FrenchEntrée Contributor | Foreign Exchange
Mar Bonnin-Palmer is a Senior Key Account Manager at Moneycorp and regular contributor to French Entrée Magazine.
During her career as a lawyer based in London dealing mainly with British clients buying a property in Spain, Mar became very familiar with the process of purchasing abroad. Since 2006 she has been fully devoted to foreign exchange, dealing with private individuals and companies that need to make international payments.
Well, here we are again. Once more, a political event has had a big impact on the exchange rates, particularly the pound. Why? This week, UK Prime Minister Theresa May unexpectedly called for a general election in June which she says is necessary to strengthen the upcoming Brexit negotiations.
During most of March the euro had the upper hand. In the first three and a half weeks it strengthened by more than two and a half US cents, touching a four month high. Then, for no compelling reason, investors decided it had gone far enough. They knocked the euro back, halving its net monthly gain to a cent and a quarter, still worth having but not exactly stellar. The about-turn doubtless related to technical factors: it coincided with the level from which the euro had rebounded in June last year.
It was a classic “game of two halves” for the euro against the pound. For the first half of March the euro was in the ascendency and sterling was on the retreat; during the second the roles were reversed. The net result was a quarter-cent victory for the pound but the outcome was close and could very easily have gone the other way with a different referee.
When planning your retirement in France, it is easy to get carried away thinking of afternoons spent on a leisurely game of péntanque or sipping a pastis on a sunlit square – but before you can enjoy those afternoons, it…
Buying a property in France can be an exciting venture. Deciding the region where you would like our French house to be located is one of the first and more challenging decisions to be made with 13 regions to choose…
Avoid Euro Fluctuations Mar Bonnin-Palmer explains how you can avoid getting caught out by exchange rate shifts when budgeting for your mortgage repayments Buyers of French property who are looking to finance their purchase are confronted with the dilemma of…
There is endless speculation surrounding the potential repercussions of a Brexit, the majority focusing on the UK. But what about expats in France?
Don’t let the EU referendum ruin your dream of owning a property overseas …
Many of us moving to France area unaware at first of a variety of additional costs that we simply have not budgeted for. You can, however, manage these expenses conveniently and cost-effectively.
Buying a property in France can be an exciting venture. Deciding the region and budget, however, are not the only decisions to be made.
So, when should you buy euros? What if you buy now and the rate improves even more? What if you wait and the rate loses ground?
Deciding the right time to buy your euros can be tricky, and your decision will depend on these key factors…
Mar Bonnin-Palmer runs down the basics of planning a trip to check out likely French dream homes and explains the advantages of getting your budget sorted out beforehand
Speculation is rife that the vote could be brought forward to 2016, in order to avoid a politically dangerous clash with the French and German elections in 2017 and for the PM to potentially force a better deal out of his EU partners, who would like the UK to stay in the union.
Your dream of buying a property in France could come true. The new UK pension reform rules are set to revolutionise the way we take income retirement.
Once you’ve narrowed down your search area, you can book appointments to view the properties you have selected either through your property finder or with the French estate agents directly. Before you set out on your property inspection trip, here are some top tips to make the most of the time and funds at your disposal.
With a strong pound and property prices still low in,France it is a great time to find a bargain and buy your dream property in France for less. Av€200,000 property will now cost you £18,900 less compared with January 2014!
The strength of Sterling against the Euro meant that 2014 was a great time for Britons to buy a property in France …and the next 12 months are looking pretty good, too!
Whether you’re bound for the bustling boulevards of Paris or a sleepy provincial village planning your foreign exchange requirements can make the move much easier and leave you much better off. When the British think of living in France we…
In Île de France, the region where Paris is located, more than 20,000 British nationals registered as full time residents, according to the French Statistical Office (INSEE) …
Whether you are moving permanently to France or have bought a holiday home, you will be confronted with the challenge of living between two currencies.
Working and living in France holds a powerful appeal, as the fact that there are 250,000 British residents but what happens when it’s time to say au revoir and return home?
Would you buy a property in the UK without knowing the final price? When buying a property abroad in a different currency, there is the exchange rate to keep in mind…
Whether you are moving permanently to France or have bought a holiday home, you might be confronted with the challenge of living between two currencies.
If you are thinking of moving to France you will need to make payments in another currency. Read this first …
