What does it say on your business card?

Managing partner at The Villages Group, France – active living resorts for over 50’s.

What was the vision behind The Villages Group, France?   

“I first saw the “Villages” in Florida some 15 years ago as a close business associate and family friend was one of the founders. For years I saw the growth of the Villages and the expansion of the “active lifestyle” concept spread throughout the USA which led me to the idea of bringing this concept to France where I live with my wife.”

“In late 2009 at a dinner with 5 real estate friends I told them about some land with a lake that my architect friend had suggested I could buy as a Village near Bordeaux. Excited by the idea, we immediately decided to launch The Villages Group, France where all 5 partners are between 52 and 65 years old and have a real love for the country.”

“We agreed that all Villages must be part of the local community, should be located in places of natural beauty, will have a theme – Lake, Vineyard, Equestrian site and should be very affordable. We have kept to all 4 points and have taken the care and time to select the best sites. We are now ready to market the first Village site!”

What makes The Villages Group, France different to other retirement communities?

“The Villages is certainly not a place where the older generation go to live out their remaining days in seclusion. For us, we have a positive forward thinking approach about our own Villages in France, providing a lifestyle that we believe will be most attractive to active 50+s who want to live their lives to the full in one of the top ten expat countries in the world.

“The unique point about The Villages, France is the fact that it will be moulded around our "active living" principal with no medical or nursing facilities on-site. These Villages are places where the older generation can go to enjoy life. We will be initially launching 3 villages all of which offer residents something special. Plus, all Villages are English speaking, located within a few kilometres of the local town centre and bring together like-minded people looking to enjoy France and all that it has to offer.”

What stage is the first project at and when is completion due?

“Our first Village will be located in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France which is a popular place for holiday makers, expats and retirees, often chosen for its three C’s – climate, coast and countryside. As a result of Languedoc’s popularity, we decided to develop our first “active living” village community of 107 villas at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Canal du Midi, one of Europe’s longest and widest canal systems.

All our marketing and off plan sales for Canal du Midi will commence in September with building starting in February 2013 and completion due in February/March 2014.”

Why do you think France makes the ideal location to retire?

“France is a great option for over 50’s thanks to an exceptionally high standard of living and low living costs when you compare to the UK. In France, the cost of food and commodities is approximately 20% lower than the UK while restaurants and eating out is 30% lower and, in my opinion, 500% better. As well as this, France is second only to Japan for life expectancy so moving to France in your later years makes absolute sense. The climate, scenery and food alone are enough to encourage someone to relocate – I did and have never looked back!”

Is it still safe to buy in France?

“Yes! France has a unique system of law for property. It is clear that France’s perception of stability and being a ‘safe haven’ for property buyers still prevails. Over the years French property has enjoyed practically constant success, and with the Euro plummeting to new lows against the pound and the lowest debt in Europe, it’s no wonder that real estate investors still view that nation as a wise property move.”

“We are actually implementing a Syndicate system at the Villages – the modern way to save on ownership costs and keep maintenance down. Our legal team of Notaires and Lawyers have found this to be the best solution in France with one of the biggest advantages of the syndicate style programme being that prices are kept at least 30% lower than similar properties.”

For more information please contact The Villages Group on + 33 1 4007 8625, email villages@pdfparis.com or visit www.thevillagesgroup.com.

Property activity in France has risen slightly in the second quarter of 2012 according to the latest European Investment Market Update from globally integrated real estate research company DTZ.

The research highlighted that three quarters of real estate investment transactions took place across Europe´s three largest markets – the UK, France and Germany – with volumes reaching €18.7bn. The biggest post in property volumes occurred in France with sales up 114% (including commercial property), rising to €4.2bn indicating that given sustained uncertainty surrounding the Eurozone crisis, investors are continuing to focus on the safety of large, well established property markets.

Danny Silver, expert in French real estate, Paris resident and MD of The Villages Group, comments,

“It is clear that France’s perception of stability and being a ‘safe haven’ for property buyers still prevails. Over the years French property has enjoyed practically constant success, and with the Euro plummeting to new lows against the pound and the lowest debt in Europe, it’s no wonder that real estate investors still view that nation as a wise property move.

