The French Property Portal

Have a look through the houses and properties and real estate advertised on our site. You will find all types of French property for sale - from houses in France, French lakes, farms, barns and renovation projects to French businesses for sale, prestige property, magnificent chateaux, equestrian property or an apartment in Paris. You will also find many cheap French properties to buy on this site as well as gites in France, businesses for sale in France and the odd chateau or two for sale.

How an Illinois retiree, after enrolling in a language class, found a new life in the city of Dijon

In 2004, at the age of 54, I retired from my job as a business-systems analyst. The work had been all-consuming, with continuing education a constant necessity, and I had little opportunity for travel. I often felt there must be something more to life.

I settled on a 10-acre piece of land (with a pond and barn) in southern Illinois, near Carbondale in the Shawnee National Forest. Looking for a way to keep my mind and spirit active, I enrolled in a French class. There, a professor urged me to study French in France, as part of a program offered by a group of Illinois schools.

In August 2006, I found myself in a one-month class at the University of Burgundy in Dijon.

france property mortgage rate from just 1.95 %

People seeking to buy a home in France can now get a Euro mortgage for French residential property with a variable rate of 1.95 per cent at up to 80 per cent loan-to-value from the overseas mortgage specialists, Conti.

The French property market, one of the most stable in Europe, accounts for the largest number of mortgage enquiries received at Conti.

Clare Nessling, operations director at Conti, said: “According to our records, this is the lowest rate we’ve offered for property in France. The country has become an increasingly attractive investment option, not least because of very low interest rates and easy access from the UK, but also due to the falling value of the euro and lower property prices, with many sellers dropping their prices to levels we’ve not seen for several years.”

France Real Estate: Over Inflation In Market Reduced By Downturn

While France's real estate market has been insulated from the worst of the housing crash, the mood entering the New Year is subdued, as even prime property in the Alps have seen prices plunge. At the same time, as inflated values drop buyers are finding bargains, and the outlook is especially optimistic for the revitalized Marseille region, and for vacation property favorites Normandy and Brittany. See the following article from Property Wire for more on this.

France real estate
Nice, France
The French property market is bracing itself for a tough year ahead in 2010 but real estate experts do not expect a sudden recovery despite prices showing signs of stabilizing.

Although the global economic downturn has made the last 18 months hard for the real estate industry, France has benefited from not having an overpriced market and a system that is more cautious and less gung-ho in terms of lending.

It hasn’t seen the kind of boom and bust that has affected its neighbors in Spain and Britain.