Here at FrenchEntrée we try to make our property articles as practical as possible, to save you time, effort and money. This week we asked our amazing (and very busy!) FrenchEntrée network of partners a simple question… “If you could…
Securing a mortgage in France doesn’t have to be difficult and can be more cost-effective than paying for your property in cash FrenchEntrée Property Director Alistair Lockhart advises prospective buyers on the best way to secure a mortgage and get…
Sarah Bright, property lawyer in Toulouse, tackles the unmentionable As comical as it seems, I spend one huge dollop of my time rectifying expats’ scatological disputes. Leaky drains, overflowing cesspits, broken pipes… Bad plumbing, though hardly glamorous, has become a…
We are fortunate to work with a network of highly experienced, licensed estate agents across the most popular areas of France. This week, as some countries ease out of lockdown and others face a potential second wave, we examine what…
Last week we saw the pound fall nearly 4% against the euro. Not great news for those in the UK looking to exchange their funds into euros to pay for their dream property in France. The only thing that stopped…
The single currency has been performing very well despite the pandemic crisis, however there are some risk factors ahead that might weaken its position. So what is creating pressure for the EURO? There has been some negative development in the…
Since the 1970s, France has been a property and lifestyle destination for retired and pre-retirees from overseas, particularly the UK. Every week we speak with clients in their 50s and 60s who are either looking for a holiday home or…
Many of the properties for sale come with that key caveat. they ‘need work’. Our expert contributor shares tips for buying a property to renovate in France.
If you are just setting out on your journey to buy a property in France – maybe a holiday home or perhaps you plan on emigrating – here are 12 of the most important things you should be aware of:…
The process of borrowing money to fund a property purchase is broadly similar on both sides of the Channel, but there are certain differences between French and UK mortgages which buyers need to bear in mind. Overview The first thing…
This week we take a look at the French Property Market as we approach the end of August 2020, as well as offering some top tips for prospective buyers on how to build a good relationship with an estate agent…
By law, all property transactions in France have to take place in euros – even if it happens to be a British client buying from a British seller, which we have seen many times. So if you are buying in…
The enforced Covid-19 lockdown has generated a surge in enquiries for professionals looking to relocate abroad but continue working for the same employer. They have enjoyed the freedom of working from home, have demonstrated to their bosses that their location…
A sudden surge in coronavirus cases in America, Europe and UK is threating the precarious balance achieved on the last months. For those thinking of buying in a different country and with a different currency this situation is really difficult.…
Mr and Mrs Smith were looking to buy in France and they travelled to the country at the beginning of the year. They found a lovely chateau with a price tag of €400,000 in Mayenne in the North and put…
One of the most common requirements from prospective buyers is that they want to own a property in France is, “must have nice views”. This week we have a look at some wonderful French properties for sale with views to…
Charlotte Macdonald is an associate solicitor in Stone King’s international and cross-border team. Over a series of articles Charlotte answers legal and practical questions that are often asked by her clients in relation to France; whether that be buying or…
If you are buying in France and holding a currency other than Euros, it is more important than ever to get good guidance on the best way to exchange your funds. Your property price will depend heavily on the exchange…
If you are planning a trip to France to view a few houses, you may find that the estate agents refuse to give out the address of the properties you are interested in. We tell you why…
If you are self-employed or run your own business and are looking to take on staff, what are your legal obligations regarding providing a healthcare scheme to your employees? In France, employers have a legal obligation to provide a company…
The Covid-19 pandemic has brought a great level of uncertainty and volatility to the markets. Should you have to send money abroad now more than ever it is important to look at the best way to do it. Here are…
Our experts and selected estate agency partners reveal their top French property search tips, to help you find your new home in France. Knowing where you want to buy is very important. France is a huge and varied country and…
If you haven’t already heard, mortgage rates have never been lower. This means that borrowers may be able to restructure their mortgage costs by moving to a more competitive deal. Remortgaging your French home may not have occurred to you…
With the possibility of travelling to France again, visiting trips to complete transactions or find a property are back on track. If you’ve read our previous articles you will have seen that exchange rates have been in flux during this…
In the last few weeks we – and our partners – have seen an increase (in certain regions of France) in properties receiving offers for the full asking price. This is pretty astonishing, as outside of major conurbations (Paris and…
FrenchEntrée Property Tips Webinars – Buying in France before Brexit. Dreaming of owning a property in France, but unsure on what you need to know pre Brexit? Following on from the success of the first webinar (which is now available…
