FRENCH PROPERTY TIPS http://www.frenchentree.com 15 June 2006 Welcome to the June 2006 issue of French Property Tips, the email newsletter from FrenchEntrée.com. NEWSLETTER TO SWITCH TO HTML At FrenchEntrée we are continually looking to advance our services and we will be sending the next French Property Tips email newsletter in HTML format. We will automatically set up your subscription account to receive the new HTML version of the newsletter but if you would prefer a text-based version of the newsletter, please send an email to aynsley@frenchentree.com, who will edit your email delivery format. Our aim at FrenchEntrée is to provide you with a monthly digest of news, views, articles and other information which might help you with a French property purchase or a move to France. You registered to receive this newsletter at our site - if you do not wish to receive it please follow the unsubscribe link at the bottom of this text. FrenchEntrée.com does not sell or pass on your details to anyone else. CONTENTS 1. France introduces remortgaging 2. Gîte ownership - the real nitty-gritty 3. Making the most of currency exchange 4. French lawyers and how they can help you 5. A new type of viager scheme 6. Passing on your property 7. A château in the south 8. Income tax - changes for 2006 9. Are you really a French resident? 10. French accountants advise Brits 11. Notaires monopoly - an update 12. Village wine festival 13. Living in rural France 14. Safety on French roads 15. Properties for sale from private vendors. 1 Remortgaging hits France The French rules on mortgages have recently changed to permit remortgaging... http://www.frenchentree.com/fe-property/displayarticle.asp?id=14994 2 Why not a gîte complex... A former owner of a gîte complex writes about the day-to-day realities of running a holiday rental business in France... http://www.frenchentree.com/fe-property/displayarticle.asp?id=14993 3 How to win at currency exchange If you need to transfer money regularly to France, for instance to pay a mortgage, bypass the banks... http://www.frenchentree.com/fe-currency/displayarticle.asp?id=15006 4 Using an avocat If you're buying a French property and need impartial advice, consider using a French solicitor... http://www.frenchentree.com/fe-property/displayarticle.asp?id=14998 5 Making the most of your property as you age The Prêt Viager Hypothecaire is a new form of equity release scheme that could affect the future of the French property market... http://www.frenchentree.com/fe-property/displayarticle.asp?id=14996 6 Beware of French succession law One thing that any Briton buying property in France needs to be aware of is French succession law, which is radically different from that in the UK... http://www.frenchentree.com/fe-property/displayarticle.asp?id=14997 7 A château in the Dordogne Every Englishman has a dream of his country estate: the long drive, the rolling acres - above all the space. All of this can be found easily in the Dordogne... http://www.frenchentree.com/france-dordogne/displayarticle.asp?id=14311 8 French income tax changes for 2006 There are some changes to income taxation in France for 2006. Certain abatements will be abolished, and the tax rates will be reduced from seven to five... http://www.frenchentree.com/fe-legal/displayarticle.asp?id=15002 9 Are you really resident in France? It can be surprisingly difficult to establish one's tax residence in certain circumstances... http://www.frenchentree.com/fe-legal/displayarticle.asp?id=15003 10 Ribérac accountants continue their roadshow Ribérac's top accountants are giving tax briefings to packed audiences of British expats in the Ribérac area... http://www.frenchentree.com/france-dordogne/displayarticle.asp?id=14952 11 An end to the notaires' monopoly Following intensive lobbying of the European Commission, the date for the ending of the French notaires' monopoly and fixed fees may be on the horizon... http://www.frenchentree.com/fe-property/displayarticle.asp?id=14995 12 The biggest wine festival in the smallest village We're all recovering from one of the most arduous festivals of the year! Albas Wine Festival is an outstanding event. Six or seven thousand people - according to the Mairie - all crammed into one tiny village... http://www.frenchentree.com/france-lot-quercy-cahors-wine/displayarticle.asp?id=14940 13 Book extract FrenchEntrée-Limousin is delighted to announce that over the coming weeks we will be serialising extracts of "Bonne Chance! - Building a life in rural France"... http://www.frenchentree.com/france-limousin/displayarticle.asp?id=14580 14 Keep death off the roads A tragic accident last week, in which four British people were killed and four severely injured, has highlighted the dangers of driving in the Dordogne... http://www.frenchentree.com/france-dordogne/displayarticle.asp?id=14938 15 Private properties for sale Private properties for sale this month include: a detached stone cottage in Finistere, and 18th-century house in the Ile de France, a converted barn in Aquitaine and a château in Gers. http://www.frenchentree.com/france-private-property-sales/ French Entrée regional sites For local news, views and issues affecting your area, visit our regional sites: Brittany http://www.frenchentree-brittany.com Charente http://www.frenchentree-charente.com Deux-Sevres http://www.frenchentree-deux-sevres.com Dordogne http://www.frenchentree-dordogne.com Languedoc http://www.frenchentree-herault-gard.com Limousin http://www.frenchentree-limousin.com Lot and Quercy http://www.frenchentree-lotandquercy.com. Vienne http://www.frenchentree-vienne.com ***Sponsors Link - Schofields*** UK Insurance for French holiday homes that provides specialist cover for holiday letting and full protection when left unoccupied. Click here to get a quote http://www.schofields.ltd.uk/Policy_Details/Overseas/overseas.htm?fenl ************************************************* ***Sponsors Link* - VEF French Property Not all French property companies are the same! We have 19 years' experience and more than 12,500 resale and new build properties to choose from. You choose the house and we will take care of the rest saving you time and money. http://www.vefuk.com/?pid={77482532-1A37-4155-9B89-3561068D3552} ************************************************* ***Sponsors Link - Barclays*** Barclays has been helping international clients in France for over 80 years. We offer a wide range of products and services and many account managers in our main branches speak English. Follow this link to find out more and request our FREE Guide to Buying a Home in France: http://www.barclays.fr/ebn.ebn?pid=192&domain=site&rub=25&object=rubrique&id=25 ************************************************* ALSO on FrenchEntrée.com JULY RENTAL AVAILABLE: Some weeks available to rent for JULY in charming holiday cottage on the Dordogne/Charente border. Private, peaceful, lovely views, near restaurants, markets and historic villages. Ideal for holidays or house-hunters. http://www.frenchentree.com/french-holiday-cottage-dordogne/ HOW TO GET IN TOUCH Advertising: mailto:sales@frenchentree.com Directory: mailto:jennie@frenchentree.com Contribute a story or article and claim 2 FREE books: http://www.frenchentree.com/fe-contribute/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=90 A bientôt Patricia Mansfield-Devine Editor FrenchEntrée.com mailto:patricia@frenchentree.com If you wish to unsubscribe then please use the link below: http://www.frenchentree.com/fe-newsletter/home.asp?status=unsubscribe