View from the Foothills of France Some personal views on living, working,
bringing up family and making the dream happen in the most beautiful region of France. View from the Foothills of France also includes some personal and professional thoughts and tips on finding and buying the perfect property in the Ariège and Haute Garonne regions.
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By nadia, on 15th March 2017 
The violet is the emblem of Toulouse and much loved in the region; it is a strain of the Parma violet and is especially sweet-smelling. Everywhere you go in South West France at this time of year you will not only see violets growing wild in woodland, meadows and gardens but also products made from the extracts of violet; syrups, liqueurs, candles, honey and the crystal violet sweets which are particularly popular. There are also numerous perfumes and soaps.
Its origin in the region is not well known although it is thought to have been introduced by Napoléon III in the middle of the 19th century and it was in the north of Toulouse that the local farmers began to cultivate and export the violet to cash in on its incredible popularity. People prized Toulouse violets highly and the city exported more than 600,000 bouquets every year during the 19th century. Violets are, however, very sensitive to disease and extremes of temperature plus cultivating them is very labour-intensive (they require propagation by hand) so they almost died out in the 1950s.
Then,1985, the violet gained official protected status in France and La Violette de Toulouse became a registered trademark. Its popularity has gradually increased ever since thanks to the efforts of the association Terre de Violettes; a group of manufacturers producing perfumes or liqueurs from violets in Toulouse and exporting worldwide.
The flower of a violet is made up of between thirty and forty petals with a white heart and is particularly perfumed. It is supposed to represent peace, sweetness, modesty and shyness. Offering someone a violet is a way to declare your love in a discreet way because the colour violet symbolizes deep feelings. In addition, la Violette de Toulouse is known for its medicinal properties; it can aid breathing and soothe headaches thanks to the aspirin that it contains.
On the first weekend in February, Toulouse holds the Fête de la Violette, a large fair and market that sees the main square of Toulouse, the Capitole, covered with a carpet of purple flowers. It is also possible to visit the greenhouses of the National Violet Conservatory which was founded in the city’s municipal greenhouses in 1994 and houses a collection of 80 different strains of violet from around the world: https://www.inra.fr/Grand-public/Chimie-verte/Tous-les-magazines/Violette-de-Toulouse
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By nadia, on 24th February 2017 
Toulouse
Buy-to-let property is no longer the gold mine it once was in many countries; increasing costs, decreasing profitability, difficulty in getting finance and removal of mortgage relief in the UK mean that investors looking for better returns and a safe investment are eyeing up alternative markets. The same is true for South African buyers looking to invest in a stable property market with lower interest rates and for Australians looking to capitalize on the strong Australian dollar. France with affordable property, very low mortgage rates, a strong rental market with excellent rental returns and a stable political environment is proving the most popular alternative and the buy-to-let market is beginning to take off here.
Historically France has always been considered a stable place to invest but, traditionally, foreign buyers have been more attracted to France’s countryside, letting out their property as a gîte in peak holiday seasons. Having a holiday let in France can be an easy and reliable way to make money if the property is in a good location and well marketed. However, as more and more French country gîtes come onto the market, getting bookings has become increasingly competitive. Holiday lets are also labour-intensive and the investor must find someone to clean and maintain the property.
Hence property buyers wanting to generate the maximum income with the least effort are looking to more traditional, longer term buy-to-let markets, more often in French towns and cities. Longer term lets can ensure a regular stable income, have fewer advertising costs, no changeover fees, lower agency costs and are likely to have less wear and tear.
The regular long term rental market is one that frightens many international owners, either because they do not speak French, or because of the laws on security of tenure which are heavily biased in favour of the tenant in France, especially if the property is unfurnished. In this case, the minimum rental contract is for three years with the tenant having first right of refusal to stay for a further three years. At that point, they can only be given notice if the landlord plans to live in the property himself or sell it.
Furnished properties are more flexible as they have a minimum term of one year contract and, if you let to students, it can be shorter; hence this is one of the most buoyant areas of the market right now as there is a great shortage of student accommodation in France. Toulouse, for example, is one of France’s fastest growing cities with a large student population and not enough rental accommodation. Here, a standard one bed apartment in the city will rent out for an average of €596 per month while average apartment prices are €2,624 per square metre. Just remember that, even though you may not be resident in France you are liable to French income tax on your rental earnings and unfurnished lettings also face social charges.
