Decisions

[graone]

Hi everyone, we've bought our dream property and now we are trying to decide when the time is right to make the final connection.

We are just about to turn 50, we still have our uk property but a lot of questions still stir that insecure feeling.

Please, how many of you are entirely happy with your decision, or those of you which are unhappy and now cannot return due to the

uk housing prices.

We are looking forward to moving and really do not want to leave it until we are 60+.

Many thanks to all your replies. Graone.

[suein56]

[quote user="graone"]

Please, how many of you are entirely happy with your decision, or those of you which are unhappy and now cannot return due to the uk housing prices.

We are looking forward to moving and really do not want to leave it until we are 60+. [/quote]

If you are unsure about completely severing the link property-wise how about keeping your UK house and renting it out? This way you can return without too much hassle if things do not work out the way you hope in France.

Sue

[Blanche Neige]

Hi everyone, we've bought our dream property and now we are trying to decide when the time is right to make the final connection............................................We are looking forward to moving and really do not want to leave it until we are 60+.

 Before you make a permanent move.

If you are in a position to keep both properties for a while then why not try visits of 4 weeks or more at a time in France trying various seasons and see whether the life there is really as appealing

[oliveau]

And I agree with both of the above, but from bitter experience, only let your UK house unfurnished. It's better to take everything to France or put into storage than find thar some a......e has trashed your possessions.

You can take references for potential tenants, but............

Peter

 

[Val_2]

You also need to think how you will support yourselves in France. Jobs are scarce for non-french speakers and even more so in remote country areas with high unemployment officially recognised here now. You will not get credit or bank loans very easily and benefits cannot be applied for without jumping through many hoops first. If you have a transferrable business or plenty of savings then you will be fine but this is the downfall for many who have come here to find their savings soon disappear.

[Llwyncelyn]

I do agree with Val_2 but equally and next to buying a house this is probably the most important or at least one or the most important decisions of your life.

You have to know what you want and when you want it.  Forget rose coloured and tinted glasses this is reality and sometimes in France it is hard.  Sometimes it is fun over a few glasses of wine but as in everything reality returns tomorrow.

Without command of the language involvement is difficult and also think if one of you is better able to speak the language then that leaves the other somewhat exposed and when sometimes the need to communicate is paramount.

For us the isolation is sometimes wonderful then other times not so good.  We get on fine absolutely fine but you are together then 24/7 think about that.

Think about the ultimate consideration and when one is limited solely to France and by virtue of the 'burning exercise' you have nothing back in the UK.  OK if you are certain you will never return but how certain is certain?

Capital is eroded by sheer economics and will not last long.  Due to timing our tax in France was relatively negible in 2006 due to having arrived mid way in 2005.  This year and with no allowances for bio items and full income fees (mine) and pensions it has gone up so very much but not as much as in the UK.

You have to budget and try to leave capital but it too with erode with time that you cannot get away from its Keynes and all of that. Think about complimentaire health schemes and all of that.  I for one would not wish to be exposed to what is in part and regions a wonderful system without the ability to pay for it.

If you are to rely upon income generation schemes here in France best of luck!  If you seek to rely upon the new President then time will tell.

In saying all of this we love France for a plethora of reasons so do your homework apply common sense as you have done all of your lives and give yourself 'some belts and bracers' and you should be ok.

Personally and this is not a universal concept but we will never sell our rented property in the UK and where our wonderful tenant has just extended for another year and has given us his intention to continue until we say enough is enough.

Our thoughts and ours alone and upon which you should not seek to rely and that is the lawyer in me!  As in everything research but at the end the 'gut' feeling comes into play for we cannot play safety first all of our lives...............how boring that would be to find your names in the Telegraph or the Times with the value of your UK estate and you have not in reality even lived.

We may be lucky

I hope you are lucky

[Gemini_man]

[quote user="graone"]

Hi everyone, we've bought our dream property and now we are trying to decide when the time is right to make the final connection.

We are just about to turn 50, we still have our uk property but a lot of questions still stir that insecure feeling.

Please, how many of you are entirely happy with your decision, or those of you which are unhappy and now cannot return due to the

uk housing prices.

We are looking forward to moving and really do not want to leave it until we are 60+.

Many thanks to all your replies. Graone.

[/quote]

The biggest question has to be: what are you going to do over the next 10 years - how are you going to exist financially?

[powerdesal]

Wisdom indeed. Well put Llwyncelyn.

[graone]

Thanks everyone for your honest opinions, it does confirm at this moment that the rental option is the safe route.

Anyway, Thank you all.

Graone