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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Happy New Year

By nadia, on 7th January 2014
Le Carre de l'Ange restaurant in St Lizier

Le Carre de l’Ange restaurant in St Lizier

Happy New Year – 2014 just sounds such much better than 2013 and property pundits everywhere are busy talking up the market. That’s fine by me but I have come to realise that my clients are very good at ignoring all the hype, both positive and negative because they are not primarily interested in making a quick buck from the ‘right’ house in France; they are motivated by quality of life factors. Which explains why there is still a steady flow of buyers here in the Midi-Pyrénées; one of the top five happiest places to live in France  according to a recent study by Globeco, a group of French analysts.

France has now overtaken Spain to become the most popular country in Europe in which to purchase a property and the second most popular country in the world after the United States for those looking for a second home. This doesn’t surprise me at all; France’s lifestyle appeal has never gone away whatever the economic environment and last year it enjoyed a surge in affordability with stable house prices and historically low interest rates which added further to its attraction.

I am very lucky to be able to help people realise their dreams of owning a home in France and to meet adventurous people who are coming to France for all the right reasons. So this year, I am looking forward to helping more francophiles who have always dreamed of either moving to France or having a second home in France and are brave and determined enough to chase that dream.

May all your french property resolutions come true in 2014.

 

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Christmas in the foothills

By nadia, on 17th December 2013
Christmas in Saint Lizier

Christmas in Saint Lizier

Christmas tends to represent a very definite deadline in the property market; sellers want to know that they have sold and can move on in the New Year and buyers want to have completed and preferably be in their new home for Christmas. By mid December, property hunters have other things on their mind (and over-stretched bank accounts) and sellers have usually decided to wait until the New Year to market their properties. As for agents and Notaires, well they generally go into hibernation in December.

The majority of my clients this year (save those currently going through the offer or completion stages) are now the proud owners of their own home in France which means that their Christmas will have a French theme, lucky them. Christmas here in the foothills of France, to my mind, encompasses all the things that are really important about Christmas while shrugging off (in a very gallic manner) all the worst elements.

The focus in our part of France is on family, food and, because we are lucky enough to be within striking distance of the mountains, snow. In the UK the build up to Christmas seems to start earlier and earlier whereas here, Christmas decorations are only just going up. Of course there is all the usual Christmas fanfare in the shops but there is just not the hype nor the stress here that there is in many places. Most people (us included) will do the majority of their food shopping at one of the many fantastic local markets in the few days before Christmas, all of which will be fresh, locally grown and predominantly organic.

The Christmas meal usually consists of oysters, smoked salmon and foie gras followed by either turkey or, more usually capon, salad, cheese and then the Bouche de Noël, the traditional French log. And no shops or restaurants are open on Christmas day because Christmas is, above all, a family celebration here so nobody is expected to work and the majority of people will be spending the day en famille.

Usually the weather at this time of year in South West France is glorious with cold frosty mornings, blue sky, sunny, warm days and chilly evenings that are best spent in front of the fire. And thanks to our privileged location, we know that we will always have a white Christmas because on Christmas Eve and on Boxing Day we can drive up into the mountains for some sledging, skiing or snow-shoeing, picnics and mulled wine. Now that’s what I call a proper Christmas.

Wishing you all a wonderful and very bonnes fêtes, a very happy New Year and may all your property dreams come true.

 

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The Healing Properties of France; the advantages of buying property near a French spa town

By nadia, on 3rd December 2013
The thermal spa in Bagnères de Luchon

The thermal spa in Bagnères de Luchon

Before moving to France I thought that ‘the Cure’ was an 80s pop group but, this being a land of hypochondriacs (and I say that in a fond way) it turns out that ‘the cure’ is actually something you can get on prescription here. I first heard about it when visiting the lovely thermal spa town and ski resort of Bagnères de Luchon; it was April and I was amazed by how busy it was and commented on this to a local restaurant owner. He told me most of the visitors were there to take ‘the cure’.