“Indeed, with a strong reputation and the opportunity to get more for your money, it seems many are making their dream of escaping to France a reality. For those entering their third age especially, France is often the ideal destination which is why we have developed our active living Villages for the over 50’s here, providing services and amenities that encourage an active, happy and healthy lifestyle focussed around a strong community of like-minded individuals.”

Of course no matter how great the appeals of France may be, in the current economic climate, the decision whether to move often comes down to cost. Carrying out extensive client research, The Villages Group surveyed 3,000 people over the age of 50 and discovered that 91% of those questioned wanted to know how much it costs to live at a Village, focussing particularly on maintenance costs which quite often can “start low and after a few years, blow through the roof” according to Silver.

As well as this, 76% of respondents wanted to know how much it would cost to own a home in one of the Villages. Silver comments: “The question of money is usually the first thing that people want to know, particularly amongst those in or reaching retirement. This isn’t surprising – who wants to have a relaxed lifestyle with a mortgage hanging over their head or having to pay increasing rentals? We believe the solution to this is a Syndicate – the modern way to save on ownership costs and keep maintenance down. Our legal team of Notaires and Lawyers have found this to be the best solution in France, one that works in compliance with the very strict French legal system – undisputedly the safest country in the world to own property.”

At The Villages, situated in three stunning French communities, the first of which will be built at the Canal du Midi, Languedoc region of France, residents become a member of the entire village with ownership of a house of their choice, including all amenities. However, one of the biggest advantages of the syndicate style programme is that it helps keep prices at least 30% lower than similar properties.

As well as this, running costs are kept to a minimum as members own The Village, hotel, restaurants and sauna all of which are open to the public and all profits are set against maintenance fees helping to keep running costs at a minimum.

For more information please contact The Villages Group on + 33 1 4007 8625, email villages@pdfparis.com or visit www.thevillagesgroup.com.

In spite of the typical monthly income of British over-55s having risen by 4% since the start of the year, increasing from £1,303 (Q1 2012) to £1,361 (Q2 2012) it seems that some age groups are still experiencing financial difficulty with many 55-64 and over 75 year olds enduring a decline in savings according to Aviva’s Real Retirement Report July 2012.

Since February 2010, over 75 year olds have seen their savings pots reduce from £22,500 (Q2 2010) to just £12,998 (Q2 2012) while the worst hit group – British 55-64 have seen their savings decline from £11,176 (Q2 2010) to just £9,373 (Q2 2012) as they struggle to keep up with day to day living costs.

Further data from Aviva has shown that the typical amount put away each month by all over-55s has fallen over the last quarter from £39.97 (Q1 2012) to just £31.05 (Q2 2012) with the majority spending their income on housing (22%) and debt repayments (15%) while a mere 14% is spent on food.

Danny Silver, expert in French real estate and MD of The Villages Group, comments,

“It is clear that certain groups are finding it difficult to cope financially with debts 31% higher than this time last year, however as incomes increase there is hope that many will be able to boost their savings. Indeed, 61% of British 55-64-year-olds are still working but if there’s any hope for a relaxing retirement they will really need to really knuckle down and save for their future.

“Another point to remember is that there are 1.45 million UK retirees currently claiming housing support, which costs the state £5.3bn each year. The Strategic Society Centre (SSC) has predicted a 138% increase in the number of pensioners claiming housing benefit by 2060 meaning that the UK is going to be left with a very large bill. With this in mind and with UK over 55’s struggling to cope financially it is no surprise that innovative “active living” Villages already popular in Australia, Scandinavia, the US and New Zealand are providing a viable alternative to this dilemma.”

As more and more people looking to move abroad for their golden years, seeking lower living costs and a better quality of life, France remains one of the most popular destinations affording a wonderfully warm climate, relaxed lifestyle, stunning natural beauty and easy access to the UK.

For those in their third age contemplating a move overseas, the Languedoc-Roussillon region in France will make for a wonderful place to relocate. Chosen for its three C’s – climate, coast and countryside as well as being one of the best places in the world to go canal boating, Languedoc is one of the most visited parts of south west France and as a result of Languedoc’s popularity, The Villages Group has decided to develop their first active living resort ‘village’ for those over 50 to enjoy at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Canal du Midi, one of Europe’s longest and widest canal systems.

