yvonne Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 Hi everyone and a very happy New Year ! - I'm just looking for your thoughts on the best place to start our search for our retirement home in France. We will have a budget of around 300,00 euros and for this ideally we are looking for a home ( old or new) that does not need renovating, is right out in the countryside and with a minimum of 1 acre of land - we also want to be able to enjoy more sunshine than we have in the UKWe will not need to earn a living ( yippee !!) and would prefer not to be in an English 'enclave' or very touristy area. My Mum who comes from Marseilles originally reccommends the Pays du Loire region as she says the climate is temperate and the scenery stunning but French friends who live in Provence suggest the Languedoq Roussillon region - we have also visited and like the Mayenne region (but would this be too similar to the UK in the winter ?). I speak and understand French fluently ( thanks mum !) and we have a good net work of French friends and relations already - mainly in the Provence area around Aixany thoughts ??? thanksYvonne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceni Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 As much as I hate to burst yr bubble Yvonne I'm almost afraid to tell you that 300€ won't buy even a garden shed in France. I know that prices are much lower than in UK but not that much.[:(]Everyone here will a view on every possible location in France, some for, some against but you and yours have to make and then live with the decision that only YOU can make. The best answer is to stick a pin in the map and then rent for a while - as long as you remember that wherever you decide there will always be plenty of other places that are cheaper, better, more/less remote etc etc. and lots of peeps to tell why you should be somewhere else.Johnnot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nectarine Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 I'd suggest the centre of France - perhaps the Creuse or Indre region - which have for a long time been forgotten by many housebuyers. It's only in recent years that Brits are buying in numbers as Stanstead airport has a cheap route to Limoges.Your price will certainly buy you a good sized house in a pleasant area, with little work to do. Taxes for habitation and fonciere are, in my experience, amongst the lowest in France. Climate is temperate, when it is sunny then it is warmer than the UK, but it does rain quite a bit which explains the abundance of forests and lakes. However, when we lived there we would often be sitting out on Xmas day in a T-shirt although, in that same year, we had snow in April! I agree Iceni's suggestion that you rent something for a while and get to know the area. Remember also that you will find cheaper properties if you approach notaires directly, as they often have many properties for sale. The estate agents often have the same properties, but with a substantial mark-up.But I think in the centre of France, the Limousin and that region, you will certainly find a worthwhile property with plenty of change to spare. Happy house hunting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cendrillon Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 "I'm just looking for your thoughts on the best place to start our search for our retirement home in France. We will have a budget of around 300,00 euros and for this ideally we are looking for a home ( old or new) that does not need renovating, is right out in the countryside and with a minimum of 1 acre of land - we also want to be able to enjoy more sunshine than we have in the UK" If this is to be a retirement home it may be wise to consider what you will do when you can no longer drive, cut the grass on the 1 acre and live in a rural / isolated location. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yvonne Posted January 2, 2008 Author Share Posted January 2, 2008 thanks for your replies - and 'oops' about the funds available it should read 300,000 euros not 300 !!.As far as finding something to do in our retirement - at present we breed and show Belgian Shepherd Dogs as our hobby and have already shown in France on several occasions ('brag' - got the CACIB in Toulouse this year -:) ) - this is how we have got to know many of our French friends -( through the dog show circuit.) We are intending to carry on with our hobby once we have retired full time and also perhaps run a little business looking after pups that are being imported into the UK but have to wait out their 6 months pet passport requirements in Europe- we have imported from France ourselves and know just how difficult it can be to find someone who will raise a show pup in their home , socialise it well and train it for the show ring - we also thought we would have their owners staying as paying guests so that they can spend their holiday with their pup - obviously we know that this would not bring in enough money to live on but should be an interesting way of bringing in a little extra - we will have our Teachers pensions to live on ( around £25000 per annum ) - does this all sound do able ? ...in any event we will have PLENTY to keep us occupied LOLYvonne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 Hi Yvonne, I have sent you a private message detailing my house suggestion ... happy New Year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cendrillon Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 [quote user="Cendrillon"]"I'm just looking for your thoughts on the best place to start our search for our retirement home in France. We will have a budget of around 300,00 euros and for this ideally we are looking for a home ( old or new) that does not need renovating, is right out in the countryside and with a minimum of 1 acre of land - we also want to be able to enjoy more sunshine than we have in the UK" If this is to be a retirement home it may be wise to consider what you will do when you can no longer drive, cut the grass on the 1 acre and live in a rural / isolated location.[/quote]YvonneFurther to my reply above I should say that I was thinking long term and to a time when perhaps you are no longer fit enough or able to do all the exciting things that you plan to do now. I guess when the time comes you can always sell-up and buy somewhere that will be easier to manage.[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
united Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 I guess most people who respond will live in their 'best place to buy' and we all have different houses and live in different locations.I would be tempted to further define your criteria, you mention weather and rural location. What about transport? Will you need to go back to the UK if so how ferry or flight. If you are showing dogs is proximity to major roads needed. How about a rail station to visit your friends?Do you want to be near to super/hypermarkets or a village with a restaurant or even one that seems alive during the day?Will you be happy not having mains sewage, gas etc in your rural location? Do you want broadband?Six months into your home what will an ideal day/week be.Once you have defined all your criteria your search may be easier.Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 Hi Yvonne,People often ask me about retiring to France, and I reply that you need three things: a decent budget, an income and to be able to speak French. You've got all three!I've owned a house in the Cher in central France for 15 years but can't move over yet as I'm still working on the second requirement, an income (a decent pension). I've often heard it said that to be sure of a decent climite, you have to be south of the Loire, although it can get quite cold in the winter in the Cher. It is rural and with your budget, you would have a good choice of property with land. It is not too touristy either and although there are more Brits than 15 years ago, there are still quite sparse.Regards and a Happy New Year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerise Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 Hi YvonneIf the dog showing thing is important to you, you may want to make some enquiries to the breed club and with the Soc. Centrale Canine as to the distribution of shows. If you find that all your Nationale d'Elevage are at the other end of the country - well it is a long way and expensive in petrol and motorway tolls, hotels etc. The shows in the South West for example are often less well attended than in the north and whilst it's nice to win it gets a bit boring only meeting the same 6 dogs show after show. Another thing is access to veterinary services. I recently helped friend take her litter of 10 dalmatians to Bourges for their PEA deafness testing. As we don't live far from Toulouse and there is a large veterinary school there, I would have expected we could go there, but no, no machine - so 1000 km round trip setting off at 4.00 am for the obligatory 6 week testing - a right royal pain and very expensive to boot. Since I've moved here I've given up showing and breeding - no dog club within 50 km radius of us either - as it is all too difficult and time consuming. Whilst I realise that you will have more time as you are retired it is certainly something to think about if you want to show. If you are breeding it is also difficult to get people to come from further afield to view the puppies.Your idea for looking after puupies who are waiting to go to UK is a good one - but I think it would be more successful in the north as it would be easier for the new owners to get over for a weekend or two to bond with the new arrivals. If you want any more info about the doggy scene please feel free to p.m. meGood luck where ever you decide to settle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yvonne Posted January 2, 2008 Author Share Posted January 2, 2008 Hi againMany thanks especially to Cerise- a good point about the North being more accessible for our proposed little business - we have persuaded our son to come and dog/chicken/duck etc sit (yes we have a veritable zoo here !) whilst we go for long weekend in the Languedoc region this Spring and I will try and get over again this year on my own to visit friends near Le Mans so can do a spot of research then - I think the best thing is if we get this place sold then rent somewhere central whilst we have a good look around - how feasible would it be to rent a place that would accept 6 large hairy dogs though ??? [:-))] perhaps a farm ???.I do understand the point about thinking ahead to the time when we are too old and decrepit to cope with being lost in the countryside - but think we might then just swap our rural idyll for a swish apartment somehwere by the sea LOL - we are very used to rural isolation being presently 'out in the sticks' in the Lincolnshire Fens with no near neighbours , no mains sewerage and 30 minutes drive to the nearest town - it works for us here and I'm hoping it will work just as well for us in la Belle France. Yvonne P.S. Ian I have'nt recieved your message - was it an e-mail ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yvonne Posted January 2, 2008 Author Share Posted January 2, 2008 m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 You shouldn't have too many problems renting with dogs in tow, especially as you say, if you're going rural.You never know, you might like the Sarthe, we do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weedon Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Yvonne, I have sent you a private message.You have to click on the heading [private messages] at the top of the opening page. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingdingaling Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Hi and happy new year to allHave to say i'm suprised by the OP post, 1 - they want to know the best place, 2 - they dont want to be near english, 2b - there on here, 3 they have friends in Provence, 4 - French born familyBloody hell if you can't get info from them then I suspect you're not well liked.For me, 300k, Provence or somewhere in Italy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yvonne Posted January 3, 2008 Author Share Posted January 3, 2008 "Bloody hell if you can't get info from them then I suspect you're not well liked." LOL!!!!! ...trouble is that every person I ask reccommends their own region - my Provencal relations are adamant that we should move down south and our very good French friends in the Mayenne think the North is best. I'm looking for some reasons why you lot chose the areas you did. Although my mum is Provencal born she has lived in various parts of France (now lives in the UK) and she too has her opinions on the best areas.it's such a big decision and France is such a big place that I'm trying to get as much info as poss BEFORE we take the plunge .[geek] Yvonne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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