languedoc property

Top Tips - Planning your house hunting trip...

2012-01-29T21:51:00.004+01:00

So, you have achieved a lot... from the first idea of buying a property in the Languedoc... researching the market to see what you can buy and for how much... probably making exploratory visits to get to know the region... organising your funds, perhaps getting provisional mortgage approval or selling another asset... and now your thoughts turn to planning your house hunting trip.

One of the very first considerations will be timing for your visit - when to visit and for how long. How important is the time of year? Well, many people like to see the properties "at their worst", so want to experience the region in the winter, or at least well out of season. There is a lot to be said for that but of course the time of year that you are ready to buy, and perhaps just wanting to get on with the house hunting, may well override such thoughts - and it may be that you will be combining some holiday with your house hunting and will therefore want the better weather of spring, peak season or autumn.

There are certainly peak times at which the local estate agents will be very busy, particularly during school holidays. Some of the busiest times of the year for the agents are the Easter holidays (which can be the busiest holiday of the year) most half-term holidays and all through the peak summer school holidays during July and August. This does not mean that the agents will not be able to see you but it does mean that you should reserve your appointments well in advance, as they can actually get booked up and not be able to accept short-notice requests... very frustrating if you have booked your trip but then cannot get to see the agents!

Booking well in advance can have other advantages, especially for flights... booked ahead, seats with low-cost airlines can be very cheap but last-minute bookings tend to see prices soar, particularly at holiday times.

There are also times which might at first seem obviously good for house hunting but do not work out that way in France. Whereas many estate agents in some countries, particularly the UK, will often work weekends and bank holidays, in France that is mainly not the case. Here, many agents do not work on Saturdays and hardly any on Sundays, so viewing opportunities can be limited at the weekends. It is therefore best to plan a visit that includes weekdays for your viewing appointments.

In France, the public holidays are generally observed and it is definitely the case that estate agents will not work on these days. So, it is worth consulting a lists of French public holidays when you plan your visit - and bear in mind that many French people will take holiday to link up the bank holiday with the nearest weekend, which often means that small estate agencies will simply close for a long weekend... we have often seen visitors grab a last-minute flight for a short trip, and then ask us to arrange viewings, only to find that the agents are closed for the duration of their visit...

Also, aside from ensuring that you have some weekdays available for your viewing appointments, make sure you plan some extra time, if you can, to allow for revisits to one or two properties of particular interest. Some agents who do not generally work on weekends will make an exception for a revisit to a property but this has to be arranged on-the-spot, according to the circumstances. Some flexible time to explore local areas and amenities and experience a bit of local life can also be valuable if you can manage it.

So, if you are able to do it, there are a lot of advantages to planning your trip carefully and booking viewing appointments and travel well ahead.

There are some other key factors to consider, particularly who will be going on the trip. That might sound odd but sometimes it will be just one person of a couple, or one couple from a group, who will visit for house hunting... circumstances can dictate that not everyone is able go on a trip but it should be said that, whilst it can sometimes work, mainly it does not... it is far better to have everyone involved in the purchasing decision present for viewings.

Of course, sometimes a trip is purely exploratory because people are ready to make a visit but not yet ready to buy, either because of preference or availability of funds. There is a lot of feeling that the agents will be happy to "show a few properties" to people making an exploratory trip but, whilst some agents will do this, most do not like to... that can be a financial decision by the agents but what is often not considered is that good agents do not like to take people into the homes of those trying to sell when the purpose is purely exploratory. You only have to put yourself in the situation of the seller to understand.

So, if you plan an exploratory trip, our advice is not to book viewings - use the web to get a feel for property prices and availability but use your time on an exploratory trip to do just that - explore areas, investigate amenities and experience local life, perhaps going off the beaten track a little.

However, if you plan a house hunting trip, just let us know your dates and areas of interest and we will be delighted to advise what you can achieve in your available time and see if we can arrange viewings for you with our local agents!

Featured Languedoc Property...

2012-01-28T18:27:00.001+01:00

If you are looking for an exceptional, substantial property with period elegance, extensive living space and grounds, swimming pool... and all near the Canal du Midi...

