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Britons invade France

20th June 2008 | back to article listings BACK    print this article PRINT

It was allegedly Napoleon who first thought up the idea of the Channel Tunnel as a means of marching his armies under the waves that Britannia ruled, in order to effect a successful invasion of England. However incongruous may be the thought of troops suddenly popping up like rabbits from a hole in the ground somewhere in Kent, the reality today is that the invasion is heading through the tunnel in the opposite direction.

Of course, Britons have been buying property in France before the drill operators were able to shake hands and swap flags as their historic subterranean project was achieved. But the accessibility of France via the tunnel is one more reason why Britain's closest continental neighbour is so popular.

Recent French government figures have revealed the extent of this. They show that of the 93 per cent of foreign-owned property in the country that is in European hands, the largest segment is in British hands, accounting for 28 per cent, double the number of Italians, who are the second biggest group.

So why the appeal? Saga has said that France, like Spain, is popular for Britons as a retirement destination. Saga Travel Money spokesperson Lisa Harrison said: "The most popular destinations chosen by those retiring from the UK are Spain and France in that order," adding that many benefit from the positive effect of warmer climes on their health and new communities "develop quickly" amid a "warm welcome " from the locals.

But the market in France is diverse, as one might expect from a country that simultaneously offers commuting to London, sun and sand by the Mediterranean, cosmopolitan city lifestyles and alpine sports.

Whether this is a place to buy to live or to rent as a buy-to-let investor to those who like France in shorter doses, buyers will, as ever, be keen to find bargains. The Times suggests Gascony offers all this, reporting on how this region offers the lowest population density in France, with prices 30 per cent less than neighbouring Provence amid a scattering of historic villages.

Locally based estate agent Ian Purslow said younger professionals seeking holiday homes and older retirees tended to come to the area, with the buy-to-flip option being a poor one, given the high exchange rate and the slight dip in prices since 2006. Clearly an investor in the region looking to make good money would have to take a long-term view.

But Gascony is not the only neighbour to Provence to offer cheaper homes, a separate Times report noting this to be true of Languedoc too. In the example featured, a budget of £100,000 netted a three-bedroom house in a village. With attractive property available at affordable prices, it may be little wonder British buyers of various kinds continue to cross the Channel.

This is a press release by Assetz also available at http://press.assetz.co.uk/articles/4237.html. Alternatively, please see our full press release archive.

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