Jump to content

Apero

Members
  • Posts

    163
  • Joined

  • Last visited

    Never

Everything posted by Apero

  1.     or try [url=http://www.completefrance.com]THIS[/url]
  2. Word of warning about leaving logs inside, we done that and noticed ants crawling out of some, so keep an eye out for the little buggers.
  3. [quote user="Anton Redman"]Large parts of the UK seem to have a depressed property market judging by the number of houses which were still unsold 18 months after we finally sold our house in May 2004. Prices may not be falling except for distress sales but volumne of sales and liquidity in the market is right down.[/quote]   Anton you are correct in as much as what you say volumne of sales and liquidity in the UK, certain area's and certain homes in the UK are slow in selling for individual reasons and at lower prices, location is a major factor as is schooling, condition, over-inflated asking price and sellability etc....  In our immediate vacinity in the UK, homes put up for sale are snapped up like hotcakes, which is obviously good for the seller and even more difficult for first timers.  The following link is interesting......   http://www.hbosplc.com/economy/includes/HousePriceIndexNov2005.pdf Two of our three children are trying to get there foot on the ladder and it is very expensive as you know, so a slow down in house prices will be better for them, not so good for others.
  4. Be very careful on offering services, i.e. linen is a service which may be taxed. I read this on a forum, unsure which one, that if you rent your Gite soley (and not part of a Gite complex which requires tax to be paid} no tax to be paid, if you offer a service for example linen this makes your income liable to tax. I repeat this is what I have read and not advise given to you, its very possable I am wrong, however, it would be wise to look into this aspect further, or on the other hand if you are registered as a business.......you will know this. Perhaps someone on the forum will offer the correct advise. Hope I am wrong and your guests enjoy your Gite. Would plump for payment p/b p/w.
  5. Hi Peter, Assume you meant my post! [quote user="Mpprh"] Hi I assume you are talking about France ? I Did mention France in my post and mentioned Departments I think you need to quote more precise information on this. My experience is that French prices in general are very stable. Normally, desirable houses appreciate by at least + 3% per year come what may. Rarely, they appreciate by up to 10% in very desirable areas. Of course that is an average. I guess you are talking about 2nd homes ? And purchased in areas that are great for holidays, but not having good communications or local job opportunities. Peter our home is not what you would call a holiday area, we are situated 9kms from an SP, in a village where there is very little British and the ones that are there most are full time and some working,  no holiday homes we are aware of, we have 4 airports nearby, the furtherest is two hours away the closest under and hour, tgv is under an hour from us. So good transport links.   Problem there is :   The initial low cost reflects low local desirability Dont agree on that one, as there is new builds around, where you would agree, many not all young French people prefer newer homes. In the main all houses on the market do sell and sell rather well.   Resale relies on other 2nd home owners buying, and most of Europe has a depressed property market (which influences the 2nd home market) By most of Europe do you include GB in that? As I'm aware GB is not a depressed property market.Agree that France has in certain departments, not in our SP currently.   I was involved in this market in the late 80's - early 90's, and the holiday home market in Europe dived when prices dropped and interest rates rocketed (and we are talking 16+%) Agree about this, however, that was then and almost 2 decades ago. As we dont have a mortgage the cost of living increases will affect daily life, prices going up etc,  as will all of Europe. Something to think about when buying : Why is this wonderful property so cheap ? Answer = it is of no interest to local French buyers ? Who at the time of our purchased wanted a new build or newish home. They didn,t want to renovate older or less modern homes and we appreciated the potential and location of ours. An article from Nomad maybe worth reading : http://www.the-languedoc-page.com/articles/languedoc-articles43.htm   Bonne chance   Peter[/quote] We decided to purchase in France after many many years of holiday and business trips in a variety of Departments and choose on this experience. To date we have renovated the house to be our main residence when the time is right. The increase in valuation to us is only a figure, you can never put a price on pride and contentment this has given us and will continue to give us.  We wont sell and the added security for our children means more to us for the future than now. Regrets that we have are that we should have done it much sooner and that my mother and my husband's father didn't get to see our achievements, although were sure they would have been as proud as our surviving parent's. Geno agree with your post 'we did that'. Regards.                
  6. The method I use is from one of my cookbooks, no author as there in France. Par boil for 10mns put them in an oven dish (i use the one i have for cooking chicken) put a little oil, can be goose fat, sunflower oil or whatever type is your favourite, season and shake them about a bit this will give the edges a bashing which in turn when cooked will crisp them up. Take them out the oven every so often and shake again until ready and are the colour you want, light or dark coloured. Usually ready when you can slide a sharp knife in and the tip is warm, be careful the knife tip may be hot. Not as many calories as deep fried and taste evey bit as good.[Y]  
  7. House prices in our immediate area are still on an upward trend. The property market has slowed down of late, however it is a slow period. DottyO im with you, not looking to sell just grateful we got in when we did. Like all of France different tendances for different Departments. Good news if it does slow up a bit as others may get somewhere without paying over the odds for it. Ours has increased 418% I only know this as we renewed our Insurance recently (wouldn't have bothered otherwise) and wanted to be sure recent renovations were taken into account for cover. What do others think?  Do the British in the main tend to move around France as much as they move around in the UK? Or dont they?    
  8. Up until last month there is still a water shortage in certain area's, if interested you can have a look at this Government site.   http://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=741 Worrying to say the least. Were situated on the Gulf Stream and for most of last year our department has had one or another ban. In early October we crossed the Loire and the bed of  the river was being used by people in dune buggies, you clould almost walk across the full width of it nr Saumur.
