France Property News

The economic recession in Ireland has had little impact on the number of Irish people investing in foreign properties, according to a leading French-based estate agent.

When it was launched back in July of last year, France Property Shop gained over 1m page impressions in its first month, something of a record for a launch in the sector.

Mama Shelter is set to revolutionise the French Leaseback tourism industry. Roland Castro the famous Parisian architect is responsible for the conception as well as the on site 4200 sq metre media centre; French designer Philippe Starck is heading the interior design.

Five key departments are this year’s rising stars in the French holiday rental market. All are in the sun-filled southern regions of Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence.

Changes in the French tax regime will prove beneficial to those who own properties in the country. The trebling of the inheritance tax threshold, means that fewer people are likely to have their estate taxed when they die.

The uncertainty surrounding the international stock market (French included) is leading more French households towards property investment.

Solutions to the current property market gloom are being found for people wanting to buy property in France. It is vital that anyone who is planning to buy a property in France acts quickly.

Calling all true romantics out there who may be looking to make the ultimate gesture of love on Valentine’s Day this year.

Moneycorp, the foreign exchange specialist, has announced an exclusive partnership agreement with the French property and finance specialist, GE Money Bank.

Profile Europe (UK) Ltd now have pleasure in bringing to the market what can only be described as, the most exciting French leaseback scheme of the decade. Brimming with benefits, this is one opportunity that shrewd investors should not pass by.

One full week back on the job and VEF (UK) report business up by more than 50% on the same week in 2007. It seems that people really are realising at last that buying property in France is a very wise alternative to the UK and Ireland.

France Home Finance, French based independent mortgage broker for non-residents and expatriates and Flat Hunter the premier buyers agent in Paris, are expecting the Parisian property market in 2008 to reach the market ideal of strong steady capital appreciation - but without the risk of a property bubble.

“France may never be better value than it is now”, says Trevor Leggett, Executive Director, Leggett Immobilier.

The improved Eurostar service, launching later this month, has already fuelled increased interest in buying properties in France, reports HiFX.

This month Alpine Homes and Savills launch Le Centaure Residences & Spa, a 52 unit leaseback development in Belle Plagne, which at 2050m is France’s 3rd highest ski resort.

New tax reforms just introduced by Nicolas Sarkozy shake up the way the controversial Wealth Tax in France is calculated, immediately benefiting many French and British property owners.

Going headlong against the Napoleonic Code and some of the principles of the Revolution of 1789, Nicolas Sarkozy today instituted changes to the Inheritance Tax threshold, as part of the new ‘Work, Employment and Buying Power’ W.E.B. legislation.

New tax reforms just introduced by Nicolas Sarkozy in France are set to shake up the French housing market for the benefit of both French and British buyers.

A report earlier this year highlighted Paris' position as top city for property investment. The Emerging Trends in Real Estate report by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Urban Land Institute underlines the city's economic stability and sustainability, as well as placing Paris in first place for supply and demand balance.

The world famous port town of Saint Tropez on the French Riviera epitomises glamour, chic and luxury lifestyle;

France is seeing a sustained growth in its property market and this is partly due to local demand, with up to 500,000 properties needing to be built each year for the next 10 years just to satisfy this demand.

UK developer ‘Space France’ announce the major renovation plans for an historic silk mill in the UNESCO candidate town of Briancon in the French Alps.

Sharon Hill, Director of Your French Property gives a run down of the French property market and its hidden gems.

Life for Brits living and looking to buy in France is set to become easier under the new Sarkozy regime, according to Leggett Immobilier, the largest independent, Anglophone estate agency in France.

TotallyRiviera.com, property agents on the Cote d’Azur, are the sole marketeers for a two double bedroom villa on the Royal Mougins golf course that includes with the sale price a couple’s membership to the exclusive course.

The new CityJet flight (daily except Saturdays) from London City Airport to Nice has opened up the Riviera to London's bonus-rich city workers. The airport, a short taxi ride or DLR hop away from the Square Mile, will benefit those who previously had to travel to busy hubs such as Stansted, Gatwick and Heathrow.

Property investors set to benefit with the Office of Tourism reporting an annual 27 million visitors to inner Paris in 2006, French hotels are seeing a sharp rise in occupancy, pointing to a growing need to provide accommodation.

Chesterton, the London estate agency, is spreading its wings with the company's first international associate office opening on June 1st, 2007 in the French Riviera's property hot spot, Saint Tropez.

