A beautiful house can still be in the wrong place. DON'T LET HOUSES CHOOSE FOR YOU Most people looking to buy in France start with houses. This is completely understandable. Property websites are easy to use, endlessly entertaining and very good at turning a vague idea into something that suddenly feels real. You begin with a budget and perhaps three bedrooms. Twenty minutes later, you have saved a stone farmhouse in Normandy, a village house in Provence, a converted barn in

Why air conditioning is quietly becoming a defining issue for life — and property — in southern France. Last week I came across two fascinating articles — one from The Economist, one from Le Monde — both asking essentially the same question: has air conditioning become unavoidable in a warming world? That caught my attention because, having lived extensively in both the United States and France, I’ve spent years watching two completely different cultures approach heat in comp

From The Connexion, Zane Lilley, Nov 6, 2025 Two French MPs are calling for France to bring in a new healthcare charge for certain newcomers to the country, claiming that Americans, in particular, are getting free healthcare despite not paying income tax. They have tabled an amendment for debate as part of France's social security budget law for 2026, however there is no indication it has strong parliamentary support. The proposal has, however, led to the French press reviewi

Data from ERA Immobilier and Foncia networks show that things are getting better The French old real estate market experienced a downturn...

Here are the main things to know and plan for, and a few hard truths Setting up and running a bed-and-breakfast or a gite in France can...

A customised marketing strategy is not possible for your property... Let me explain why you should not expect listing agents to organise...

Let me explain the actual costs you'll face when buying a house in France. Takeaway If you don’t like numbers and figures, just remember...

If your home currency is the US dollar or the British pound, pay attention! When you're buying a house in a country that uses a currency...

Here is a question I get a lot! Like a lot... It's a very legitimate question too, as it makes a lot of sense to rent before you buy. I...

From your set budget, you need to work out your true, realistic budget. You need to take into account all the things that traditional...

Your TPM (“true purchase maximum”) will help you decide which properties to visit. Say your TPM is 410,000€. You can safely assume that...

Your initial offer is crucial Your initial offer is the start the discussion – not the end point. So your initial offer should not be the...

A 3-way discussion Buyers should remember that it is not a good idea to disclose any information to the agent that could be used to their...

Listing agent The traditional agent’s commission: By law, offered prices must include the selling agent’s fee: the offered price should...

You may have heard about people having their dream property snatched away by a competitor with a higher bid, just before exchange of...

“Notaire’s fee” (“frais de notaire”) is a global term used to describe the legal costs of the purchase, which include taxes to be paid on...

Transfer of funds At the time of the compromis de vente, you need to arrange transfer of funds to pay the deposit of (usually) 10% of the...

In our experience, most foreign property buyers in Uzège pay cash. It is possible that try and arrange a mortgage with their high-street...

Taxe d’habitation It is a residence tax. You have to pay this tax if you own a property and live in it yourself (or have it available for...

Wealth tax In 2017 (for 2018 budget), the wealth tax as we know it has been repealed and replaced by a tax on real estate. Paradoxically,...