Ref: AGN630000E

An elegant Maison de Maître (from 1878) on the edge of the village but only a few paces from the shops and restaurants - walking distance of the Canal du Midi; offers 368m² of habitable space with 8 bedrooms; swimming pool, garage, attached barn and various outbuildings on 9423m² of land including an elegant landscaped park and attached vineyards.

Top Tips - House Hunting in the Languedoc...

2012-01-28T16:56:00.002+01:00

As 2012 gets under way, and we all look ahead to the coming house hunting season, the Languedoc Property blog will be running a series of "Top Tips" to help with different aspects of your property search and house hunting visits.

If you already have house hunting experience in France in general, and the Languedoc in particular, please use the comments on our posts to pass on any tips you feel will help your fellow property seekers or should be added to our lists of important pointers - contributions and discussion are most welcome!

Please remember to bookmark this blog so that you can easily call back to check on the latest information and tips... and if you are actively searching for a property now, do browse through our listings now...

La Roque - property listings

Southampton - Béziers...

2011-03-07T18:16:00.007+01:00

Are you dreaming of your ideal property in the Languedoc region of the South of France? Live within easy access of Southampton airport?

Up to now, one has not been able to associate the two places but from May, 2011, Flybe will be starting low-cost flight services between Southampton and Béziers, which is in the beautiful Hérault - a superb area of vineyard country with easy access to both the coast and the hills of the national park.

So, if you are tempted by the idea of a little house hunting in the region here, do look through our property listings - and to discuss your property search and see how we can help, contact us now!

And the winner is...

2010-10-19T16:32:00.001+02:00

Some interesting reading if you are thinking about the expat life... a recent survey, "The Quality of Life Index", compared many aspects of life in ten European countries, including food prices, utility costs, the climate, working hours, holidays, retirement age, spending on education and health services, etc.

The survey showed a lowly position for the UK in the results this year but let's look at which country came top accounting for all factors overall… France!

In fact, France showed particularly well on healthcare spending, holidays, weather and life expectancy – it also ranked high on retirement age but you will probably know that this is currently subject to change and a very contentious issue in France at present!

However, to reach a rather obvious conclusion... given that France was rated top, and that the Languedoc is the sunniest region in France, with Mediterranean climate and culture, it is not hard to imagine where one of the most desirable destinations in Europe can be found!

OK, so we are slightly biased - but you can see the results of the survey, carried out by USwitch, and they do make fascinating reading…

The Quality of Life Index

Featured Languedoc property...

2010-10-10T14:31:00.006+02:00

As well as covering inland areas of the Aude and Hérault departements, we can also offer coastal holiday property via our agent on the coast near Perpignan, in the Pyrénées-Orientales area of the region.

The coastal area that includes Canet Plage, Le Barcarès, St. Cyprien, has been very much developed with the beach holiday in mind and here one can find purpose-built holiday studios, apartments and villas - ideal for your holiday base and for letting. Our local agent has a wide range of such properties and can also help with letting management...

A currently available studio priced at 96,000 euros...

A very nice holiday studio of 21 m² habitable space, renovated with taste - in the marina area, about 200 metres from the beach. Loggia with lovely view of the marina. Sold equipped and furnished...

Ref.: AP2282 Very nice studio apartment, Canet Plage

Holiday Rental Property...

2010-09-15T21:21:00.001+02:00

When you are visiting the Languedoc for house hunting, a key aspect is arranging your journey and accommodation.

Although some visitors like to stay in chambres d'hôtes or hotels, many like to rent a holiday property and we are often asked for suggestions for finding such properties.

So, we are pleased to say that we can now suggest a service offered to our clients by Cottages4you, one of the leading holiday rental companies, offering property throughout France, the UK, Ireland and Italy.

Whether you will be holidaying in Languedoc, elsewhere in France, or in one of these other countries, just click on this link to start searching now...

Featured Languedoc Property...

2010-09-11T16:29:00.002+02:00

A rare find - on the Canal du Midi with private mooring...

Have you dreamt of mooring your boat on the Canal du Midi - at the bottom of your garden?

