5 Of the Best Locations in France to Buy Your Overseas Property

Written by Posted On Tuesday, 20 March 2018 03:05

France’s vast assortment of landscapes and property types means there’s a home and lifestyle here to suit virtually anyone. The housing market in France is in excellent shape right now, making it all the more appealing to foreign home buyers, and there’s no shortage of luxury property available across the country. Whether you’re searching for French property to serve as your new home or to be an investment, these are the locations that are most sought-after by U.S. buyers.

French Riviera: Antibes, Cannes and Saint-Tropez

Prepare to spend your afternoons lounging in the sun or playing a watersport, then heading to a stellar restaurant for fresh seafood. Antibes’ hills make it a prime area for bike riding, and Cannes has hillside properties amongst lavender and lemon trees. Saint-Tropez, known for its swimming holes and rocky coast, is lovely both during and after the busy season.

French Riviera real estate is opulent, appealing to yacht enthusiasts and jet-setters, and you can decide what you want to be closest to, like beaches, golf courses or marinas. (The Saint Endréol Golf and Spa and the Gassin Golf and Country Club are local favorites.) Bright, airy apartments, penthouses and villas are available in energetic and busy coastal areas as well as in peaceful residential neighborhoods.

Since your friends and family will want to visit your French Riviera home, consider property with extra guest rooms or guest houses. Homes with outdoor space, like beach access, landscaped gardens, a private pool, or sunny terraces, let you take advantage of the Riviera’s 300 days of sunshine. If you throw pool parties or take weekend ski trips to the mountains, look for a home with storage space for your equipment. If you live in a crowded area, parking can be difficult, so search for a home with a dedicated parking space or multi-car garage.

Languedoc: Occitanie

Formerly the two French regions of Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées, Occitanie is a relatively new super-region, taking in a large area with varying lifestyles. In Perpignan, there’s a Catalan influence thanks to its proximity to Spain.

With sunshine practically every day of the year and all the excitement that regions along the Mediterranean have to offer, Occitanie has notably warm winters but also experiences four distinct seasons. Occitanie is also bordered by the Pyrénées mountains, putting you close to hiking trails and ski resorts.

Search for charming country homes with manicured gardens or luxury chateaux with original features and luxury amenities, stunning lounges and pool houses. You can also find holiday homes set on the coast, as well as stone properties with hobby vineyards.

This is an area for wine lovers, and you’ll want to check out the Vins Primeurs d’Oc wine festival in Béziers, with food and theatrical performances, or the Salon Vin et Terroirs in Toulouse, with around 200 wineries.

Paris

Paris may be lacking in natural vistas and beachside settings, but it more than makes up for it with culture, entertainment and high fashion.

Paris has 20 districts or arrondissements which offer a varied assortment of real estate properties, but luxury apartments by far the most popular. Plus, since Paris is loved so much by tourists, there are plenty of rental opportunities if you won’t be using your home year-round.

Exploring the different arrondissements is a must before settling on your new Parisian property. The 6th, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, has a strong arts influence, while the 8th arrondissement’s Avenue Montaigne is famed for fashion. Families often head to the quieter 16th, which has a more suburban feel, but you can get that quintessential Eiffel Tower view in the 7th.

You may be far from the countryside, but Paris still has something for golfers: the famous Golf de Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche, which has two first-class courses. If you’re after a more romantic experience, head to the Pont des Arts bridge, the Musée Rodin to see The Kiss sculpture, or the Wall of Love.

Provence: The Var

The Var expertly combines traditional and modern lifestyles, seen in its many fairytale-esque villages that are complemented by gourmet cuisine and exciting festivals. One of the Var’s most beloved cities is Cotignac, which sits at the foot of a great cliff and up against a waterfall. Lorgues, another popular Var city, is for exploring ancient ruins, religious architecture along winding streets, and olive oil mills.

Many Var properties have something extra special thrown in, like golf course access, a wine cellar or a high tech home cinema. Homes here also come with outbuildings that can extend your living space, and don’t be surprised if your property includes an in-production olive grove. While many Var properties are from the 18th and 19th centuries, they’ve been upgraded with modern comforts.

The Var is a prime spot for outdoor enthusiasts, and you can partake in walking, hiking, rock climbing and kayaking throughout the year. Head to the Massif des Maures or Gorges Du Verdon for an adventure, or spend the afternoon roaming around Bormes-les-Mimosas or the Port-Cros National Park.

Southwest France

Southwest France has access to all sorts of retreats, whether you want to spend a weekend hiking or skiing, an afternoon being pampered in a spa village, or a week in nearby Spain. There’s more parkland here than in any other part of France, with a massive 200,000 acres being taken up by the Pyrénées National Park. Each village has a town market brimming with fresh produce, and you can play at the Pau Golf Club, the oldest in continental Europe.

Southwest France’s charming homes have original designs as well as luxury features like open fireplaces, professional-grade kitchens and underfloor heating. Several properties also have luxury features such as heated indoor pools or Jacuzzis, summer kitchens, and wine cellars. The area’s chateaux, estates and villas let in lots of natural light, with reception areas that open onto large patios, and many properties include gites or equestrian outbuildings. Some homes are fully furnished, too, making your move highly convenient.

If you’re looking to invest in a property in France, consider work with a specialist buyer’s agent who has extensive experience with France’s most popular locations.

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Tim Swannie

Tim Swannie is the director of HOME HUNTS, a luxury property buyers agent based in the South of France. HOME HUNTS specialise in finding luxury property for sale in France, Monaco, Geneva, London, New York and Miami.

www.home-hunts.com

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