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.

Archives

Categories

Why are there no decent houses for sale in France?

By nadia, on 24th September 2024

There is currently a very noticeable shortage of high-quality houses for sale in southwest France. The agents I work with are tearing their hair out with fewer and fewer good properties on their books to sell and it has been the case for most of this year. But why?
It seems as if there are several factors at play right now.

1. Increased Demand
In recent years, certain parts of France, and particularly southwest France, have grown in popularity among both French and international buyers. The gently rolling hills and beautiful landscape, mild climate, easy access to the Atlantic coast, the Pyrenees and Toulouse and the great quality of life make it highly desirable for families, retirees, and commuters particularly with more hybrid working. As well as a perfect base for second-home owners.

The covid pandemic also accelerated interest in rural properties as people sought more space and tranquillity but with easy access to towns and cities and this surge in demand quickly absorbed much of the available housing stock, especially quality homes in prime locations. In 2021 and 2022, there was a very noticeable trend of people moving out from the major cities to the countryside in France. This was a direct result of their experiences during the covid confinements and this reversal in buying patterns (previously there was a long-term shift away from rural areas to towns and cities) helped soak up the supply of rural homes and village properties as well as slowing long-term declines in population levels in rural areas.

2. Supply Chain Disruptions
The construction and renovation sectors are facing delays due to the global supply chain disruptions caused by the Ukraine war, further limiting the availability of homes. Builders and renovators are finding it difficult to source materials, which has slowed down new construction and renovation projects.

3. Owners Holding On
Many homeowners in southwest France are reluctant to sell due to rising property values in the countryside. If they want to stay in the same area, they know they will struggle to afford anything better, and mortgage rates have increased at the same time. Plus, there are no houses on the market for them to move to, so they are staying put. Additionally, with the region becoming more dynamic year-round, holiday homeowners and retirees are choosing to stay put. This restricts the number of high-quality properties that enter the market. Similarly, land prices for new builds are probably the highest they have ever been, and the cost of construction materials are about 20% above what they used to be prior to Covid and the Ukrainian war.

4. Stronger Environmental Regulations
France has implemented new environmental regulations targeting energy efficiency and sustainable building practices, which means that owners of old properties which don’t meet the new standards are putting off listing their houses for sale until these improvements have been made.

If you are having no luck in finding your perfect house to buy in southwest France, however, don’t despair. With the economy improving, mortgage interest rates coming down and no elections on the horizon for the foreseeable future, all the signs are strong and the elements in place to see a gradual increase in houses coming onto the market. Like most things in France, the property market n’est pas pressé and does not move quickly so be patient and if you need help in finding that elusive French house, please get in touch: nadia@foothillsoffrance.com

Comments are closed

La Rentrée in the Foothills

By nadia, on 3rd September 2024

September in France means La Rentrée (the only equivalent we have in English is back-to-school) but in France La Rentrée is not just for school children; it is for every French person getting back into work after the summer holidays. Even if not everyone has managed to take the whole of August off, the summer months somehow still feel different; there is less urgency, less stress and time just seems to move more slowly.

But suddenly there is a new energy in the air as if we have been plugged back in and are fully charged, ready to head back into whatever Autumn might throw at us.

It is also a beautiful time of year in this part of the world with lovely warm, sunny days, clear blue skies and cooler nights. The local markets are overflowing with all sorts of colourful produce; misshapen purple and yellow carrots, every size and colour of tomato, apples, pears, figs and an enormous range of squashes ranging from very pretty to frankly, quite scary.

In the property market, summer is always a very quiet time with sellers away on holiday and buyers more likely to be checking out areas and regions of France that might appeal rather than seriously house hunting. On the other hand, autumn is the time of year that new properties begin to appear on the market while buyers start thinking that they would like to be in their new home for Christmas. So everything gradually starts moving again…

If you would like some advice or help in finding your property in France, please get in touch: nadia@foothillsoffrance.com

Comments are closed

The French Olympics and malfunctioning Parisian waiters

By nadia, on 1st August 2024

The Olympic Flame

There are always so many events that happen during the summer months in France but this year, more so than usual thanks to the Olympics and Paralympics taking place in July and August. And, although these games have become known as the Paris Olympics, they are actually taking place in many other regions across France as well as central Paris. This is the first time that France has hosted the Olympics for a century, so it is a very big deal.