Here in France, the doctor can prescribe ‘the cure’ for all sorts of illnesses and ailments ranging from arthritis to asthma to diabetes and poor circulation to name just a few. The cure actually involves a trip to a thermal baths/spa to drink the water, soak in the water and get various treatments involving minerals and thermal mud and this treatment can take anything from a few days to a few weeks. What’s more, France having some of the best health care in the world, the majority of the cost of these treatments is covered by the French equivalent of the NHS with the rest usually being paid for by the patient’s top up health insurance known as a mutuelle. Costs covered include the cost of the treatment, the costs of accommodation in the resort while having the cure and the costs of travelling there and back again.

What does this all have to do with the property market? Well quite a lot actually because it explains the year round popularity of thermal towns in France and hence the year-round, high demand for rental properties. So, for example, in Bagnères de Luchon, the ‘Cure’ tourists tend to come in low-season which is spring and autumn while the winter season is booked out by skiers and the summer by walkers, cyclists and summer holidaymakers. So although ‘the cure’ might seem like another generous hand out by the French state, it also has a huge number of knock on benefits in numerous towns around the country and ultimately ensures both a thriving year-round holiday market and a thriving property and rentals market.

Which just shows that it pays to take care of your health as any French person would tell you.

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Expat retirement in France

By nadia, on 17th November 2013
Retirement 'paysan' style in South West France

Retirement ‘paysan’ style in South West France

 

Many people dream of retiring to France to enjoy a better quality of life and climate in their later years. If this is your plan, probably the first things to consider (dull though they maybe) are the various financial and legal implications of your move including how to fund your retirement, which retirement and inheritance rules are applicable and your tax liability. Once all of this has been dealt with, you can concentrate on the more interesting things such as finding the perfect place to live, which is where I come in…but back to the basics first:

In France you may retire from the age of 62 as long as you have been in employment for 42 years, although people generally retire at 67. Whilst you can work up to the age of 70 most don’t chose to do this, and in some professions it’s even possible to retire at 50/55 (people working in public transport have this option). Women are also entitled to retire two years earlier for every child they have.

For EU citizens the process of retiring to France is relatively easy because of all the reciprocity treaties covering areas such as healthcare and taxes but it is more complicated for citizens from Australia, South Africa and the US. If you are a US citizen, you will need to communicate with the US Embassy in Paris to make sure you receive the benefits to which you are entitled. Many Australian and South African clients have a UK passport which makes the process simpler but, otherwise it is worth taking advice. Many of my clients from these countries do not spend the whole year in France and hence get around the regulations this way.

As it stands, EU citizens who have retired to France are entitled to vote and participate in local elections. If you plan to spend your retirement in France you must pay local taxes, even if your income comes from another nation. Retirees in France must be covered by a health programme (comprehensive private medical insurance etc) but retirees also qualify for daily benefits and perks, such as discounted or free entrance to museums and attractions, not having to pay TV tax and being able to use public transport for a reduced fee.

Most people moving to France have a legal will in place in their own country. However as the law stands at the moment, this may not be applicable because under current agreements, the law of the country where your house is situated governs the inheritance laws, while the law of the country of your final residence governs all of your other assets (investments etc). Thus, if you stay living in the UK, your English will would govern your English home and your other assets, while if you move to France permanently, your house in France and your personal assets are governed by French law.

There are however new rules coming into force in August 2015, the intention of which are to ensure that a person with assets in another jurisdiction will be able to apply the inheritance rules of his or her country of nationality to the assets in the other jurisdiction so current laws will no longer apply but it is certainly worth taking legal advice on the matter for inheritance tax purposes.

One last point on financial issues; there is in France the much talked-about wealth tax although this is only ever going to be applicable to a very few French property buyers. Where the net value of the estate (there are allowances such as certain debts, certain professional assets) exceeds 1.3 Million Euros, then an annual tax is applied on the total value beyond the first 800,000 Euros.

And just a general but important point on retiring to France; it will be so much easier if you can at least speak a bit of French and a much more rewarding and enjoyable experience. The more of the language you know the more easily you’ll be able to interact with your new neighbours and other residents..

Retiring to France I would suggest is probably one of the more sensible decisions you will make on many levels but it is important to take advice from legal, financial and property professionals to ensure you can really relax and make the most of your new life in France (and please note I am neither a legal or financial expert and rules change all the time so this blog is for guidance only but I would be happy to put you in touch with relevant advisors.)

 

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