I was just reading the results of a survey where buyers were asked to list their top ten wish-list for their dream house if they could have any property they wanted. This was a bit tongue in cheek with the assumption that many of these dreams are just that, not achievable in reality but it struck me while going through the list that, in this part of France, many, if not all, of these ‘dreams’ are in fact perfectly possible and for all buyers not just those with the largest budgets.

Here’s the list:

1. Barns for Conversion

Well this one is certainly immensely achievable in this part of France; from mountain barns in the Ariège to L-shaped barns attached to village houses or farms with numerous outbuildings. It is also much easier to get planning permission to convert a barn here than it is in many parts of the world.

2. Walk-in Wardrobe
Again, eminently achievable because houses here are much larger with generally many more rooms, some of which can easily be converted from single bedroom and knocked through to create a walk-in wardrobe.

3. Kitchen/Diner

While this is more the norm in UK and American houses, it is still a fairly new concept here in France but it is a trend which is fast catching on and I am now seeing many old properties which have been renovated and had two rooms knocked into one to create this much in demand kitchen/dining/living space. What’s more, because the houses tend to be larger and windows bigger, the space created can really add that wow factor.

4. Pool

I am not surprised to find this in the top ten dream wish-list but certainly for many people in the UK, this will always remain just that, a dream. However, here in South West France a pool is not seen as a luxury nor just the preserve of the wealthy and often even the most modest village house has a pool. Land is more plentiful here, hence gardens tend to be bigger so space is not an issue and there is a great deal of competition from pool companies which has driven prices right down to affordable levels. Plus of course, thanks to the plentiful sunshine and cheaper alternative heat sources, a pool can now easily be useable from May to the end of October providing a great way to keep the family fit on top of being the ideal way to cool down in the hotter months.

5. Pantry

This one made me laugh – my grandmother had a pantry and it seems a quaintly old-fashioned and wonderfully modest dream requirement but I am in total agreement. A pantry is a wonderful addition to any house and the majority of old houses here in the foothills still have the original back kitchen and pantry usually full of heaps of fresh produce freshly picked from the potager waiting to me made into chutneys, jams or tonight’s supper.

6. Cinema Room

I must admit I have only viewed a couple of properties with a cinema room but again, with the numerous rooms in most old French houses, this is eminently achievable and broadband connection is so good in most parts of France that film streaming is also perfectly possible.

7. Large Grounds

If anything most foreign buyers in France tend to buy houses with too much land because they can. In many parts of the world, land is for wealthy landowners but here anyone can be a landowner. What’s more, if you don’t want to manage the land yourself, it is very easy here to find a local farmer who will happily cut the hay or graze animals in return for the crop or use of the land. Gardeners are also easy to find.

8. Beach Location

While we don’t have coastline in this part of France, we do have plenty of beach side locations with river frontage and also many lakes where you can swim or sail your boat in sight of your house. We also have the choice of equidistant Mediterranean or Atlantic beaches for a day trip.

9. Library

There are a surprising number of properties here with libraries or small rooms converted to libraries, many complete with open fireplaces and mountain views. Most I would be happy to live in!

10. Wine Cellar
Well this almost goes without saying; it is rare that I see a house (unless it’s a mountain barn) that doesn’t have some kind of wine cellar. They range from vaulted caves to converted piggeries to under-stairs cupboards but, for most of my clients, a wine cellar is a must-have not a dreamed of but unfeasible luxury!

So I guess, if nothing else, the 2014 Dream Home requirements list proves that you really can find your Dream Home here in the beautiful foothills of the Pyrénées.

1. The internet
A great way to start but also a great time waster; it is very easy to idle away many hours of time you haven’t really got looking at houses that frankly are not going to suit your needs. In France there are no multiple listing sites so you will need to trawl through hundreds of sites to come up with a list of potential properties and then spend many more hours trying to persuade agents to return your calls or emails and arrange viewings. If you manage that, the likelihood is that 95% of the properties you make the trip to view will be nothing like their descriptions and photographs and you will have to start all over again which is fine if you have all the time in the world…

2. Estate Agents Windows
This is a method that works in many countries but France does things differently. It is not usual practice to turn up to agencies in France and get given a handful of property details that you can go and scout from the outside or arrange to view then and there. Here, an estate agent will expect you to make an appointment in advance, lasting half a day or longer and will then show you what they have for sale by driving you around to what may turn out to be a variety of unsuitable properties. Remember that the estate agent is there to sell you a house and it doesn’t matter which one; he gets paid just the same. No agent in France will tell you the exact location of a property and let you go and have a look yourself – they are too worried about being cut out of the deal and that is just not the way things work here. And don’t expect them to keep in touch with you once you have left their office either.

3. Magazines
Not a bad way of narrowing down areas of France that you think you may like but, as a method of finding property for sale, these are becoming less useful as national agents will often advertise together properties they have for sale all over France and for all different budgets so the likelihood of finding the one for you in such a narrow selection is very small. Also, beware private advertisements in magazines because the owner’s pricing of their property can be a long way out from actual prices in the area.

4. Notaires
A Notaire deals with the property conveyancing side of buying a house but they can also act to sell properties and currently 15% of French property is sold via Notaires. However, while being good at the legal side of a property purchase, they are less good at the marketing so very few display property they have for sale or advertise them so you need to go in to their offices and ask them what they have for sale – and don’t expect glossy brochures or photos; usually they have a typewritten list with very few details at all and again, you will need to make appointments to view any that they have to sell on a day which suits them which may well be in three weeks time.

5. Property Finders
Property finders work exclusively for the buyer not the seller. They will start by asking you for a list of your most important criteria for your French property and they will then spend a few weeks, doing all the time-consuming research outlined above including looking at agency sales, notaire sales and private sales until they have a short-list of houses that meet your requirements. They will write up detailed reports on each possible property, provide you with expert advice and keep your search on track (it’s very easy to get carried away), arrange viewings to fit in with your timings and advise you on each area and village when you view. And finally they will negotiate the deal for you, ensure that you buy the right property at the right price and in the right location and hold your hand throughout the buying process.

Of course I am biased and it is clear which of these methods above I would recommend for anyone looking to buy a house in France so let me just finish by saying that the French property market is very specific; it is not the same as any other country in the world and it is very easy to waste a lot of time, energy and money looking for the perfect house in France if you don’t have a professional helping you through the process.