In the build-up to the games, like all Olympics, there has been plenty of criticism of the organisation and difficulties and delays in infrastructure projects and overall planning. Not helped by President Macron deciding to complicate things further by calling parliamentary elections just weeks before the opening ceremony.

But, with a record number of tickets sold for any Olympics and Paralympics (9.7 million and counting) and the most spectacular and original opening ceremony probably ever, the games got off to a fantastic start despite the rain.

Paris is always a magical place to visit but the atmosphere during the games has created a whole new energy and a friendly, relaxed vibe. The combination of so many nationalities interacting along with the Parisians suddenly feeling a great pride to be hosting such an incredible event in the heart of their city has made for an overall feeling of enthusiasm and support, everyone there with the aim of cheering on excellence whatever the sport and whoever the athlete.

There is just one thing that stands out as not quite right in Paris and that is the Parisian waiters. Something very strange has happened to them and instead of their usual air of superiority and slight annoyance, at having to take your order, Parisian waiters seem to have been replaced by an enhanced version of what a perfect, charming and welcoming waiter should be. Whether this is just a blip during the Olympics or a more permanent state of affairs will only become clear in September, I guess.

In the meantime, if you have the chance to spend some time in Paris or any of the other Olympic cities this summer, you should take the opportunity to make the most of a probably once in a lifetime experience of watching extraordinary people achieve impossible feats in an exceptional place.

And if you decide that France is where you want to own a property and would like some help with your search, please get in touch: nadia@foothillsoffrance.com

 

Comments are closed

Daring to talk French politics

By nadia, on 20th June 2024

Politics is high on the list of conversation topics here in France following the success of the French far-right National Rally party in the European elections and Macron’s unexpected decision to call legislative elections here in France. There is a real sense in the air that something is very much in the balance in the next few weeks and could swing either way. I am as swept up in election fever right now as everyone else here and watched with bated breath as the European results came in; watching being all I could do as I am not eligible to vote in France despite having lived here for 20 years nor any longer in European elections thanks to Brexit. In voting terms at least, I do not actually exist.

It is a strange feeling to watch everyone else vote while having no voice at all. Friends here have commented that it surely ‘doesn’t matter’ to me anyway as I’m not French. This, however, could not be further from the truth; I feel far more invested in politics in France than anywhere else. We have lived here for most of our married life, we pay all our taxes and social healthcare in France, I work here, our children have been educated at French schools and we spend all our income in France. We live solely and completely in France and yet we have no right to vote for the government whose decisions will impact daily on our lives.

The issue has provoked campaigns in the past for citizens to get voting rights in national elections where they live, arguing that citizens should vote in their country of residence, where they pay their taxes and are most comprehensively affected by political decisions. It has also been argued here in France that giving expats the right to vote would help boost integration and create a sense of belonging.

This is currently an unpopular idea, however, at a time when Europe appears to be becoming more fractured and certainly, here in France, the concept of giving votes to foreign residents, even in local elections, has been contentious for many years. The French do not generally subscribe to the view that just because a foreigner has a relationship with the French tax man, it should entitle us to vote for their President.

Macron will remain as President whatever the outcome of these elections and maybe his gamble of calling these parliamentary elections will pay off and the French will be triggered into realizing what a disaster it would be to allow the likes of Le Pen to have any power. This is usually what happens during the French elections; the first-round vote tends to be a protest vote against the incumbent party and the second is often a tactical vote to keep out the extremists. Let’s hope the French see the danger in their own elections that they didn’t see in the European elections.

France is at a crossroads right now and needs to decide whether to turn right or left, go forwards or backwards. And in terms of the property market, as with all political uncertainty, everything is currently at a bit of a standstill which means that there could be a rush of sellers and buyers come mid-July or the lull might continue until a mad September dash to sell or buy before winter. Watch this space…

If you need help or advice with your French property search, please get in touch: nadia@foothillsoffrance.com

Comments are closed
« Newer Entries  
  Older Entries »