Nevertheless, a buy-to-let property is a one of the most fiscally attractive income streams in France, as the tax breaks are generous and small landlords are not liable to self-employed social security contributions. In terms of capital gain, in the long term, French property also looks like a very sure bet; prices increase slowly and surely here and, as long as you buy in a good location, you are likely to see a long-term capital gain.
As ever, it is always important to take professional advice before buying property in France. For any questions, please email me on nadia@foothillsoffrance.com
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By nadia, on 6th February 2017 
According to a recent article in the New Yorker; in the week following Trump’s election, 13,401 Americans, took the first official step toward New Zealand residency by registering with the country’s immigration authorities, presumably looking for some kind of bolt-hole should it become necessary. I mentioned this to a French friend and his reply was characteristically patriotic (if slightly tongue in cheek) which, loosely translated was; ‘that’s because they haven’t discovered the Ariège.’
On further research, it turns out that he may not have been too far off the mark. Certainly, in their search criteria, these American buyers in New Zealand appear to be looking for all the elements also to be found here in the Ariège. For example, another article on the same subject in the FT points to the ‘growing number of self-sufficient estates on the market in New Zealand that are typically pushed to offshore buyers to meet the recent trend for the global super-rich hedging against the collapse of the capitalist system…..they want privacy, security and a beautiful rural landscape,” says Matt Finnigan, sales associate at Sotheby’s International Realty New Zealand. “Sustainable properties generally come with their own water supply, power source and the ability to grow food. In addition, there is the access to the ocean, mountains, lakes, beaches, streams, water, numerous outdoor activities, a safe environment and great little cities and communities while the nature in New Zealand is still relatively untouched. Plus more and more people aspire to the idea of being able to live off the land with utterly natural and pure food sources.”
This could equally be describing the Ariège region and, indeed, what many buyers are looking for when they buy property here which explains why the region is becoming more and more sought-after in this uncertain post Brexit, post Trump, divided and uncertain world. By a wonderful freak of nature, the Ariège region happens to be set in an area of glorious, unspoiled and outstanding natural beauty, much of it national park with the Pyrénées providing a stunning backdrop. It has a great climate, plenty of sunshine and rainfall with both forests and fertile soil with fantastic food and wine, much of it organic. All of which provides the ideal conditions for getting away from everything and for living ‘the good life’. This area feels protected and authentic with traditional values and an abundance of mutual tolerance for different people from various backgrounds and origins; a very strong ‘live-and-let-live’ attitude. There are plenty of opportunities for living off-grid and, breathtaking scenery in abundance along with affordable property – you don’t need to be a billionaire to live here. In addition, the great advantage that the Ariège has over New Zealand of course is that it is much more accessible from just about everywhere.
Hence, my Ariège neighbour (despite naturally being biased) is probably not far wrong in his assessment after all. Get in touch if you need any help with your property search or have any questions about buying property in this region: nadia@foothillsoffrance.com
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By nadia, on 19th January 2017
Since the start of the year, local authorities in France have been banned from using chemicals to clear weeds in public spaces, on roads and on paths. From 2019 this law will also apply to private householders. This pesticide ban is part of wider legal change in environmental law which will includes a ban on throwaway plastic bags for fresh produce (including at markets) and, from 2020, a ban on plastic cups, plates and utensils.
Pesticides are now proven to be dangerous to health (as well as destroying fragile ecosystems and destroying natural balance) and, in the last few years many French communes have already begun to rethink how they can maintain public spaces without using chemicals. Many have already turned to gas burners to get rid of weeds and traditional methods such as salt and vinegar on paths.
The city of Lyon has been pesticide free since 2008 in all its 300 parks and gardens, turning instead to the help of thousands of ladybirds brought in to eat aphids and other bugs and by using mulch to stop weeds on the soil, beer traps to cut down on slugs and natural compost from its garden waste. Before 2004 it spent €30,000 a year on chemicals and pesticides on transporting 3,500 tonnes of leaves and grass clippings by lorry to a company that turned it into compost. Now the city has bought its own garden shredders and created its own composting area, increased its green spaces by 10% and the whole system pays for itself.
France does not shout about its green credentials but it is way ahead of many countries in this area and it is these continual little improvements (which often go unnoticed) that gradually but substantially improve the much talked about quality of life in France and for all of us who live here or who are planning to live here one day.
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