The Villages Group will provide a village community of around 107 villas on the banks of the Canal du Midi. This village site will afford full on-site amenities including tennis courts, indoor pool, gymnasium and quality entertainment programmes, perfect for living an active and fulfilling life within a community of like-minded individuals.

For more information please contact The Villages Group on + 33 1 4007 8625, email villages@pdfparis.com or visit www.thevillagesgroup.com. 

The latest biannual Global Real Estate Transparency Index 2012 by Jones Lang Lasalle has ranked France amongst one of the most transparent real estate markets in the world. However, this accolade is in question as it seems that rather than attempt to make the French property system even more transparent, the French government’s proposed taxation changes have caused great concern and confusion with potential and existing foreign owners of second homes in France.

According to this year’s well respected Global Real Estate Transparency Index which rates countries on 83 criteria, grading them between being perfectly transparent (1) and opaque (5), France ranks 7th in its “transparency” status based on factors such as sales transactions, debt regulation, land and property registration, direct property indices and corporate governance. With this in mind, it would seem that France’s proposed tax hike on rental income rising from 20% to 35.5%, and capital gains tax on property sales rising from 19% to 34.5% – the extra in each case being branded a "social charge" would be detrimental to the French property market.

Marcel Van Peteghem, Partner at French legal advice & property law firm Anglo French Law comments,

“Let us for one moment muse upon a number of points regarding this proposed measure. Firstly, it is difficult to see how non-residents can be charged “social taxes” from which they can never derive a benefit. Secondly, there are some complex pieces of EU law that deal with this and these may yet prove to be the undoing of this proposal. Sarkozy went down this route on foreign owned property taxes of a different kind only to U turn later when he had gained the maximum mileage out of it to a domestic French audience, much to the alarm of UK owners and buyers.

“Indeed, there are varying estimates as to how many Brits own French property as second homes in France either as static investment or actively generating an income from long or short term rents, most agree on approximately 600,000. Thus the likely net tax take from the exercise of taxing a relatively small non-resident section of the property owning community on small scale rental income is likely to be minimal when one takes into consideration the added administrative costs and collection by well-paid civil servants. It is fairly clear that the implementation will have little if any financial gain for the French exchequer but will instead further depress an already subdued property market.

“As for the UK French  property owner;  unlike buying a second property in any town anywhere  to rent out for a profit, most Brits own property in France because they love the country and enjoy visiting which means it is quite likely that the tax proposal will be of secondary consideration. Brits that use their holiday homes and then also rent them out for a few weeks of the year to cover the existing taxes may have to add just one or two extra weeks to that endeavour to cover the proposed rental social charge levy.”

However, in spite of the suggested tax hikes, those thinking about buying a French holiday home will be able to make savings from France’s forecast average property price fall of 5-6% this year according to Crédit Agricole, one of France´s largest banks with expert’s intent on promoting this decline as an alteration rather than a property crash. Indeed, the weakening Euro and falling house prices have made French property cheaper for Brits, with the cheapest rates since October 2008 being seen.

Furthermore, even with falling prices and an accolade as one of the most transparent real estate markets, existing and potential French property buyers might still feel a little dubious about entering the market. Providing further reassurance to panicked buyers, Van Peteghem explains:

“It’s important to remember the proposed measure will not affect anyone going to live in France, retiring or relocating for any one of the many reasons people do.  We must remember that the Assembly may not vote this through and the French constitutional court may end up dismissing this move altogether.”

With retirement in mind, The Villages Groups active living ‘Village’ resorts for the over 50’s in France, designed for permanent residents is just one example of how buyers won’t be affected.

For a great life at an affordable price, the Languedoc-Roussillon region in France will make for a wonderful place to relocate. Chosen for its three C’s – climate, coast and countryside Languedoc is one of the most visited parts of south west France and as a result of Languedoc’s popularity, The Villages Group has decided to develop their first “active living” village community of 107 villas at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Canal du Midi, one of Europe’s longest and widest canal systems.

