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BenC

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Everything posted by BenC

  1. Hi everyone, thanks a lot for your replies. I came here to get advice from people who have 'been there, done that' and your replies have been great. Having other people in my bed isn't an issue for me. I stay in hotels 20+ times a year for work and I don't spend too long thinking about what's been going on in that room - but I do understand the point that if you rent it out it's not entirely 'your' home. I own Buy to Let properties here in the UK and get that these things have to be done with a spreadsheet and they don't run themselves. I also understand that the wear and tear on a rented property is a real consideration. Multiply that by a property that's hundreds of miles away, Brexit and a schoolboy grasp of French and it's a decision I have to think hard about. I completely get the point about the kids growing up and not wanting to visit. They are both under 4, so I hopefully have a decade or so and then I can look forward to being able to bolt there myself. I had considered an apartment and briefly looked into leaseback in a ski resort (partner loves skiing) but we like the ability to ski in different resorts, so the fixed location has more downsides than upsides. Other posts have hit the nail on the head. The idea is a place where the kids can splash about in the pool, we can wander into town or drive to the beach and friends and family might occasionally come to visit and stay locally (or on site). We make it a house and an area we invest time in and get to know well. Another stumbling block is trying to find locations that fit the: '1-hour to the beach, from the airport, walkable to a nice small town and within budget' criteria. To be honest, the more time I spend in Google Maps, the more I'm paralysed by choice. Before we had kids (and lockdowns), my partner and I visited France a lot. We have done a fair few weeks and weekends across France on a motorbike and we have had great stays throughout, from Le Crotoy, to Questembert / Malestroit to Riberac and Tarascon.. all brilliant places, with next to nothing in common when you write down their positives and negatives. Still, that's one for me to try and crack. Your shared experiences on property ownership really help me build a clearer picture.
  2. Hi all, it's my first post here. I live in the UK and have a young family. I'm considering buying a place in France to use as a holiday home for my family and friends as it's been a long-term ambition to have a place for the kids and their friends to spend their holidays. I have bored lots of friends/relatives on this topic and have not had many positive responses. A few relatives have had holiday homes in the UK and abroad and are quick to recount stories of ducks nesting in roofs, flooding mills, continuous DIY, grass cutting etc. My folks had a holiday home in Lyme Regis when we were kids and most of what I remember is Dad puttying window frames and Mum mowing the lawn but we had a great time there. Most of the feedback I have had so far is along the lines of: "I hope you have deep pockets". I appreciate that the sensible thing to do is to book a place on AirBnB for 4-6 weeks in the summer and pay for the convenience and chop and change the locations to my heart's content. However, there's a box I want to tick and that's owning my own place abroad. I am fortunate enough to earn a good salary - but I'm not daft enough to plough on with ticking this box if it will bankrupt me. I've read some pretty good / scary articles on French tax for UK residents and it looks fairly er.. taxing. I have a few questions for the old hands here: 1. Is it possible to buy a place in France and outsource the holiday rental and management to minimise my hands-on time? 2. Does anyone have any stories of owning a holiday home that makes them a decent profit? (Surely someone does!) 3. Are the standing costs for owning a house in France the same regardless of location? 4. Does AirBnB make it easier or harder to rent your place out? 5. Are there any questions I've not asked that I should be asking? Thank you, Ben
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