I'm a newby to the forum, and you may have bought your property and be digging your garden by now, but I wonder if you've investigated British agents based in France. I know many of them are really no different from French agents in the service they offer, but some we know do offer a more supportive service. Like you, we are looking in the Aude/Ariege departments, and there's a husband and wife team called Jeremy and Petra Campbell, trading as Cathar Castles. They are based there, near Chalabre. They've been agents for around 10 years and are now semi-retired, but they offer a property-finding service if you give them your requirements. Because they've been in the business for years, they are plugged into a lot of local agents and also know lots of properties that don't go onto any agents' books. I'm not related to them, by the way - they've been helping us look around for some time, and they'll also hold your hand on visits to the notaire, bank, etc. It might be worth looking up their website.