  9. We also bought a farmhouse to restore and were in a position to spend 6 months in the begining there full time when the Artisans were working for us. Suceeded in getting the house finished in that time and have spent the last few years knocking the wilderness into a garden and installing a pool (ourselves) has been great fun, very hard back breaking work which has given us a tremendous amount of joy and satisfaction. Like all things, takes longer and costs more than you think, however, if you keep hold in your mind, this is ours and after a day of banging your head against a wall, that tomorrow is another day and get on with it. One of the many memories stands out which allways makes us smile, the day we filled the pool with water and just sat in the mist of the garden debris after dinner, clothes filthy from working outdoors hair like god knows what, every muscle aching ,  looking at it as the sun set in front of us with a glass of wine and a smile on our face's.   Regrets yes, should have done it sooner.[:)]  
  10. Next have there sale on and have a bale for £14.99. Various colour schemes to choose from. Buy from there web site.
  11. [quote user="Alcazar"] Been Tee-Total since midnight last night, one day so far![;)] This way, I might get rid of some of those extra pounds................not to mention the heartburn! [/quote]   Good for you Alcazar, hope it continues for you and you reach your target.[Y] Tried all sorts of diets over the years and decided now to just eat healty and exercise a little. However I would miss wine to much so I give myself a glass with dinner or more if its a special occasion. Life is to short to stop things I like just cut down. (A day without wine is like a day without sunshine.)
  12. And a very Happy New Year to you Dicksmith. To make a happy fireside clime To weans and wife, That's the true pathos and sublime Of human life. [Robert Burns]
  13. I know of someone who taught English over the telephone to employees of French companies. Quite bizare until you think about it[:)] The company he worked for supplied him and others to teach executives in the Paris area. He made quite a good living out of it, kept a flat in Paris which is not cheap. Therefore you could live anywhere in France and do this.He is now in Germany doing exactly the same. Pm me for further info. If France is the place for you, you wont be put off. I wish you well in your endeavours and hope you suceed. Compliments of the Season and a Guid New Year.[D]
  14. [quote user="Benjamin"]Ab Please accept my abject apology for denigrating your posting . Of course I chose to interpret your use of the word poor in a monetary sense and not in the sense of unfortunate as you intended. This was due to my quirky sense of humour which I know some people find difficult to follow.[/quote]   http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html Benjamin You may or may not find the above site useful.[^o)] Poolguy Thanks for the post. Appreciate you taking the time.  
  15. Thanks, no problem at all, we had good advise on our renovations and it can be quite daunting, but truly worth it in the end when you look at what you have achieved from humble beginings. Have a happy christmas and a guid new year, lets toast to more beaurocratic delays[D]  
  16. We own a pool and in no way would I be rich. People are free to spend there own money on whatever please's them. Some buy large luxury cars, holiday in expensive locations, drink, camble....could go on....some even have been know to buy a property in France. Ab was contributing to a post regarding the unexpected change in pool regulations and the impact of these additional costs of implementing new regulations to pool owners, not bragging that he had one. From a viewing point your post looks like sour grapes, or are you a pool owner with a dry scense of humor. Pun intended.[:|] Ab I have been looking for info re this and shall pm you when found. Regards to all admin and mods on this informative forum. Best wishes at Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
  17. [quote user="Loiseau"]One village I went through seemed to have about 100 dangling Santas from different houses. Perhaps we should have a competition to nominate the village with the most?[/quote]   Granted they are not everyones cup-of-tea and Chirstmas is overly commercilaized nowadays. I do like the santa's and so do children, its a personal thing isn't it. Alochol-rich cake mmmmmmm.
  18. [quote user="Gabe"]This has probably been covered before, but.... We are just starting the renovation of our house, (no heating, no kitchen etc) but are still resident in England until next summer. How do we register/apply to benefit from the reduced TVA ? Can we benefit if we are presently not French tax payers ?Gabe[/quote]   Hi Gabe, If you advise your department, maybe someone in that department will recommend Artisan's to you. If you enquire soon they will advise a start date which hopefully will fall in with your plans. The TVA discussion has been going on in Brussels for what seems like forever, however not a lot us individuals can do about that other than hope our work is completed and the Facture is paid before any rise of TVA. I would advise you also when you find an Artisan to incorporate in the signed Devis a penalty clause whereby the Artisan is penalized should the work not be completed to the agreed time-scale. We done this and paid agreed amounts to the Artisan when required and our work was done ahead of time and to our satisfaction with costs as original Devis. This way they were happy getting paid in stages and obviously we were delighted with there work. Our timescale, which may help you estimate, for renovating was:- converting unused grenier into 3bedrooms 2xbathrooms,new kitchen, new downstairs s/room, full electrical refit, full plumbing refit, new fosse septic, thereafer painting and decorating interior 4mths (all done by Artisans).  I wish you every success in your renovations, France is a truly lovely place to live in our personal opinion. Regards  
  19. [quote user="Sensorypulse"] Anyone have any info on what exactly is happening about this tax? I have heard the government is tomorrow (6th Dec 2005) making a crucial decision about whether the application of this tax will continue beyond 31st Dec 2005, and if they decide (foolishly in my opinion) to let it go, all work on or after 1st Jan 2006 will be charged at 19,6% TVA whether or not the devis was signed in 2005. Jeremy [/quote]   Hello all, Reading this thread with interest, though you may want to know this which came out of Brussels on the 6/12/05:- BRUSSELS (AFX) - EU finance ministers have failed to reach agreement on reduced value-added tax levels and have decided to postpone the talks until the European summit on Dec 15-16    Is it not Jan - Jan for the French tax year?  
×
×
  • Create New...