What can we expect for our money?

[booboo]

Hi everyone, my husband and I are looking to buy in france. We have 80000 sterling in cash. I dont mind where we live in france as long as its the countryside what I do want is land, no one over looking the property and some thing in reasonable condition. Veiws are also important. Size is of property is not important.

Is this realistic?

We have been searching on the net and it seems that they are more expensive than I thought, we will be coming to look in the near future

We live in Slovenia at the moment and wont be selling our home here as for me it is perfect, Its my husbands dream to live or have a hoilday home in france
I am Irish and my husband is English.
We are not big spenders and have enough to support ourselves and a little bit more if needed.
Thanks in advance

It isn't enough to buy a reasonable house with land in the South, particularly with the current exchange rate.

Languedoc is cheaper than Provence & Cote d'Azur, but €80,000 (allowing for legal, etc) buys very little.

Have you thought of an apartment ?

Local agent : Ici et la immobilier - introduction

Peter

[minesthechevy]

<<< Is this realistic? >>>

No - not at all. That is, it isn't for Isere, Ain, Drome, Ardeche, Savoie, and H-Sav.

You may get a fixer-upper appartment somewhere for €100K, but I doubt it.

Theres an abandoned semi-derelict 3-bed place with 650sqm of land and no parking near us for €142K, but it needs a new fosse and a roof. Oh, and it nestles in the 'Y' junction of three roads with no pavements, so you'd better like people a lot.

[Matou]

There is a possibility provided you are not in a hurry. Choose several areas and look at the "ventes judiciaires" (auctions) you might be able to find someting interesting in your range of price. Normally the final price is arround 60 to 80 % of the market value. Lists of the properties to be sold are published at the Court (Tribunal de grande instance) in every district. The potential buyers are normally allowed to visit and to consult the "cahier des charges" (comprehensive document including all the legal and practical informations). To participate you need an Avocat from the local Bar and a "chèque de banque" (certified cheque) of 10% of the value of the "mise à prix" (begining price) that will only be used if you win the auction. The buyer is also supposed to pay the "frais taxés" (expenses related to the auction) but they are generally not enormous and you are informed of their value before the auction. Another thing to mention is that you will have to pay some taxes (droits de mutation) to the State but no notaire will be involved (that's less fees) because the judgement of the auction has the legal value of a title of property. Good luck!

[booboo]

thanks for all the replys, we are not in a hurry to move just looking at our options at the moment. an apartment is out of the question. we both love being outside so the house its self is not important and we have hobbies that take us over the winter. Its been able to work and grow things on the land that we enjoy the most and having for me everything that i desire here would be hard to give up.
is there anyway on line that i could access these auctions dates online?
many thanks

[Matou]

I do not think that you will find official lists of auctions on the web. I have made a quick search using the words "ventes aux enchères judiciaires immobiliaires" and I found several private links of which I am posting exemples. I cannot tell you at all how reliable they are but you might find something interresting.
Ventes aux enchres immobilires en France
La vente aux enchres en Immobilier, vente de studio, appartement, loft, maison, villa, bureau
annonces des ventes aux encheres immobilieres en rhone alpes
Ventes aux enchères

[frogblogger]

I agree with most of the above, however it is still just about possible for that sort of money to buy a tiny building in the middle of nowhere a long way from any facilities (doctor, shop, school, hospital) in the less fashionable areas of France. Will need some work though, and remember that you have sizeable notary fees to pay on top of the purchase price. Plus if you are not the DIY sort, plumbing/electrical etc work is expensive.

[bobc]

Hi ,I am looking also and found this on Google :-

The cheapest regions in which to buy property in France are undoubtedly Limousin and Auvergne, both of which are non-coastal regions in central France. These regions have suffered from rural depopulation in recent years due to a lack of large towns and industry resulting in relatively high unemployment. Consequently, parts of these regions are very remote and sparsely populated. Limousin and Auvergne are nevertheless, up and coming areas as far as the French property market is concerned. The increasing number of buyers looking in these regions has not yet driven property prices up significantly and property here still represents excellent value for money. A property in Limousin or Auvergne can be as much as two or even three times cheaper than its equivalent in size and quality in the nearby Dordogne. It is this comparative value for money that has drawn house hunters to the region in recent years. However, the peaceful surroundings and recently improved transport links are other points in their favour. It is still easy to find renovation projects, including barns, cottages and farmhouses in Limousin and Auvergne at truly bargain prices. Small rural cottages or village houses needing work can be snapped up for less than £20,000.
Bob

[minesthechevy]

....< needing work >...


At that price I'd expect to raze the place to the ground and start from scratch.

...and yes, I AM serious, and no, I AIN'T joking.