For more information please contact The Villages Group on + 33 1 4007 8625, email villages@pdfparis.com or visit www.thevillagesgroup.com. 
 

The 2012 Retirement Readiness Survey from the leading provider of retirement security, AEGON has discovered there is widespread pessimism about the future state of retirement with 71% of current workers believing that future generations will be worse-off in retirement than current retirees.

The international survey of 9000 respondents in nine countries – France, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States was developed to measure how prepared people feel about their own retirement in the various global nations. The findings highlight that more than 70% believe that they are now responsible for saving for their own retirement but relatively few (15%) actually believe that they are on course to reach the retirement income they need.

While the prevailing attitudes toward retirement and the levels of financial readiness among the current working generation in Europe and the United States appears a little bleak it seems that current retirees in Britain are faring well with The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) recently highlighting that pensioner incomes have risen by 29.4% since 1999 compared to just 26% for working people.

Danny Silver, expert in French real estate and MD of ‘active living’ resorts for over 50’s The Villages Group, France comments,

“It’s positive to hear that more people acknowledge their responsibility for ensuring that they cater for a secure retirement but it’s still rather sad that they feel they’ll be worse off once retirement hits. With people living longer and decreasing government funding there needs to be a real shakeup in pension structures across Europe and the UK.

“In the here and now however, UK pensioners are richer today than they have been in the past 15 years according to the IFS. Free TV licenses, winter fuel allowances and free transport as well as income tax reductions highlight just some of the benefits. In spite of being ‘richer’ however there’s no getting away from the fact that Britain is one of the loneliest places in Europe in which to grow old as discovered by charity WRVS, so a move to a nation that offers a better life such as France could be just what the doctor ordered.”

With this in mind, the OECD Better Life Index 2012 which compares well-being across a number of global countries, based on 11 topics in the areas of material living conditions and quality of life has revealed that in general; French people are more satisfied with their lives than the 72% OECD average. Indeed, 73% of people explained that they have more positive experiences in an average day (feelings of rest, pride in accomplishment) than negative ones (worry, sadness, boredom).

In terms of health, life expectancy in France is almost 81 years, higher than the OECD average of 80 years while on the housing front, 91% of people say they are satisfied with their current housing situation, higher than the OECD average of 87%.

Silver comments,

“The French way of life is second to none offering less expensive housing, a relaxed pace of life and cheaper living costs. The nation is completely respectful of the elderly and this is why we decided to develop our active living Villages for over 50’s here offering a range of amenities and services including a gym, indoor pools and entertainment but also a strong community of friends where it’ll impossible to feel alone.”

For those in their third age thinking about a place to live a great life at an affordable price, the Languedoc-Roussillon region in France will make for a wonderful place to relocate. Chosen for its three C’s – climate, coast and countryside Languedoc is one of the most visited parts of south west France and as a result of Languedoc’s popularity, The Villages Group has decided to develop their first “active living” village community of 107 villas at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Canal du Midi, one of Europe’s longest and widest canal systems.

For more information please contact The Villages Group on + 33 1 4007 8625, email villages@pdfparis.com or visit www.thevillagesgroup.com.

Britain has been revealed as one of the loneliest places in Europe in which to grow old according to a recent study from charity WRVS. However, in spite of this somewhat depressing news, hope is not lost with the perfect solution existing just a short hop across the channel.
 
According to the research from WRVS which analysed results of the annual European Social Survey, older people in the UK have limited opportunities for socialising, are more likely to suffer from long term health conditions and live in poverty compared to most other European nations.

Further revealing the seemingly despairing reality faced by Britain’s older generation, data from Age UK has shown that one in every twenty British pensioners suffers from severe loneliness, hardly surprising given that only 6% of older people in the UK leave their homes just once a week (Age UK 2012).

Danny Silver, expert in French real estate and MD of ‘active living’ resorts for over 50’s The Villages Group, comments,
 
“It’s extremely sad that Britain’s ageing population feels so isolated. Shockingly, around 2 million retired British people find it difficult to reach the Post Office, GP or even their local shop, and with very little social contact and limited access to services it’s no wonder elderly people feel so withdrawn from society. To make matters worse continued pressure on energy and food bills mean that many older people are being forced to take a step closer towards the poverty line.

