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Property blog: The parts of France where you can still find bargains

The Local France
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Property blog: The parts of France where you can still find bargains
Photo: Leggett Immobilier

The price of property around France is rising but that doesn't mean there aren't some incredible bargains to be had. Here are the best places to find them according to Leggett Immobilier.

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Everyone knows that the price of property in France is still amazing and although the market is on the up, there are some fantastic bargains still to be had right across the country - even in some areas that you might not imagine.  

As you would think, the rural areas are usually where the best priced properties are to be found.  

Limousin and la France profonde

The Limousin (Creuse / Correze / Haute Vienne) is a stunning region filled with beautiful green forests, hills and countryside and some of the best priced property in France - the average price for a house in the Creuse is just €63,000.

According to an Expat forum, there are over 7,000 Brits currently living in the Limousin.
 
The area is full of wonderful, lush, green countryside reminiscent of Devon and the west of England, with little rivers, streams and lakes all over the place, perhaps that is the reason why it is so popular with the British.
 
(The map below shows the concentration of where British nationals live in south west France.)
 

But it isn’t just in La France Profonde where you can lay your hands on a bargain.  Some parts of the country that aren’t traditionally associated with bargains can still deliver pockets of great priced properties.  

Think you can’t afford the Cote d’Azur?  Think again.  Just an hour or so from the Mediterranean coast you can pick up some beautiful properties in one of the most exclusive parts of France for under €200,000 - you’ve just go to know where to look. 

Up in the hills the prices are much lower than on the coast.  The pace of life is slow and the villages are still traditional communities, but just a short drive will see you rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous.

 

Further along the Mediterranean coast, the former region of Languedoc-Roussillon is a beautiful part of France with some amazingly priced properties and some stunning countryside.  Here you can live the southern French lifestyle for even less.  

The area holds many hidden gems including stunning vineyards (and wine!), beautiful historic towns; and in some areas, you can even spend the morning skiing and then drive down to the Med for a swim in the afternoon.

Ski properties don’t have to break the bank either, the Pyrenees has some fantastic ski resorts that are much cheaper and quieter than the Alps.  These are great investments (as are properties in the Alps) as they have year round rental potential - these areas come alive in the summer too - with walkers, climbers and outdoor sports enthusiasts of all kinds.  

The Atlantic coast is ideal if you are looking for sun and sea, as well as surf and for a smaller price tag that some parts of the Mediterranean coast.  Temperature wise, the area around La Rochelle is similar to southern France and the average price of a house in the Charente Maritime is just €165,000 and around an hour from the coast you can pick up home much more cheaply.

Then there are the perennial favorites with British purchasers, Brittany, Normandy and the Dordogne all continue to offer fantastic value for money.  Whether it is a holiday bolt hole for under €50,000 or a business opportunity for under €250,000, there is a reason why these beautiful regions continue to be so appealing to British purchasers.

And as for a hidden gem?

In Alps de Haute Provence, south eastern France, the pretty medieval town of Uzes is on the other side of the Rhone from the Cote d'Azur, with manageable property prices.
 
Famous for its olive oil, silk mills and of course, black truffles, which does grow all over the southern France, but the focus from November till March is Uzes.
 
Uzes is just 45mins from Avignon.
 
 

France is a beautiful varied country with something to offer every taste.  Property prices remain low, but with the economy improving and the market on the rise, now is an ideal time to buy.

by Mary Hawkins from Leggett Immobilier

To check out what bargains Leggett Immobilier has on offer around France you can CLICK HERE.

 

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