This 25-year-old villa in perfect condition offers 176 m² of habitable space comprising 4/5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, with a 50 m² terrace with stunning views of the Pyrénées and a swimming pool, set on a beautifully landscaped plot of 2500 m² right on the banks of the Canal du Midi.

Ref. PAR572000E Villa on the Canal du Midi

To see our extensive property listings...

La Roque Houses in France

What is all the talk about the Languedoc weather?

2010-09-05T19:07:00.002+02:00

They say that no-one talks more about the weather than the British, so it has been very interesting to see over the years that this is very much a hot topic here in the Languedoc, among the French as well as expats of all varieties!

One often hears people hotly defend their own areas while pointing out the worse climate in other areas and one of the most common claims is to a special "micro-climate", setting an area aside from the rest of the region! So, are there micro-climates and, if so, just how significant are they?

Before looking at micro-climates, perhaps one needs to consider briefly the main characteristics of the Languedoc - a region of the South of France, with distinctly different areas... the very long Mediterranean coastline... the lush inland plains... then, further inland, the hills of the national park or the Pyrénées mountains.

The South of France is known generally for mild winters (although there can be cold snaps), beautifully sunny and very hot summers, sudden storms (usually clearing quite quickly) and often strong winds. So, these are factors one can face in any part of the region.

Of course, if you go up into the hills or mountains, then naturally you will find it is often cooler or cloudier - and at significant altitude, quite cold in the winter. However, that is true almost anywhere, not exclusively in the Languedoc, so no real micro-climate factor there.

It is also said that there is a climate effect as one gets closer to the Pyrénées, particularly with winds coming out of the mountains - and it does seem that how those winds are funnelled can affect how windy or calm, damp or dry, a particular valley may be and how windy a particular town or village may be. So, signs of micro-climates.

However, our experience is that, generally, if it is hot and sunny, or very windy, or particularly stormy, then that tends to prevail across most of the region - and mainly overwhelm any micro factors.

Still not sure - well this is one of the best guides we have seen to the region's climate, giving a lot of information about temperatures, rainfall, winds, etc...

Languedoc-france.info

On a final note, if a local estate agent tells you that their area is best for buying a house, because of its exceptional weather, do consider who might be responsible for much of the talk about micro-climates!!

Featured Languedoc property...

2010-08-29T11:59:00.000+02:00

In the heart of the vineyard country near Béziers, in the Hérault area of the region, a converted stone-built former wine store with main home plus and independent studio and swimming pool... a beautiful renovation - charming!

LAU339000E Renovated wine barn, studio and pool

To see our extensive property listings...

La Roque Houses in France

Languedoc house hunting? Some top tips...

2010-08-21T20:42:00.008+02:00

In this blog, we plan to give some valuable tips on the practicalities of house hunting in the region and a good starting point perhaps is how you should plan to equip yourself.

A few days of house hunting can be demanding and tiring, even exhausting, so you should think about comfort as well as equipment.

So, for our top tips for your house hunting...

* Usually agents will expect a small group to arrive for viewing appointments and will plan to take you to the properties in a car - if you will be a larger group, then let them know in advance. They may have a larger vehicle available or you may need to discuss following the agent in your own car.

* If possible, try to avoid taking dogs along to viewings - it can be quite impractical and, although France is a nation of dog lovers, not everyone will want dogs taken into their home.

* For viewing days, check the weather forecast the day before and plan to wear comfortable and practical shoes and clothing. In the summer, remember that the Languedoc can get very hot, and you may spend a fair amount of time outside, so wear light clothing and remember sunscreen!

* If your French is not strong, consider taking a phrase book or dictionary - appointments will usually be with an English speaker, but it will often be their second language and sometimes meanings need to be clarified when talking about a property.

* Always try to get to the agencies on time, as someone will be waiting for you from the appointed time. A good road map of the region, or SatNav, can useful and allow some extra time for finding your way - and for parking if the agency is in a town.

* Once you have met a few agents, and seen several properties, it can be hard to keep track of them! Equip yourself to make notes on properties - which agent, where the properties are and key points about each property.

* Also use a camera or video (or your phone's camera) to take reference shots - ideal for reviewing the properties at the end of the day.

