all other UK holiday home letting sites, by Hitwise, the leading online intelligence service.

As they mention on their website, low-cost airlines and holiday rentals listing sites have made holidays in Europe and beyond much more affordable to the independent traveller. Plus of course those hit by the credit crunch may well be seeking to rent abroad rather than going the expensive hotel route – have a look and see what you think.

If you want to rent out a property, one of my associates managed to get a deal for Guide Readers… If you enter the following promotional code you can get 15 months of advertising (of your property) for the price of 12 months – Code: 45749. Or, just go to: Holiday Lettings

France Property Buying & Investment Guide

'Just a quick mail to say that we are now the proud owners of a small house in Poitou Charente! Thank you for your invaluable buying guide which helped us to sort out our priorities, keep focused and enjoy the whole buying process. We are now looking forward to moving permanently to France in the next few weeks. Smart Currency Exchange were extremely efficient and helpful and our money transfers went smoothly.

With many thanks for your help. Kind Regards Yvonne'

If you haven't already purchased our excellent FULL Guide why not get a copy today?

Go to: http://www.FranceBuyingGuide.com/Guide.htm

Looking for Property...

Are you planning a spring time break across the Channel with a view to perhaps finding that perfect old French property? If so, you have come to the right place to set you on your way.

The French property market does not work quite like the UK one. Houses can be offered by many estate agents for different prices and remember that notaires often sell houses also as do private individuals. Some smaller agents may not always update their information and some may not even let you know a property you have chosen is no longer on the market!

Choosing a professional house hunter may help you but you will have to pay for their services. We at the Overseas Guides Company offer just such help to you without any fee at all. We are real people (call me to find out!) and simply recommend that you arm yourself with a copy of our France Buying Guide – just go to:

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

It is the best Guide out there! I personally have learnt so much about the French way over the years and love to share my knowledge with you. So if you are still looking for your dream home, just give me a call at 0207 898 0549 or pop me an email at Alexis@overseasguidescompany.com and I will do my very best to find you the best agent to suit you.

Yes, it really is as simple as that!

The French property dream is alive and well

France is an ever popular destination for holiday makers and home buyers and despite the current difficult economic climate – or perhaps because of it – more and more people are looking to fulfill their dream of buying in France. Naturally every buyer keeps an eye on property value and it is good to know that the value of character homes in France is excellent. I have heard that some prices are as much as 25% lower than they were a year ago. Did you also know that France has the lowest per square metre home cost of anywhere in Northern Europe? Funding by a mortgage or loan is looking to be a shrewd financial solution for many at the moment to take advantage of the great low price deals in much of the country.

Owning a property in France is a dream for many, I know, and we can help you achieve that dream with ease. To do so now makes sound sense both emotionally and financially.

Easter will soon be upon us and I do hope that you will be able to slip off to France, if even for a short break if you have some holidays coming up. We both know what a joy it is to tootle about those little villages. I am hoping to get across very soon myself and will report back to you next time.

As always, I look welcome all of your emails, comments, questions or stories. Don’t forget too that we have a France Forum so any burning point you would like to share with your fellow readers will be well placed there. Click on:

http://www.fbg-forum.com

I do hope you have enjoyed this missive and until next time, keep happy, get out and about in the sunshine when it comes and call me on the number below for any help, any time!

Kind regards till next time,

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