Buying a Property in France
Looking for a property in France can be difficult, we've collected the most extensive set of links to French estate agents, realtors, property finding companies, notaries and immobilier. Whether you're looking for a business, holiday home, smallholding, farm, chateaux, gites, cottages, farmhouses, barns, villas or other properties begin your search here. We've also listed a number of other resources such as books, tourist information offices and the best language courses. Bon Chance!
Essential reading (available from amazon.co.uk)
Estate Agents, Immobs and Property Finders (organised by region) in Bordeaux, Normandy, Brittany, Languedoc, Midi, Provence, Limousin, Burgundy and all the other popular locations.
Checklist of things to do before you buy
Here's a link to an ongoing restoration project in Brittany
Estate Agents, Realtors and Property Finders organised by region
Removals
Tourism
Tip
When searching for a property check all the notaires in the area before signing any viewing papers from an estate agent. This can save a small fortune as most of the properties on the estate agents books are gained from visiting the local notaire. To save even more approach the seller directly before signing anything from estate agents or notaires. Department codes for France. A list of Notaries is available here by typing in the name, post code or department number. This is part of the Official French Notaries website. You should also check out this very informative site from Prettys Solicitors, full of very useful legal advice.
The best maps to use once you've decided on an area are produced by IGN, Série Bleue 1cm=250m.
Working in France
Learning the Lingo
Free Online translation
Essential reading (continued)
George East collection: for those thinking of living in Normandy
And by John P. Harris covering the Midi / Languedoc
| An Englishman in the Midi | More from an Englishman in the Midi |
Anne Loader: Limousin
| The Duck with a Dirty Laugh | A Bull by the Back Door | The Bells of St. Paradis: A Love Affair with the Limousin |
Alan Biggins (ex-estate agent) covering general and the North West of France
| Selling French Dreams | A Normandy Tapestry |
French Entrée collection:
| Normandy | Calais, Boulogne & the North of France | Brittany |
Peter Mayle collection: Provence
| A Year in Provence | Encore Provence | Toujours Provence |
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The Olive Farm Carol Drinkwater - Provence |
Cat Chat: A Love Affair with Cats and France by Helene Thornton |
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The Olive Season Carol Drinkwater - Provence |
Ruth Silvestre collection: Lot-et-Garonne
| A House in the Sunflowers | A Harvest of Sunflowers |
Polly Platt collection:
| French or Foe? | Savoir-flair!: Two Hundred and Eleven Tips for Enjoying France and the French |
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Life in a Postcard: Escape to the French Pyrenees by Rosemary Bailey |
Ou Est Le 'Ping'?: Gascony - the Fulfilment of a Dream Grace McKee |
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Bananas in Bordeaux: Self-sufficiency for Dreamers Louise Franklin |
Butterflies on Mimosa: The Pleasures and Pitfalls of Owning a Gite Eleanor Francis |
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Lilac and Roses Peggy Anderson |
Instructions for Visitors by Helen Stevenson |
| Only Fools Drink Water Geoffrey Morris |
Bon Courage,Mes Amis!: Thoughts on Restoring a Rural Ruin Sheila Wright |
| Really Rural: Authentic French Country Style Marie-France Boyer |
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Getting there by plane
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Ryanair (from London Stansted) Bergerac, Biarritz, Brest, Carcassonne, Clermont-Ferrand, Dinard (Britanny), La Rochelle, Limoges, Montpellier, Nîmes, Pau (Pyrenees), Perpignan, Poitiers, Reims (Champagne), Rodez, St.Etienne (Lyon), Strasbourg, Tours (Loire Valley) |
Nothing to do with France this next lot but some of my favourite get-away-from-it-all reads
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Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Andalucia Chris Stewart - Great read |
A Parrot in the Pepper Tree Chris Stewart |
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Manana Manana: One Mallorcan Summer Peter Kerr |
Snowball Oranges: A Winter in Mallorca Peter Kerr |
Extra Virgin: Amongst the Olive Groves of Liguria Annie Hawes |
Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy Frances Mayes |
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Spanish Lessons: Beginning a New Life in Spain Derek Lambert |
A House in Sicily Daphne Phelps |
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Villa Fortuna: An Italian Interlude Geoffrey Luck |
Vanilla Beans and Brodo: Real Life in the Hills of Tuscany Isabella Dusi |
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An Italian Education Tim Parks |
Italian Neighbours Tim Parks |
ARE YOU CHANGING YOUR LIFE TO PURSUE YOUR DREAMS?
SELLING UP, PLANNING NEVER TO RETURN?
ARE YOU MOVING ABROAD THIS SUMMER TO START A NEW BUSINESS VENTURE?
French estate agents by region
Portugal Properties Spain Properties Italy Properties Greece Properties Malta Property
SelfSufficiency.net SinglesVenues.co.uk
There are no guarantees as to the accuracy of the tables above, please let me know of any mistakes. And if you want to be added just send me an email, there is no charge. If you would like to advertise a property for sale, contact me here blah@2ndhandshops.co.uk. The cost is £15 assuming one picture and up to 50 words of text (supplied by yourselves). The link would be directly to the property on your website or would simply feature contact details. The ad remaining on site until the property has sold. The ad can appear on up to two pages, payment on publication of page(s) to your satisfaction. Ask if you would like any other variation.
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