This week we hear from FrenchEntrée Partner Sophie Folley, based in the Pyrénées Atlantiques in South West France. Sophie explains how the pandemic and lockdown affected the market and the way they do business, and what the future might hold.…
Charlotte Macdonald is an associate solicitor in Stone King’s international and cross border team. Over a series of articles Charlotte answers legal and practical questions that are being asked by her clients in relation to COIVID-19; buying or selling property…
French banks have, for many years, been happy to extend credit facilities to overseas buyers of French property. As a general rule of thumb these will typically following the same vetting standards and income-to-debt ratio calculations as with a domestic…
The foreign exchange market is one of the most volatile global markets. Open 24/7 exchange rates fluctuate by the second. Some movements might appear insignificant, moving from 1.1450 to 1.1430 might not pose much of a risk. But some fluctuations…
This week we hear from Andrew Hosker of Blue Sky Immobilier in Nice, a bilingual online agency who have recently joined the FrenchEntrée network. “Blue Sky Immobilier theoretically started 15 years ago when two friends from university were discussing the…
This week we hear from a longstanding partner of FrenchEntrée, Freddy Rueda of Real Estate Languedoc. We’ve been working with Freddy for a number of years now, marketing his fantastic properties in the Languedoc region to our international readers. Freddy’s…
FrenchEntree and moneycorp help you understand the foreign exchange market terminology to make sure you don’t get lost in translation when it comes to exchanging your funds. FX or Forex Market- Is the term used to describe the global marketplace…
When does your age begin to count against you in the eyes of a French banking underwriter? A question we are asked on a regular basis by prospective purchasers is whether there is an age limit (or stricter conditions past…
On June 1, a series of measures adopted by law last October will come into force, changing certain rules governing the management of co-propriétés (co-ownerships such as in apartments buildings). Many of the old laws had been in place since…
We have never been in stranger times as those we are living through right now and, whether rightly or wrongly, decisions are being made for us daily that we have little or no control over and will, no doubt, be…
The global turmoil created by Covid19 is affecting many aspects of our lives. Some of us are unable to work, working less or from home whilst educating our children. Going to the supermarket has become a big adventure and not…
We continue to be contacted daily by prospective British and International French property buyers to understand what their borrowing capacity is in France. In short, the mortgage market has constricted slightly since the pandemic and ensuing lockdown, but brokers and…
This week we hear from Christophe Guay, Director at TIC Ruffec in Charente, a longstanding FrenchEntrée partner: It was a Monday 16th March at 20h00 when president Macron announced live to the nation that ‘Nous sommes en guerre” (we are…
After a pause of more than two months, the property world is starting to show signs of life again as lockdown restrictions begin to ease on both sides of the channel. Good news for those who have been sitting patiently,…
There is a lot of conflicting information as to whether US citizens can obtain Euro mortgage in France, so we thought we’d share our perspective. We talk to American clients every week about your plans for purchasing in France, and…
One of the main advantages to use a foreign exchange specialist rather than a bank is the ability to access a wide range of currency tools to help you decide the best way to buy or sell your currency.…
Buying a property in France can be an exciting venture. Deciding the region where you would like your French house to be located is one of the first and more challenging decisions to be made with 22 regions to choose…
We’ve spoken to several clients over the last few weeks who are keen to understand more about interest-only mortgages in France. In many countries, including the UK, an interest-only mortgage is a cost-effective way to borrow, and works particularly well…
This week we hear from Susie Hollands, CEO and Founder of the Paris agency Vingt Paris, one of our FrenchEntrée partners. “Here at VINGT Paris, we’ve actually been very busy during the confinement. Indeed, very few vendors have decided to…
The Covid-19 pandemic has brought a great level of uncertainty and volatility to the markets. Should you have to send money abroad now more than ever it is important to look at the best way to do it. Here are…
Who keeps the money if the sale falls though? When purchasing property in France, two contracts will be signed and upon the signature of the first, the purchaser will pay into a notary’s account a deposit which will either be…
As you will no doubt be aware, markets have continued to be volatile. The price of oil moved negative on Monday 20th April for the first time in history. The price of a barrel of West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the…
Last week was particularly volatile in the currency markets following a record negative oil prices and the return of Brexit discussions. The pound lost some ground on Friday despite the EU leaders failing to agree a common response to the…
With relatively stable property values in France (which have not fluctuated wildly in much of France since the 2008 credit crisis), record-low borrowing rates and long-term fixed products, we are seeing many of our enquiries relating to remortgaging or debt…
