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The Auvergne alternative

21st August 2008 | back to article listings BACK    print this article PRINT

Investors in French property have always had plenty of kinds of property as well as different localities to choose from. From the sunshine and beaches of the Cote D'Azur to the grandeur and romance of Paris, the lush wine country to the snow-capped Alps, there is plenty for investors to consider and many possibilities in different areas of economic activity.

For some, this can mean the commuter market in Paris or - for Britons wanting to live across the Channel in the north of France near Eurostar stations - London. There is the student letting aspect in university towns and then of course the holiday lettings aspect.

Britons visit France for all the aforementioned attractions, be it the wartime beaches of Normandy, romantic weekends in the city of lights, wine tasting, skiing or soaking up the Mediterranean sun. The question investors may ask is which of these is the best market.

Founder and managing director of French property specialists VEF Trish Mason suggested that some of the best known areas are better avoided. She stated: "Some parts of France have been overdone if one is expecting to rent them out for holiday use and I would avoid such places as Brittany and Dordogne."

Instead, Ms Mason had a novel suggestion: "However, for the adventurous investor looking at somewhere like the Auvergne - with its double letting season for summer outdoor pursuits and winter sport activities - could prove very interesting. Properties in this region are amongst the cheapest in France so good capital growth should also be assured."

Auvergne offers little in the way of large towns and cities, for this is a rural province in the heart of France where the population is low and the scenery is the largest attraction. It is also mountainous, meaning that it shares with the Alps and Pyrenees the opportunity to enjoy putting on the skis in the winter.

While access to the region in the winter months is not so easy, Francethisway.com states that the region has improved in this regard. Moreover, when Ms Mason noted that there are two distinct seasons for tourists - a development away from winter activities that regions such as the Alps have undertaken - Auvergne can offer among its scenic delights the craters of extinct volcanoes.

Auvergne, therefore, appeals to those who enjoy the mountains and the rural charms of pleasant scenery and small towns. Add to that the potential for growth Ms Mason suggested and Auvergne could be the ideal alternative investment.

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