“By stark contrast, France is one nation that delivers the exact opposite when it comes to caring for their elderly and that’s why we chose this nation as the location for our new active living resorts for over 50’s. These resorts will be focused around developing strong communities of like-minded individuals where they will never feel alone. We’re just completely dedicated to health and happiness for all.”

While France has less expensive housing, a relaxed pace of life and cheaper living costs, the Villages in France offers a range of amenities and services suitable for those in their ‘third age’. Here a community of friends can mingle, embark on fun and engaging on site entertainment choices for an active and sociable life as well as numerous options for physical fitness and well-being including a gym and indoor pools.

Silver explains,

“As people get older loneliness can start to creep its way in but it doesn’t have to be that way. Rather than choosing an expensive care home in the UK why not chose a sunshine resort that encourages physical and social activity? Right now, retirement villages in the UK are grabbing a lot of attention – the BBC did a recent article explaining that they could be the answer for the UK’s ageing population but I believe that our active living villages in France for over 50’s offer a far better option and a cheaper one too. In the UK maintenance such as gardening, swimming pools and window cleaning can cost around £600 per month where as ours which also includes French land taxes as well as full entertainment program equates to approximately £75 per month!”

For those in their third age thinking about a place to live a great life at an affordable price, the Languedoc-Roussillon region in France will make for a wonderful place to relocate. Chosen for its three C’s – climate, coast and countryside as well as being one of the best places in the world to go canal boating, Languedoc is one of the most visited parts of south west France and as a result of Languedoc’s popularity, The Villages Group has decided to develop their first “active living” resort ‘village’ for those over 50 to enjoy at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Canal du Midi, one of Europe’s longest and widest canal systems.
 
The Villages Group will provide a village community of 107 villas on the banks of the Canal du Midi and will afford full on-site amenities including tennis courts, indoor pool, gymnasium and quality entertainment and cultural programmes, perfect for living an active and fulfilling life with friends.

For more information please contact The Villages Group on + 33 1 4007 8625, email villages@pdfparis.com or visit www.thevillagesgroup.com.
 

According to the latest LV= State of Retirement Report, 6.25 million (28%) Britons aged over 50 have no pension plan in place. This news highlights the shocking realisation that the number of Brits relying entirely on a state pension when retirement hits will increase significantly from the 1.2 million whom currently depend on it in the UK.

Scarily, those living on a basic state pension of around £5,587 per annum (not taking into account additional benefit income) make around 51% less than a person working full time on a minimum wage of £11,477 per year it has been discovered. Even more worrying news identified in the report shows that when asked if they could live on the equivalent of the minimum wage in retirement, 43% of participants said they would not be able to survive on that alone while 27% said they would find it extremely difficult.

Danny Silver, expert in French real estate and MD of The Villages Group, comments,

“The outlook for British retirees looks very grim. It’s worrying to think that millions of 50+’s aren’t planning for their retirement but I believe that they simply can’t afford to save what is needed to live up to UK standards. Nearly 50% of todays over 50s will really have to save hard and work longer if they want a decent income upon retirement – 45% will have to work and save for 11 years or more beyond their State Pension Age to imitate their working life living standards according to research from the Pensions Policy Institute.

“With this in mind, a better option would be to move somewhere where the standard of living is exceptionally high but the cost of living is far lower than that of the UK. For 50+’s who do not believe they can rely entirely on the state pension to meet UK living standards, The Villages in France could well provide the answer. In France, the cost of food and commodities is approximately 20% lower than the UK while restaurants and eating out is 30% lower and, in my opinion, 500% better. As well as this, France is second only to Japan for life expectancy so moving to France in your later years to avoid the doom and gloom of the UK makes absolute sense.”

Silver continues,

“Right now, retirement villages in the UK are grabbing a lot of attention – the BBC did a recent article explaining that they could be the answer for the UK’s ageing population but I believe that our active living villages in France for anyone over 50 offer a far better option. In the UK maintenance such as gardening, swimming pools and window cleaning can cost around £600 per month where as ours which also includes French land taxes as well as full entertainment program equates to approximately £75 per month!”