* If a property is of particular interest, you may want to arrange a second visit and also perhaps take measurements additional to those given in the description - a good tape measure can useful for checking window sizes, access widths, etc.

* Finally, as some house hunting days can be long, tiring and unpredictable, especially going around some rural areas, think about taking some simple snacks and drinks to sustain you and your party through the day!

Watch this space for more house hunting tips...

This or that lawyer?

2010-08-14T19:09:00.001+02:00

Continuing our occasional discussion of aspects of the French buying process, a brief look now at the basic situation regarding lawyers.

When you start to research French property, you quickly get to know that the French lawyers involved in handling the contracts are known as notaires. However, what exactly is their role? Is it, for example, similar to that of a UK conveyancing solicitor?

Well, not really. In fact, the notaire is effectively a government appointed lawyer whose responsibility is primarily to ensure that there is a properly legal contract under French law. Now, many French people buy properties with only the main notaire involved. However, overseas buyers tend to find that the notaire mainly just gets on with executing the contract, assuming that the buyer is familiar with procedures in France - they find that the notaire does not give them advice in their particular interests, as the notaire's role is one of impartiality.

There is actually the option to appoint a second notaire, to represent your interests in the terms of the contract. However, again, many people feel that even then, the second notaire can tend to assume that their client does understand how everything works in France. Naturally, if you do not speak French fluently enough to understand the legal language, there is also the challenge of finding a notaire who speaks and writes fluent English. It is also said that the first notaire resents a second being introduced to the picture, because they then have to share the same fees - however, it is hard to say how true this is!

So, what is the answer? Well, one option is simply to do as many French people do - just go with the main notaire. Many overseas buyers actually do this. However, as an overseas buyer, probably with little knowledge of French law and its implications, it perhaps makes sense to take independent legal advice. I say "perhaps", since we have actually had a UK solicitor buying in France say it was a waste of time and money to use an independent lawyer! Our view is that buying a house is too important to take this risk and that independent advice is important. If you do not take a second notaire, though, what other option is there?

Well, these days there are many UK firms of solicitors who have in-house lawyers specialising in French property law, usually having qualified in France and completely bi-lingual in English and French. Aside from advising on the purchase contract, these lawyers can also advise on French inheritance law, which is quite different to other countries - it is important to get this aspect right from the initial contract stage, to avoid inheritance problems later.

Taking an independent lawyer does of course involve cost - one still has to pay the standard French legal costs (related to the property price) and pay the additional fees of the independent lawyer. These fees can vary significantly, with some practices seeming to put quite a high value on their services, so it pays to shop around and compare. We can usually suggest one or two options - if you need help, just get in touch via our Contact page.

Featured property...

2010-08-12T00:18:00.008+02:00

Available via our local agent covering the area around Limoux, south of Carcassonne, in the Aude area of the Languedoc... a lovely village house on grounds of 475 m² - and great value for a home in the South of France...

Ref. CBL5241 Village house with garden

Ground floor:

- Living room : 19,26m²
- Kitchen : 14,91m²
- WC : 2,14m²

1st floor:

- Bedroom : 12,28m²
- Bedroom : 7,49m²
- Bathroom : 6,24m²

Garden approx 475m²

Price: 125 000 €

See our extensive property listings...

La Roque Houses in France

Featured films...

2010-08-10T15:34:00.000+02:00

We have recently mentioned the useful site Americans in France. Well, for those interested in some snippets of the real France, the site's author, Jeff Steiner, has been producing some fascinating short videos of all aspects of local French life and culture.

To see more, from crêpe making to the raw milk vending machine, just follow this link...

Videos related to France

And now for something completely... Limoux...

2010-08-07T14:44:00.005+02:00

We are very excited this week following a new local agent joining our network, which extends our Languedoc property coverage in the Aude area of the region.

This means that, with immediate effect, we are offering property in the area to the South of Carcassonne via the new office in Limoux, which has become a most sought-after area. This is a charming small town in a most beautiful area, with stunning landscapes as well as excellent property value, and is only about half-an-hour or so driving from Carcassonne and its airport.

We will be listing Limoux properties shortly - as well as a new selection of property in the Carcassonne area.

