While viewing properties, we came across some quite interesting characters who worked for the Immobiliers (French Estate agents). Quite typical of France and most unlike the staid, bland English estate agents who take themselves far too seriously and are full of their own self importance having watched too many 'Location, Location, location' programmes I expect).
We met the lovely Julia, bubbly Brigitte and dizzy Vicky as well as the charming Mr Guyon.
Julia arranged to meet us In the main square of the village of ***** in order to view a property located near the centre. She was on time of course, a bright English woman who had lived near Vannes in S Brittany for several years. Neatly and well dressed with dark blondish hair and I think blue eyes which were bright and had a sparkle, she had an air of confidence and friendly familiarity. We had already found what we thought was the property, near the centre of the village opposite a Boulangerie with a very noisy Doberman Pinscher in it's garden.
The property turned out to be quite an impressive house typical of French town houses of the area with a central front door and windows arranged symmetrically like a childs image almost. Out in front was a large driveway with a Longere to the right at right angles to the main house. Of course Julia had not seen the property before (we were to find that this was quite common) and struggled to find a way in.
When we eventually entered we were confronted by a hallway decorated with the most ghastly wallpaper. It was fabric, similar to corduroy, and in a dark pink colour. This did not bode well for the rest of the house and the omen was correct. It had been empty for some time. Mostly dark and with a musty smell. it turned out not to have any rear windows as it backed on to someone elses property and apparently overlooking windows are not allowed in the area. I'm not sure if this is true all over France but it causes some very dark rooms, believe me.
Adjoining gardens appeared to have been sold off for development and so there was little scope there but the Longere was interesting. Joined to the house by a dark boiler room, half of it was decorated and plastered and had been used at sometime in the past as a doctors consulting room as the medical posters and notices attested. The other half still had it's agricultural uses and had obviously been used for animals.
The neighbour busy reroofing an adjacent property with his son, was very insistent on showing us the boundary of the property which was marked with the ever present, ubiquitous blue binding twine and some metal posts. I think that this was in case we had ideas of claiming some of his land but he had nothing to fear. I'm afraid that the corduroy wallpaper was the most memorable part of the house and we gracefully declined any further dealings with it despite the persuasions of the lovely Julia.
At this Julia found out about our plans for Gites and with her Immobilliers instinct at it's sharpest, immediately suggested that we visit a gite complex, up and running, for sale as a going business. We aquiesced as we thought that it would boost our confidence to see a property already converted and successful.
The visit to the Gites at St Mayeux was very interesting and we met with the delightful English owners, C and C. That is the subject of another story though!
Monday, July 26, 2004
Buying property in France - The Process
I haven't posted for a while but I have been very busy over the last few weeks.
As a teacher I have a good break in the summer (when holidays are at the most expensive) which usually gives me the chance to catch up on jobs around the house and garden. That is between sessions preparing for the new school year writing schemes of work and Post Inspection Action Plans etc.
This year will be different though.
Schools in my area are changing their organisation this summer and middle schools are disappearing being replaced by larger primary schools and secondary schools. The latter will be for 11 to 18 year olds rather than 13 to 18 year olds. The students broke up a couple of weeks ago but the staff worked for an extra three days to prepare for the changes and started the vacation on wednesday the 14th July. This has allowed Laura and me to visit Brittany.
We have decided on a property and made an offer. This was accepted and we made the trip to visit the Notaire near Pontivy in central Brittany to sign the neccessary documents with the vendors who are an English couple living nearby in Brittany. The process of property purchase in France is very bureaucratic but it works and is fair.
Let me explain as far as I understand it. Once a decision is made to buy a property a written offer is made by the purchaser. If the vendor accepts the offer he makes a written acceptance. At this point the vendor is bound by his acceptance. The next step is to appoint a Notaire who can act for both parties unlike the English system. He prepares a document (promise of purchase) which both parties sign. At this point the purchaser has to produce a number of documents; such as Passport, birth certificate and marriage or divorce papers.
When this is done the purchaser is committed to purchase but has seven days to withdraw if he or she changes their mind. A date for final settlement is agreed at this meeting but can be extended with the approval of both parties at a later date. If a purchaser withdraws after this period he loses his 10% deposit and has to pay compensation to the vendor for costs etc incurred. Everyone knows where they stand.
