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.

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.