Why is France ideal for your real estate project ? If you are reading this article, you have already given it a lot of thought. You have most probably identified several very good reasons to choose France. Our aim therefore is not to list all possible good reasons, but to underline some essential facts. Which hopefully will reinforce your opinion that France has a lot to offer, and is a very sound country to buy properties.
France a great destination for real estate projects
A lively and stable democracy, the current constitution as proven to be strong and adaptable, for more than 60 years. France has the 5th largest economy in the World (France and Great-Britain’s GDP are similar), the 2nd largest economy in EU. A main actor of the euro zone, with the French state currently being able to borrow at negative interest rates.
France has an excellent and well maintained road system, with more than 12 000 km of motorway, making any journey fast, safe and easy.
A great and inexpensive train network with many ultra-fast train lines (TGV- Train à Grande Vitesse) connecting the entire country. From the north to the south (Provence), the west (Bretagne) and south west (Nouvelle Aquitaine), the centre (Auvergne), the Est (Alsace Vosges) and south east (Alpes). And also going to many other cities in Spain, Belgian, Holland, Luxembourg, and Germany.
The country has many Airports big and small, with 120 aéroports. You can also use a private plane to fly to one of the 460 aérodrômes (Airfields), available around France. This really means, that you can fly to any part of France, even as remote a place as, for example Saint-Flour Coltines in Cantal.
And worth keeping in mind
A fast internet network for more than 90% of the population. France is well equipped to face the climate challenges ahead of us. With already significant decarbonised energy production and many proactive policies to create a better environment to live in. For example to promote organic agriculture and public transports.
It is also worth keeping in mind :
– great and affordable health and education systems. A robust and non-corrupt administration ; more and more efficient since the 80’s new decentralization laws. That shifted a lot of power toward the regions.
– a very clear (though complex) and sound legal environment, 100% secure to frame and protect all your property activities. No legal risk with local bodies ; and properties are freehold, not leasing.
– France is the first touristic destination in the world, and attracted around 90 million visitors last year.
France landscapes & climates
France has by far the largest territory in the UE with 644 000 Km2 and 19 200 km of sea cost. With large untouched, unspoiled country areas and many important mountain ranges. That includes Les Pyrénées, Le Jura, Les Vosges, Le Massif Central, Les Alpes with the highest mountain in EU, the Mont Blanc (4 810m).
France is blessed with a wide variety of climates and landscapes. From temperate, oceanic regions, to more continental ones, to really mountainy sectors, to warm and sunny Mediterranean regions.
Those major differences are reflected in the way the country is divided in regions. From an administrative stand point there are 13 regions in France Métropolitaine. With fast growing major metropoles : Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Nantes, Rennes, Lille, Strasbourg. And a total more than 36 000 Mairies (Town hall/City hall) and obviously thousands more villages (Villages et communes).
France a real estate projects paradise
By comparison with most of its neighbours, in France people enjoy quite a lot of space, with 116 inhabitant per km² (compared with 264 in the UK and 415 in Holland). Therefore it is a property market where you can find many large properties at very decent price, all over France. Even currently with a boiling property market in most major cities, there are still many affordable properties and good bargains to search for.
For any type of project
All over France one can clearly find any type of properties from :
- Land to build the house of your dreams,
- Old country cottages in beautiful villages, and others in the vicinity of bigger towns,
- Apartments in trendy resorts by the Mediterranean sea or the Atlantic ocean, in fancy sky resorts in the Alps, the Pyrenees, …
- Developments for new houses/apartments that can be bought off-plan (VEFA- Vente en état futur d’achèvement),
- Apartments/houses ready to move in, others that need heavy work,
- Houses/buildings for potential projects, full restructuration or with interesting potential for extension, division …
- Many historic estates : Chateaux, Manoires and other sites classés, Prébitaires, Maisons bourgeoises, you can move in, others that will need some work done to make them into your ideal home,
- Properties that are or can be turns into a business (Guest house, B&B, Estates, Vineyards, …)
- Etc
Where to buy in France?
Regarding house design, the style and materials are coherent with the climate of the region.
So are the laws, regulations and rules to build, extend, renovate. In France all legal constraints are written and clear, for the trained eyes. We have listed them all, in Chapter 5 “Many Professionals to help you”,
As mentioned above France Métropolitaine (France without its over sea territories) is divided 13 regions. But clearly the geographical and cultural landscape is lot more diverse than that. And that reality has shaped some very strong regional cultures specifics. Which are visible in the towns lay-out, in the architecture, and style of the buildings and the way people live. It is important to be aware, that by choosing a region you choose a lifestyle. That will inevitably very much impact your experience, of being the owner of a property in France.
The Quality of Life in France
France is well known for its lifestyle, which can be experienced through many different aspects :
- eating, drinking, shopping (there are still fresh food markets, fresh bread & bakeries boulangeries everywhere), dress, decorate their homes (still plenty of antic shops around),
- going out (Estaminets in the Northern France, to Guinguettes around Paris, le Café with a large terraces in the south, …), socialise and get to do things together. French people love societies (Association Loi 1901). There are more than 2 millions of them, for all purposes : village fairs, sports club, fishing/hunting society’s, “Les amis de Balzac”. For basically anything you could possible think of. So you will most probably find one to join, and if not, it is very easy to create one of your own, with people who share your passion,
- cooking and receiving friends (different from Spain where people prefer to go out with their friends) drink wine from the hosts cellar, ..
- eating out, with a huge amount of places to do so ; great restaurants, from the 27 Michelin (***) to thousands of very great lesser known restaurants, brasseries, cafés restaurant, bars, …
- enjoying cultural environment & activities : cinemas, théâtres, exhibitions, festivals and concerts. And museums, historical sites (Mont-Saint Michel, Abbaye de Citeaux, Abbaye de Fontenay, …), beautiful villages, towns, city centres, etc
Live your passion
According to your passion and constraints, in France you can enjoy virtually all sports activities. To name a few : cycling, trekking, horse riding, dogsledding, horse ball, polo. And also all water sports (Many rivers, lacks, beaches, marinas, yachting ports, …). All possible mountain activities, and any motor racing activities with many circuits available around France. On asphalt for example Le Castellet, Le Mans, Albi, Nevers Magny-cours, Nogaro. Also many earth circuits and ice circuits, …
Tips to buying your property
This is probably your first real estate project in France. It is important to learn and capitalize on that experience. You might eventually buy a property, quite different from you initial idea. In addition, you can currently be looking to buy a flat in a great ski resort. And in 15 years’ time you could be looking to buy another property. For example an amazing villa by the sea, where you could later retire.
Link to the next chapter : “Starting with your project”
Link to The GUIDE : “Synopsis page”
The Team WISE STONE
contact@wise-stone.com