Creating dreams - Facing realities

The romantic idle of long summer evenings overlooking a wonderful vista sipping a glass of chilled Chardonnay and appreciating the finer things in life……a move to France can mark the start of a new life, a desire to spend a little more time relaxing, a retirement project or a good financial investment.

Whatever your reason or vision the search is often tackled with rose-tinted spectacles. The beautiful remote farmhouse can seem like a world away from the ideal vision when the rays have gone and the flowers have died. We don’t wish to put a wet blanket on the matter but you do need to be realistic when searching for your property and make your dream become a realistic and liveable reality.

Some Things to consider…..

• Rural Life – what do you mean by rural life. Are you searching for the “Good Life” and want to really getting stuck into the wellies, mud, bricks and mortar.
• Renovation work – are you really looking for a work in progress, something that needs complete renovation or just some simple decorating work.
• Do you speak French? – this is a big barrier to integrating into any community and to do so you will have to make an effort to speak their language
• Work – if you are moving to France full-time and need to work then you need to consider the options open to you. Have you got a business that can transfer or that you can continue from a distance? Do you have a transferable skill? Have you looked into the tax implications of working as an employee or self-employed?
• The gite myth – it is very rare to be able to make a complete living from a gite business and you need to be aware of this. Do not throw all your eggs into this basket as it could be an expensive error.

Once you have the idea to buy in France…..

Whilst you are mulling-over the idea of owning a property in France you should consider a few practical realities before plunging into the romantic idle you have dreamed of and get carried away with a restoration project way bigger than you can cope with, this is where we can help you negotiate the maze of things to consider before realising your dream.