If you will be visiting soon for house hunting, please use the Contact page to get in touch, or enquire via our property listings...

Languedoc Property

Listen in to the Languedoc...

2010-08-05T20:10:00.004+02:00

We had opportunity yesterday to tell listeners to Expats Radio a little of our life here in the Languedoc and the two businesses that keep us occupied - the property business, of course, and our services for website construction and general graphic design.

This is web radio, which means that you can select any of the listed programme to listen to at any time - a concept that is sure to catch on as the web enables us to select our viewing and listening, rather than having to depend on programme schedules.

We were delighted to have this chance to discuss our life here and have now made the programme available on a Radio Show page on this site.

Looking to buy in France? Be prepared...

2010-08-03T15:27:00.003+02:00

If you are planning a trip for house hunting in the Languedoc, there will be plenty to think about, including your travel arrangements, which areas you want to view property in, booking viewing appointments, etc. However, one of the most useful things you can do in advance, to help make your visit and house hunting effective, is to pre-qualify for your mortgage... that is to say, if you will indeed need a mortgage for your purchase, to get a decision "in principle" from the lender before you make your trip.

Once you have pre-qualified, this will mean that you know where you stand when house hunting, enabling you to view property in a particular budget range confident in the knowledge that your subsequent formal mortgage approval should not be a problem.

This approval in principle is also helpful because the initial contract in the French buying process normally allows you 30 days to obtain your mortgage and this can be tight if you are starting from scratch with the lender - when you have pre-qualified, then your full mortgage application should be processed far more quickly, helping you comply with the terms of the initial contract.

We can suggest mortgage brokers with considerable experience with both UK and French lenders - if you would like help to pre-qualify for your mortgage, just get in touch with us via the Contact page on this site.

For a particularly important point, do note that if you take out a French mortgage, then it is recommended that you open a French bank account at the same time, as the French lender will want proof of a French account when finalising your mortgage - they will not be able to release the mortgage funds to the French notaire without this proof of an account. Bearing in mind that these days it can take some considerable time to open a bank account across national borders, this is a delay that you will want to avoid!

An American perspective...

2010-08-01T00:11:00.006+02:00

A site we come across often when browsing the web, because of its extensive coverage of so many aspects of life in France... "Americans in France is a website aimed at helping Americans to better understand France, its people and culture" says its creator, Jeff Steiner, an American living in France and making a huge contribution to cross-cultural understanding - don't miss this site for a different perspective on all things French...

Americans in France

The page...

2010-07-30T00:36:00.011+02:00

No series of useful expat tips would be complete without one of our favourite sites... The Languedoc Page.

Whether you are based here or considering travelling or moving to the region, this is an absolutely indispensable resource for finding just about anything in the Languedoc, including travel information, weather, tourism, local businesses and services, cultural events and more.

The site has been continually growing since 2002 and today The Languedoc Page aims to provide comprehensive information about the area as well as help business creation in the region...

The Languedoc Page

The week in France...

2010-07-26T22:39:00.006+02:00

Continuing our theme of useful resources for expats in France, we are delighted to announce that France's first English-language weekly launches this Friday, July 30th, 2010.

It is for those who still love the feel of a real newspaper and want to keep abreast of French affairs, news and culture.

Priced at a modest 1 euro, French Week will be distributed in newsagents throughout France and will also be available by subscription.

Check out their site for more info'...

French Week

Tune in at any time...

2010-07-25T15:46:00.001+02:00

Another wonderful resource for expats - whether you are in the Languedoc, elsewhere in France, or in any other country, you should tune in to Expats Radio... well, not so much tune in, as click to, as this is on-line radio for expats!

Expats Radio aims to provide information and entertainment for expats worldwide and we found a strong content of material relating to all things French - articles on topical, cultural and practical subjects, as well as French regional guides and the latest travel news.

The great advantage of on-line radio is that you can listen to any of the current articles when you choose to, rather than having to follow the programme scheduling found on conventional radio. We would definitely recommend regular visits to their radio site...

Expats Radio

An absolute WoW...

2010-07-23T15:46:00.002+02:00

If you live in the Hérault area, or are thinking of visiting or even relocating, you should get acquainted with the excellent web resource "What's on Where l'Hérault", known to readers as WoW!

