What can you buy in France for the price of a house across the UK?
Once again France remains the most popular place to visit in the world, with Jean Baptiste Lemoyne, French minister of state, expecting between 88 and 89 million foreign tourists in 2017, a record new high on the 85 million in 2015.
The British interest in France also remains high despite the Brexit vote with the latest data revealing that the number of British nationals acquiring French passports has risen fivefold since June 2016. 2017 saw 1,518 Britons become French citizens compared with 320 in 2015 and 439 in 2014.
“The appeals of visiting and indeed looking to live in France have remained clear for decades. Easy access to the UK, quality of life, climate, culture and gastronomy draw millions each year with the affordability of property, straightforward purchasing process and great mortgage deals also offer an additional incentive for those looking to make their visit to France more permanent.”
Fleur Buckley, Property Services Manager, FrenchEntrée
So, if you are thinking of making the move to France this year, take a look at what you can buy for the price of a house across the UK:
North West
For the average price of a property in the North West, £159,066 according to the latest HM Land Registry data (Nov 2017), you could own this attractive stone house in perfect condition with a pretty garden in Charentes, SW France.
Available for €171,200 (£151,834), this property offers a spacious open plan living room with wood burner, kitchen with stone fireplace, bedroom and shower room. Upstairs there is a mezzanine and a further two bedrooms with shower room.
The Midlands
For the average price of a home in the East Midlands, currently at £185,047, you could live the high life with this 4-bedroom charming house located in Sauvagnac, SW France complete with landscaped gardens and swimming pool.
Available for €206,700 (£183,319) this charming typical French 4-bedroom house has the modernity of tiled floors with under-floor heating, plus original features such as wooden beams. Located behind wrought iron gates, in a landscaped and wooded garden of 3800m2, lies a spacious and bright home. The fitted kitchen is roomy with plenty of units and space for a dining area. The split level, open plan lounge/diner is bright thanks to double aspect patio doors and boasts a feature stone fireplace. The Charente lakes and golf club La Preze is approximately 10 minutes away as well as easy access to Limoges airport and the TGV at Angouleme.
East
Those living in the East of England, where average house prices stand at £289,731, looking for a change of lifestyle should consider this spacious 4-bedroom character house in the Languedoc. Available for €315,000 (£280,014), the property boasts a beautiful garden, courtyard, terrace, 4/5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a nice kitchen, 2 lounges and a study.
Immediately habitable and located in a pretty village on the Canal with shops and restaurants, twice weekly market just 10 minutes from Narbonne and the beach, this is a quality winegrowers home with potential for two individual properties and income.
London
Notoriously expensive with the current house price an eye watering £481,915, more and more people are swapping life in the Big Smoke in the search of more affordable housing. This beautiful contemporary home near the coast of Brittany is available from €522,500 (£464,471) and offers a living room with a central fireplace, separate sitting area opening onto the garden with a French doors and a cathedral dining area, fully equipped kitchen and conservatory with Jacuzzi.
The first floor comprises an office, four bedrooms, one en suite and access to a fifth bedroom above. A basement with a large garage for two cars, dressing space, boiler room and shower completes the property all located in a quiet area just 1.5km from the coast.
South East
Geographically the closest to French shores, homeowners in the South East could trade in their pricey pads, averaging at £325,270, for this beautiful character house in Mayenne, north west France. Available for €360,000 (£319,950) this beautiful manor-style house is set in a traditional wooded countryside.
Built in 1744 and enlarged at the beginning of the 19th century, the property comprises a small rural house and a former farmhouse now used as a home. On the ground floor, there is an oak staircase, dual-aspect living room with parquet flooring and a large marble fireplace, a dining room, exposed beams and terracotta floor. In the wing lies the kitchen, cellar, garage and boiler room. On the first floor the landing serves 4 bedrooms, two bathrooms with toilets.
South West
Lastly, for those in the South West, where the average price is a touch over the national average at £251,923 then this fully restored 3-bedroom stone-built country house and barn located in a quiet friendly hamlet near Varen, Tarn et Garonne could be for you.
On the market for €280,000 (£248,248) this property is set in beautiful landscaped gardens with the interior of the house fully restored with the original features and beams preserved. This is a stylish country residence, far from the madding crowd with a large barn dating back to 1874 primed for development of additional rooms.
“Whilst growth in the UK market is set to slow in 2018 with Nationwide forecasting a growth rate of just 1%, prices are up 3.9% y-o-y in France (L’INSEE, Q3 2017) and our partners at BNP Paribas are predicting 3-4% further growth in 2018.
“Here at FrenchEntrée, we have seen budgets of British buyers increasing anywhere from 10-20%, demonstrating increased confidence in a growth market and a desire to forge ahead instead of waiting for the resolution of Brexit.”
Fleur Buckley, Property Services Manager, FrenchEntrée
FrenchEntrée
+44 (0)1225 463752