Contrast this with the situation in England where some friends have a bridging loan on a second property which they are desperate to sell. A prospective purchaser, with no final date or commitment to adhere to is holding them ransom and trying to get them to reduce the price causing them much heartache, worry and cost. This could not happen in France as neither could the opposite practice of 'gazumping'.
The farm complex we have bought is near Corlay in Central Brittany and has all the criteria we had set ourselves. It is in a small hamlet of three (non working) farms. The main farmhouse is habitable and clean but the outbuildings have been used as agricultural buildings and need work to get them up to standard. It looks as though I am gong to be very busy over the next year or three!!
As a teacher I have a good break in the summer (when holidays are at the most expensive) which usually gives me the chance to catch up on jobs around the house and garden. That is between sessions preparing for the new school year writing schemes of work and Post Inspection Action Plans etc.
This year will be different though.
Schools in my area are changing their organisation this summer and middle schools are disappearing being replaced by larger primary schools and secondary schools. The latter will be for 11 to 18 year olds rather than 13 to 18 year olds. The students broke up a couple of weeks ago but the staff worked for an extra three days to prepare for the changes and started the vacation on wednesday the 14th July. This has allowed Laura and me to visit Brittany.
We have decided on a property and made an offer. This was accepted and we made the trip to visit the Notaire near Pontivy in central Brittany to sign the neccessary documents with the vendors who are an English couple living nearby in Brittany. The process of property purchase in France is very bureaucratic but it works and is fair.
Let me explain as far as I understand it. Once a decision is made to buy a property a written offer is made by the purchaser. If the vendor accepts the offer he makes a written acceptance. At this point the vendor is bound by his acceptance. The next step is to appoint a Notaire who can act for both parties unlike the English system. He prepares a document (promise of purchase) which both parties sign. At this point the purchaser has to produce a number of documents; such as Passport, birth certificate and marriage or divorce papers.
When this is done the purchaser is committed to purchase but has seven days to withdraw if he or she changes their mind. A date for final settlement is agreed at this meeting but can be extended with the approval of both parties at a later date. If a purchaser withdraws after this period he loses his 10% deposit and has to pay compensation to the vendor for costs etc incurred. Everyone knows where they stand.
Contrast this with the situation in England where some friends have a bridging loan on a second property which they are desperate to sell. A prospective purchaser, with no final date or commitment to adhere to is holding them ransom and trying to get them to reduce the price causing them much heartache, worry and cost. This could not happen in France as neither could the opposite practice of 'gazumping'.
The farm complex we have bought is near Corlay in Central Brittany and has all the criteria we had set ourselves. It is in a small hamlet of three (non working) farms. The main farmhouse is habitable and clean but the outbuildings have been used as agricultural buildings and need work to get them up to standard. It looks as though I am gong to be very busy over the next year or three!!
Thursday, July 01, 2004
Buying property in France - First steps
My partner (soon to be wife) and me are trying to buy a property in France as a holiday home and possibly a business. We intend to start looking in Brittany as the climate is quite hospitable and it is not too far to travel from Enland for us, family or friends.
We are looking for a farm with outbuildings and some land so that there is a possibility of developing some holiday cottages (gites) at a future date. There is a great demand for these Gites in the Brittany area.
We have seen several possibilities and are going over to view during the summer. Hopefully (fingers crossed) we will find somewher that fulfils our needs. We also have to negotiate the French property buying system which is very different from ours here in England. I will keep the negotiations and system written up here from a beginners viewpoint and it may be of some use to others who are thinking along the same lines.
We are looking for a farm with outbuildings and some land so that there is a possibility of developing some holiday cottages (gites) at a future date. There is a great demand for these Gites in the Brittany area.
We have seen several possibilities and are going over to view during the summer. Hopefully (fingers crossed) we will find somewher that fulfils our needs. We also have to negotiate the French property buying system which is very different from ours here in England. I will keep the negotiations and system written up here from a beginners viewpoint and it may be of some use to others who are thinking along the same lines.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