For those in their third age thinking about a place to live a great life at an affordable price, the Languedoc-Roussillon region in France will make for a wonderful place to relocate. Chosen for its three C’s – climate, coast and countryside as well as being one of the best places in the world to go canal boating, Languedoc is one of the most visited parts of south west France and as a result of Languedoc’s popularity, The Villages Group has decided to develop their first “active living” resort ‘village’ for those over 50 to enjoy at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Canal du Midi, one of Europe’s longest and widest canal systems.

The Villages Group will provide a village community of 107 villas on the banks of the Canal du Midi. This village site will afford full on-site amenities including tennis courts, indoor pool, gymnasium and quality entertainment and cultural programmes, perfect for living an active and fulfilling life within a community of like-minded individuals.

For more information please contact The Villages Group on + 33 1 4007 8625, email villages@pdfparis.com or visit www.thevillagesgroup.com.
 

Divorce among the over-60s is at records levels with UK pensioners being the only age group where the divorce rate is climbing. It seems that many pensioners could well be facing old age alone and with the recent government’s ‘granny bashing’ taxes putting further pressure on those in their third age could dedicated active living resorts for the over 50’s present the best alternative for silver separators?

Whilst the overall divorce rate among all UK age groups fell by 11% between 2007 and 2009, the figure for the over-60s rose by 4.2% to 11,507 over the same period according to research by the Office of the National Statistics. Attributed to the rise in ‘silver separations’ experts have suggested that many find it difficult being in the presence of their spouse once retirement kicks in and with the mindset of the over-60s having transformed with the milestone now representing the next phase of their lives, more and more are looking to get divorced.

Danny Silver, expert in French real estate and MD of The Villages Group, comments,

“Over the past few years ‘silver separations’ have been on the rise in the UK and a motionless housing market, falling pension values and Osborne’s latest budget could well put further pressure on divorce rates. Of course, nowadays, the attitude of the older generation has changed. Rather than being scared to move on many will now view their 60s as an exciting new stage in their life pushing them to re-assess their lifestyle whether that be taking up a new hobby or relocating abroad.”

And it’s not just the UK that is seeing a surge in third age divorce rates. In the US one in four of all divorces now involve people aged between 50 and 64 according to data compiled by AARP.

Indeed, the change in marital composition of this age group highlights that policymakers can no longer concentrate solely on widowhood in later life but pay attention to the never-married and divorced. In the UK, the government has been consistently called on to invest in social care and housing allowing those in their third age to remain living independently.

With this in mind, Danny Silver believes that the Villages in France provide the ideal lifestyle choice commenting:

“Perfect for those who are in search of a new life, our active living resorts suitable for anyone over the age of 50 provide services and amenities that encourage an active, happy and healthy lifestyle focussed around a strong community of like-minded individuals. Our Village resorts across France will provide a lifestyle that we believe will be most attractive to active 50+s who want to live their lives to the full in one of the top ten expat countries in the world, one that affords a relaxed pace of life, stunning natural landscapes and low living costs away from the doom and gloom of divorce and government ‘granny bashing’.”

For those in their third age contemplating a move overseas, the Languedoc-Roussillon region in France will make for a wonderful place to relocate. Chosen for its three C’s – climate, coast and countryside as well as being one of the best places in the world to go canal boating, Languedoc is one of the most visited parts of south west France and as a result of Languedoc’s popularity, The Villages Group has decided to develop an active living resort ‘village’ for those over 50 to enjoy at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Canal du Midi, one of Europe’s longest and widest canal systems.

The Villages Group will provide a village community of around 107 villas on the banks of the Canal du Midi. This village site will afford full on-site amenities including tennis courts, indoor pool, gymnasium and quality entertainment programmes, perfect for living an active and fulfilling life within a community of like-minded individuals.

For more information on a fresh alternative and unique lifestyle choice for those in their third age please contact The Villages Group on + 33 1 4007 8625, email villages@pdfparis.com or visit www.thevillagesgroup.com.

The battle between François Hollande, the Socialist challenger to the incumbent French President Nicolas Sarkozy finally came to a head last Sunday at the 2012 French Presidential elections with Hollande emerging triumphant.

