Holiday Home in limoges area

[pastymuncher1]

Hello everyone, I am a new member looking for some much needed advice. My wife and I are looking at purchasing a small property as a holiday home in the limoges area of France. This is something totally new to both of us, we have seen a property for sale and may be visiting next week to view, however we do not really have any experience of buying property abroad, I have read the obligatory books etc but feel speaking to real people who have been through the process would be much more beneficial. The house is for sale for 26ooo€ agents fees are 4000€ and notaire fee is 3500€ these fees seem very expensive?The property has no fosse septique, renovation work will be needed albeit internally( assured building/roof structually sound) which i can do but a small barn 10m2 on the side would neeed converting to living accommodation. Does anyone have any previous knowledge of the ins and outs of buying a second home in france that would be willing to share a little knowledge with some newbies.
Thank You in Advance
Stuart

[minesthechevy]

1. Get yourself a Notaire; officially, you dont need one, since the appointed Notaire is theoretically impartial, but it will do you no harm to have someone looking out for you. If you can, get one who has been used by a brit themselves, ie personal recommendation. Oh, and make sure he is fluent in english, not some half-baked schoolboy-english speaker......

2. Why no fosse septique? Never installed, or just blocked up? It is my understanding that a property must have a FS or a FTE that works on teh day of sale - but Im happy to be corercted on that point. Have you the 1500m2 that a fosse requires (Im quoting Isere now, the actual area might be a tad different in different areas)

3. Who assured you that the roof is sound? Get an unbiased opinion on that, it could cost you a lot to bring up to code.

4. Beware of the pitfalls of renovating at 'arms length' in small doses; your cement mixer will disappear, the materials that you hope will be waiting for your next building bash won't be, and the work that you did last time will have decayed.

5. Don't attempt to do thngs the english way, the frogs do houses a whole heap different. There was an urban legend about a brit couple who had to tear their renovated house down because they'd imported brit builders who rebuilt it as only they knew how.

[pastymuncher1]

Thanks For the reply minesthe chevy

I did consider another notaire but thought as you state they are "impartial" so we would be ok!! however what started me thinking was the fee €3500. It was my understandingt they charged a % of sale cost the "Times 2008" guide states less than 1%?

The house has a lavatory in an outhouse and a shower/washroom in the kitchen!! so i was surprised that there is no fs at all, I have spoken via email regarding a system and have been quoted €8000 +tva for a full install of a self contained system that has filter bed also, but again this seems exceptionally expensive. Cheaper option requires 200m2 which house does not have so that limits what can be fitted.

Regarding the roof it is the "Agent" ( i know what your going to say) that has assured the roof's state, but until we actually view ourselves this advice has been taken with a pinch of salt so to speak.

The property has been for sale for some 2 years, sold a couple of times but buyers could not gain funding(mortgage). I would be a cash buyer so feel i could gain a good deal on initial purchase price but dont want to risk losing everything going into a deal almost blind. After purchase cost i would have around 40% of cost left for renovation but initial quotes for fs and notaire fee almost blow all this...
It sounds like i'm talking myself out of it already..I dont want to be another of the statistics ..Stupid brit buys property abroad and loses out...I admire anyone that has been there done that! because my first impressions are "it aint easy".....unless you win the Lotto!!

[minesthechevy]

My advice would be to walk away now.

Belay that, I'd RUN...........

There are as many viable mouldering heaps waiting for rebuild in France as there are no-hopers; and there are as many frogs who think that brits are made of money as there are 'honest Jeans'; there are thankfully not that many crooked Notaires, but they do exist.

It's all a matter of keeping your eyes open and trusting nothing that folk say to you until it's said by at least three other folk.

[pastymuncher1]

Thanks For Advice minesthechevy

[pastymuncher1]

Do you not think a notaire fee of €3500 is expensive

[pastymuncher1]

Trying to post a pic of place but cannot until posted 4 times......

[pastymuncher1]

hxxp//img4.imageshack.us/img4/2528/430312wo9.jpg
obviously change the xx to tt

This is link to place it is not a shack or even derelict just needs remedial work i believe.....but would seem rising costs will be the killer not initial purchase price.