Use Wow to find local services and special social and cultural events in the area - it is the definitive on-line guide in English to what's on and available in this area of the Languedoc and is produced by journalist and broadcaster Robin Hicks...

What's on Where l'Hérault

Overseas? Unprotected?

2010-07-20T16:49:00.001+02:00

When you move overseas, there is a lot to think about at the time. After all, you are at least moving home across national frontiers - and you may also be making other huge lifestyle changes that will profoundly affect your lives, whether that may be retirement, changing job or way of working, new schools for your children, etc.

So, you hope that any businesses you use regularly will take a helpful approach when you let them know of your move, especially to let you know if their services will be changed because you are overseas.

Well, a money saving tip for those of you who are already expats, whether in France, or elsewhere... it seems that some UK credit card companies / banks have been quite shy over the years in spelling out that, when you move overseas from the UK, much of the cover provided under their Payment Protection Cover (PPC) will become invalid. You could unknowingly have had the situation where you advised your card company of your move overseas, so that they would send your statements to your new home, and they have continued to charge your card with monthly PPC premiums, without actually pointing out clearly that significant aspects of the cover are no longer valid as soon as you are living on foreign soil!

That seems to work well for the card companies, as they continue to take the money and the problem does not come to light until such time as you try to make a claim - and then try getting the premiums back, even though you had advised them that you had moved overseas!

To be fair, it seems that some companies will take a reasonable approach on this - and some now point this out when you advise them of your move - but, knowing someone who has had to go to the Ombudsman service to try to get satisfaction on this (a very lengthy process), I can say that you will not necessarily find that all banks / card companies will be helpful on this.

So, for a top tip for expats - check to see if you are paying PPC premiums on your UK credit cards and, if so, if your cover is actually valid....

Time to pay...

2010-07-19T00:31:00.001+02:00

So, you have found your ideal property in the Languedoc, agreed the price with the seller, signed the initial contract to proceed with the purchase... then the notaire asks you to forward your deposit payment to France! What then?

Well, the simplest thing for most of us is to turn to our High Street bank and ask them to help with buying euros and sending the funds to the notaire's client account in France - easy!

Yes, easy - and in some circumstances perhaps the route to go, particularly if you already have preferential arrangements with your bank. However, it can be worth asking a specialist currency company to quote their rates and charges for the currency exchange and making the transfers. You can often get a very competitive rate from a currency company and this can make a significant difference to what you pay for your property.

A currency company will also be able to advise you about buying ahead at a fixed rate, to avoid possible adverse swings in the exchange rate - so, it can be worth discussing your project well in advance of your house hunting.

Also, over the years, we have heard many stories from house buyers about their funds disappearing into the general banking system for a few days, sometimes not arriving in time for their completion meeting in France. From what we see, the currency companies do seem to be efficient in making the international transfers for you, to get your funds to the right place, on time. Having sat in the notaire's office when we completed, with the notaire repeatedly checking to see if our funds had arrived, I fully understand the problem about funds going walk-about...

14th July...

2010-07-14T16:54:00.000+02:00

If you are in France today, you should look out for local celebrations, village fêtes and firework displays, as today is the Fête Nationale.

The what? You may be forgiven asking that, since this is the official name for what is more generally referred to as le quatorze juillet (the fourteenth of July) - or what we foreigners tend to call Bastille Day!

The storming of the Bastille (la prise de la Bastille) is highly symbolic of what seems to be a fundamental French belief... the right to protest against authority in general and injustice in particular. That belief does not seem to diminish, as one can often see in the strikes and street protests against government reforms, particularly recent austerity measures and pension reforms. If there seem to be more strikes in France than elsewhere, perhaps it is simply that the right to do so has been so firmly embedded in the culture.

On a lighter note, it is probably one of the most valued holidays here, observed by most, with most businesses (including estate agents!) not working. Certainly in the larger towns and cities there are usually parades and firework displays and, even in our rural village, fireworks are often threatened... albeit that there is a proviso that they can only take place if the weather has not been too hot and dry. Given that it is mid-July, and the South of France, the local authority often seems to save money on this!