But what will this mean for Brits thinking about entering the French property market?

Danny Silver, expert in French real estate and MD of The Villages Group, France comments,

“Being married to a top French economist and having lived in France for the past 15 years, I have been exposed to the French elections as they happen. With French property being my speciality I can say that going on past experience, the effect on the property market will be minimal to zero now that Hollande has got in.

“It is important that British buyers remember that this election was simply a vote for the French Presidency not the Government so there will be no particular implication on the real estate market. It’s business as normal!

“Indeed, the legal process (which has changed very little in 200 years) will remain the same with France continuing to be one of the safest nations in world to own real estate according to the IMF, World Bank and US Federal Bank. You only have to look at real estate litigation rates in France which stand at just 0.3% compared to Europe at 3.9% and the US around 8%.

“The new Presidency will not impact on many of the factors that affect the purchase of French real estate such as currency or the buying process, and with France consistently ranking as one of the most popular countries in which to live and with property prices remaining stable there is no need for potential British buyers to worry.”

For more information on the French property market, the impact of the new elected President Hollande or The Villages Group, please call + 33 1 4007 8625, email villages@pdfparis.com or visit www.thevillagesgroup.com.
 

In last month’s annual Budget, George Osborne revealed a £3.3 billion hit on middle-class pensioners which will see many eventually losing the higher personal allowance.

Announced on the April 6th 2012, those aged between 65 and 74 will see the first £10,500 of their income remain tax free while £10,660 will be free for those aged 75 and over. However, from the 6th April 2013, personal allowance will be frozen for current pensioners and not available for anyone retiring after that date.

More controversial news comes in the form of a proposed ‘Granny Tax Mark II’ which could see around 100,000 people lose up to £897 a year – a serious blow to older Brits. Targeting the savings credit benefit, it seems that the government will be looking to slash payments and scrap them altogether by 2016 seeing single pensioner hand-outs cut from £20.52 a week to £18.54 with new pensioners ‘clobbered’ even harder when their benefit ceases, according to research by the House of Commons library.

With Inland Revenue figures highlighting that over 4 million people will be worse off by £83 a year on average in 2013-14 and 360,000 individuals aged 65 set to lose £285 a year on average, this new ‘granny tax’ is sure to encourage even more pensioners to move in their Third Age according to experts.

Danny Silver, expert in French real estate and MD of The Villages Group, comments,

“This so-called ‘granny bashing’ has generated a lot of controversy over the last month and it is likely that the bad feeling amongst UK pensioners could well spark British retiree’s to flock overseas. Indeed, according to deVere Group, a leading international advice firm, the scrapping of the age-related personal allowance will mean that there will be fewer incentives for people to hold pensions in the UK.”

Silver continues,

“This of course makes sense. With benefits axed and British pensioners seeking to protect their retirement funds from government invasions, more Brits will be looking to retire to countries in which they will be taxed less with the forever popular destination of France offering a great escape.

“In France, you have your pension paid under EU law and as well as this you will benefit from a world class medical service. In addition, the cost of food and commodities is approximately 20% lower than the UK while restaurants and eating out is 30% lower and, in my opinion, 500% better. As well as this, France is second only to Japan for life expectancy so moving to France in your later years to avoid the doom and gloom of the UK makes absolute sense.”

For those in their third age contemplating a move overseas, the Languedoc-Roussillon region in France will make for a wonderful place to relocate. Chosen for its three C’s – climate, coast and countryside as well as being one of the best places in the world to go canal boating, Languedoc is one of the most visited parts of south west France and as a result of Languedoc’s popularity, The Villages Group has decided to develop an active living resort ‘village’ for those over 50 to enjoy at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Canal du Midi, one of Europe’s longest and widest canal systems.

The Villages Group will provide a village community of around 116 villas on the banks of the Canal du Midi. This village site will afford full on-site amenities including tennis courts, indoor pool, gymnasium and quality entertainment programmes, perfect for living an active and fulfilling life within a community of like-minded individuals.

For more information on a fresh alternative and unique lifestyle choice for those in their third age please contact The Villages Group on + 33 1 4007 8625, email villages@pdfparis.com or visit www.thevillagesgroup.com.