90 Second Interview: Danny Silver, The Villages Group, France
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.