CHEAP FRENCH PROPERTIES FOR SALE

If you are searching for a rural idyll, on its own plot of land, with countryside views and friendly neighbours, there are still many such cheap properties for sale in France.

If you do not yet know where you want to look for cheap properties for sale in France, you can narrow your search area by reading guide books. Our guide to choosing a location and our checklist will also help you to narrow down your search area.

In spite of recent property price rises it is still possible to find cheap properties for sale in France. In general house prices in France are much lower than in the UK. For the best bargains it is best to look at the less well known areas. Cheap properties for sale in France may be a thing of the past in Provence, the Dordogne and the French alps. Try Limousin, Mayenne, Burgundy, the Auvergne, Aveyron and the Loire. Rural houses for sale in France seem very cheap by UK standards. There are a number of reasons behind these bargain rural houses for sale in France.

France is nearly three times the size of the UK, but has a similar population. This means there is much less pressure on land - making prices of rural houses for sale in France lower. And most people still rent apartments rather than buying.

The French look at older, rural houses for sale in France and isolated housing in a totally different way to many UK buyers. Their priorities are often different to many buyers from the UK. This means rural houses for sale in France appear very cheap indeed - in comparative terms to other, more convenient locations preferred by local people.

Near to most cheap properties for sale in France you will find quiet villages and bustling street markets. These sell a vast aray of locally produced cheeses, liqueurs and other regional delicacies. Cheap properties for sale in France also offer the chance to experience many outdoor sports, such as boating, fishing, golf and cycling.

As soon as you own a cheap property for sale in France, you will begin to meet other people in the area- both English and French. Even before you own a property, if you spend time in the area, you will make friends - and this can be a good way to hear about properties which are not on an estate agents books.
The other obvious way to find properties is through estate agents. French 'immobiliers' work very differently to agents in the UK.

For a start the property details. Or not! These are usually a single sheet of paper. It can literally just be' house with 2 rooms 60m2.Land 500m2. garage.' You usually get a small photo and the price. I have seen photos where the agent obviously didn't stop the car as they drove past!

You can't drop in on an agent’s shop and go off and view a property. The agents details do not give addresses so you can check whether you like the location of a property, or see its condition, even from the outside. In France, you make an apointment with the agent, and they take you to view 3 or 4 properties on a one-to-one basis. This will usually take a full morning or afternoon.

If you see an interesting property in an agent's window, with luck, you may get an apointment for the next day. At very busy times it can be several days. As most UK buyers go on a house hunt in France for 3-4 days, this soon presents obvious problems. A lot of properties are sold without the services of an estate agent. The local free papers and property sheets found outside shops in France are a good source . You do however need to be able to speak French fairly well - you will have to make the enquiry on the phone.

Cheap properties for sale in France will usually require some improvement. This can range between redecoration to a complete renovation propject. Don't be too easily put off by purely cosmetic work, but consider carefully before embarking on a renovation project. Find out more about what renovating cheap properties for sale in Frances involves click HERE