James Robinson, Chief Marketing Officer, MRI Overseas Property, says: “Perhaps due to its close proximity to the UK, it is not surprising that France is the second most popular destination for Brits who want a property abroad. Cross-channel commuting is also on the up, with mobile working enabling Brits to live in France and commute back to the UK when necessary.

With the Cannes Film Festival upon us and celebrating its 60th anniversary, IMOINVEST are pleased to announce the opening of its new office in Cannes as their worldwide success continues.

Megeve in the French Alps is a renowned international resort which was originally created by Baroness Rothschild in 1916 and became know as the ‘Little Switzerland of the Alps’.

A new French law will, in effect, boost substantially the capital value of properties being sold off-plan through a method of property purchase being introduced for the first time by the biggest developer in the French Alps, MGM.

A French developer has the answer for would-be second home-buyers who cannot decide whether they want a place in the sun or the snow.

Setting the style for a new generation of French Alpine ski properties for the twenty-first century is a landmark development planned for the site of a former car park at the entrance to Chamonix.

IMOINVEST are now pleased to be able to bring to the market an alternative to the traditional leaseback. ‘Quasi Hotelier’ is virtually the same as leaseback except it offers the investor the option of using the property personally for up to 6 months of the year. ‘Quasi Hotelier’ is expected to transform the French property market as its versatility will be of significant benefit to those who felt restricted by the traditional leaseback.

Enthusiasm for train travel to the ski slopes of the French Alps is set to increase as work nears completion on London’s new St Pancras International Terminal. In November this year the station will become the departure point for faster Eurostar journeys to France which, during the ski season, will include a weekly direct service to the Alpine town of Bourg St Maurice.

Investors in Britain and Ireland have welcomed a new French law which, in effect, boosts substantially the value of leaseback properties for owners who decide to sell.

The 2006 tax year draws to a close in the UK on April 5th - yet another difference that separates us from the French, whose tax year coincides with the calendar. At Crème de Languedoc, we felt now was a good time to publish the results of our latest poll about ex-pat tax evasion.

Grosset Janin has been creating dream homes in the Alps for three generations. They successfully blend tradition and modernity to deliver luxury, bespoke chalets and apartments in the most sought after locations. From project inception to handing over the keys, Grosset Janin will guide buyers through each stage, offering expert advice and real local experience.

IMOINVEST, specialists in the French property market, predict that now is the ideal time to invest into property in France. They anticipate that the orientation of the Central European Bank concerning the Euribor (Euro Interbank of fixed rate) should decrease and have an effect on interest rates offered by the French banks, which are expected to decrease as well.

The long awaited ski season in the Alps has finally arrived and with this comes fierce competition over properties as many are snapped up by investors. The French property market continues to perform to the highest levels and there has been a marked increase in the number of British investors now buying ski properties rather than their traditional approach of renting in the main season.

Investing in property in the student market in France is probably one of the safest forms of investments around. Paris currently has an existing student population of over 600,000 and a strong potential for further growth. Students do not buy their accommodation, so as long as there are students then there will always be a letting market.

Grosset Janin have been creating dream homes in the Alps for three generations. They successfully blend tradition and modernity to deliver luxury, bespoke chalets and apartments in the most sought after locations. From project inception to when the keys to your new home are handed over, Grosset Janin will guide you through each stage, offering expert advice and real local experience. Quality is assured.

New riverside homes in an unspoilt village in the French Alps are planned by MGM, one of the biggest property developers in France which has a UK sales office in London’s Regent Street.

This month sees the launch of Balcons de Megève – an exclusive ski-in, ski-out chalet apartment development situated in the heart of what is arguably the prettiest and chicest ski resort in the French Alps.

New homes taking shape in Champagny en Vanoise, said to be ‘one of the prettiest villages in the French Alps,’ are on schedule for completion by the end of this year, in time for the start of the next ski season.

Côte d’Azur has been popular with the British since the time of Queen Victoria. With beautiful countryside, azure blue seas and fantastic weather it is clear why. The increased accessibility offered by low cost airlines means a second home here is an easy reality.

Languedoc property and travel website creme-de-languedoc.com reports that the decision of growing numbers of British couples with children to downshift to the Hérault department in the south of France has now been endorsed by French current affairs magazine l’Express.

A recent poll carried out by Languedoc property specialist website Creme-de-Languedoc.com shows that foreign buyers in France think French estate agents are over-paid and provide poor levels of service. However, confidence in French property, particularly in the Languedoc area, is still very high.