BUYING PROPERTY IN FRANCE - VILLAGE LIFE

Buying property in France in a village will give you an instant introduction to all the delights of the French countryside and French community life. If buying property in France in a village, you are unlikely to have been in residence for more than a couple of days before the friendly visits and introductions will begin. If you don't speak French, an aperitif [or two] and sign language will get you by admirably!

At the heart of French village life is ' la boulangerie' . The bakery produces the lovely bread for which France is justly famous. And you will find that all but the very smallest villages have their own bakery. If you are considering buying property in France, the delights of being able to walk to the boulangerie is one of the special pleasures unique to France.

French food is supremely important in village life. Buying property in France will also be your introduction to this aspect of French life, and once your French is good enough, it is a wonderful topic for long friendly conversations [and remember the sign language and aperitifs until you are fluent enough!]

There are of course some very excellent 'haute cuisine' restaurants in France , but these tend to be the reserve of well off locals and international 'gourmets'. However, the greatest pleasure for most visitors and those buying property in France here, is to savour the food and atmosphere of the local village restaurant. Often unassuming and serving a very generous meal for between 8 and 11 euros, these restaurants attract a good, regular clientele.

If you have children,buying property in France in small town or village communities will help them to find French life easy to adapt to. Not too big to be intimidating, but with enough children around to mean that making friends will be easy. If you are buying property in France in a village with its own school, this will be doubly true.
In short, French village homes are popular with people buying property in France for a taste of real French life.

Buying property in France village communities will also offer amongst the very best value properties in France. You will almost certainly make local friends when you are buying property in France. And these new friends will be only too happy to keep an eye on your property when you are not there.
French villages are the best place for buying property in France if you are on a very limited budget.

Buying property in France is still possible for under £30000 in villages in many areas - and this is for a habitable house.If you are prepared to renovate you can still find the occasional small property for under £15000! Buying property in France in a village also means you don't usually have to deal with the dreaded 'fosse septique' or septic tank. Most villages will be 'tout a l'egout' - or on mains drainage to us. This saves a few thousand euros when you are renovating.

Buying property in France in a village does often means you will have little or no outside space. You will need to decide if you could be happy with nowhere to sit and eat outside. If not, you can look for properties for sale in French villages with a balcony, patio or roof terrace - but these will be at a price premium. Buying property in France in a village and with a garden is not impossible however. You will pay a little more - but properties at the edge of a village will often have some land.

You may well hear noise from your French neighbours, but they are likely to become your new friends and involve you in village life. Just as in the UK, most villages will have activities to join ranging from yoga and keep fit to painting, salsa and other cultural activities.
This is all a great help in learning French - which will be so useful if you are to make the most of buying property in France!