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Hillsider

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  1. If you are considering buying privately from a British owner, is it possible to pay for the property in Sterling. I have asked a couple of immobiliers but they say it is only possible to pay in Euros. Obviously the notaire would have his/her fee in Euros but I don't see why the transaction has to be converted if both parties agree to the payment in sterling, yen, beads, beans, livestock whatever.......Anyone have any knowledge of protocol?
  2. This is a very pretty newt I think. No, my chaps had far fewer and much larger black spots and lizard like tail (but fatter). I looked at the fire salamander (on the internet) as a forum member suggested. It is the right shape but predominantly black and yellow - not blue/green with black spots. The annoying thing is that we had a camera with us but they had scuttled off before we thought to take a photo. Chris, don't take any more of your time trying to solve the mystery. If I am succesful in buying the property, I will always carry a camera when I go into the barn and may resurrect the debate. Thanks to all.....
  3. Chris.....thanks for your prompt reply. Unfortunately great crested newts are not what I saw. The wee chaps did not have a crest and were much brighter in colour than the newts pictured. They greatly resemble photos of salamanders, only the colours of European salamanders were again not nearly so vivid. Guess their identity will just have to remain a mystery? I would have thought the Vendee would have been chock full of newts with all that water in the Marais Poitevin? There are certainly billions of frogs and toads
  4. As a very new member of this forum and a keen but pretty uninformed observer of wildlife, I have noticed that you have your own expert in this section of the Forum - Chris pp. Well I hope either Chris or some other informed reader can help me identify a salamander or lizard. I was house hunting in the Southern Vendee last month and saw two lizard like creatures in a hay barn. For some reason, I grabbed at one and actually managed to catch it which surprised me enormously, fully expecting it to scurry away at great speed. I put it down immediately and they both 'waddled' (would be the way I would describe their movement) off under the hay. Description : about 10cms long greeny/blue in colour with large black spots. I looked up lizards on the internet trying to identify them but could not see anything remotely as distinctively marked. A link led me to salamanders and they look much more like the little chaps I saw but I could not see anything European that was their colour. Large black spots yes but not greeny/blue. Someone told me that salamanders exude a toxin when attacked / alarmed. If this is so, I suppose I was lucky that my little friend did'nt coat me in some virulent poison! There's a lesson there for me - look but don't touch! I would appreciate if anyone could help with identification. By the way I loved the house but my offer was refused. It is still for sale so thinking seriously of trying another offer. I would like to know what species my little neighbours are.....
  5. Thanks Frederick.....I did check out Marans but it was a Saturday and the port office was closed and I was on my way to the airport. Not ideal base for sailing but suitable as a live aboard base. I will check out again on my next visit.
  6. Thanks Ian.....didn't know you had to register your boat as a French vessel. I will shortly have to go through the process of de-registering 'Bella' as a Greek vessel, as a similar law applies. Don't know if I can be bothered. Might just organise getting her back to UK and sell. I also have a sailing dinghy that I will be taking to France (when I find a house). Area of choice will remain the Southern Vendee. Where do you sail? Are you based in Charente Maritime / Vendee / Deux Sevres ? I would be quite happy sailing on an inland waaterway if there was one within reasonable travelling distance. The only lake I know of near Fontenay le Comte (nearest large town to intended purchase area) is Mervent Lake which is rreally too small except for the 'oppies' that sail there. 
  7. Thanks to all who have replied to my first forum post. It is very gratifying to know that so many people with experience are reading and willing to share knowledge. It seems the consensus is that the pound is unlikely to strengthen much if at all in the near future. So looking to save myself some money, I have read many times on this site that buying privately is the way to go. I agree. In theory a private sale will be around 8% less expensive. My problem when I am only able to visit for two or three weeks is finding property for sale privately. Does anyone know of a website advertising property for sale privately? Alternatively is anyone selling or know of someone selling a house in the Southern Vendee? My area of preference is the Marais Poitevin but would consdier anywhere within a 15k radius of Fontenay le Comte. I am looking for a renovated, older stone built property with 3+ bedrooms and land from 500 to around 1500 sq mtrs. A garage or dependence large enough to store a car would be nice. My budget is up to 225000 Euro. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. In fact I would go as far as being willing to pay a finder's fee for the right property.
  8. I hope to be buying a house in the Vendee next year (although this may be prejudiced by the current strength of the Euro. See other post in buying in France section). I also have a 36' yacht which needs a home. I checked out Les Minimes in La Rochelle thinking the largest marina in Europe would have loads of berths available but apparently there is a 5 year waiting list and a three year wait in Rochefort. Can anyone suggest a marina or port in Charente Maritime / Vendee where I might find a berth? Does anyone know anything about Marans? I did look there in October but the port office was closed. It's 20 k inland and not ideal but anywhere would be acceptable in the short term.  I had actually intended selling my boat but am now thinking it may serve very well as a floating home until hopefully the pound strengthens. I believe this might take a while. I do however need to find somewhere for her to live. Any suggestions would be most appreciated
  9. This is my first post although I have been reading the many helpful comments since I first decided to move to France. I am (was) planning a second viewing trip early in the new year to purchase a home in the Vendee (Marais area). When I was out in early October, the exchange rate I was offered by a currency broker was 144 euros to the pound. The same broker is currently offering 137. This makes a huge difference to the cost of the properties I have in mind. Can any long term residents remember such a large differential occuring in such a short time? Are you confident the rate will ease as this will also have implications for those of us who will rely on pensions etc being paid in sterling? On a different tack : when I was out looking in October, I viewed a property that was outwith my price range but the agency (AVIS) insisted that it could be had for a substantial discount as it had been for sale for six months. I put in an offer which I am told was refused because a client from another agency had submitted an offer close to the full purchase price. I was contacted by AVIS next day suggesting that if I put in an offer close to the full purchase price it would probably be accepted. Six weeks later, I still see this property being advertised on several agent's sites. If an offer close to the full purchase price had been submitted, I would have thought it would have been accepted. I suspect sharp practice. I would make an offer through one of the other agencies marketing the property (cheaper than AVIS incidentally by 2000 euro) but I believe that because I signed a paper with AVIS, I am restricted to using their agency for that particular property. Can anyone advise if this is the case? On reading the recent posts about the quality of French estate agents, I find it bizarre that when multiple agencies are marketing a property, the prices all differ, sometimes substantially. The most marked discrepancy I have seen is a property being marketed by one agency at 210,000 euro and another at 226,000. You would think they would look at the websites they advertise on to see what the competiton is up to!!
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