Renting vs. buying

[Jeanne Slade]

Has anyone out there experiences: good or bad of long term renting, and whether this is a viablle option as against buying?

[bryansmith]

After very prolonged consideration,we have decided to rent for a year instead of buying. There are many reasons but mainly it will enable us to live for a year in a French house with French neighbours etc to give us an opportunity to see whether or not it works for us. We will not have made a large financial commitment and will still be able to purchase at the end of that year if we wish to do so.

Some of the 'cons' we thought of were - monthly rental fees are 'dead' money - will we feel properly committed to the French lifestyle - will property prices increase in the 12 months ? Only time will tell but we feel that this is a prudent step before making a final decision.

Best wishes in your venture what ever you decide.

[SaligoBay]

It does give you the chance to get to know the area, and decide where you eventually want to settle long-term.

The kind of thing you learn from over-the-garden-fence chats, about plans for new roads or new lotissements, whether the next village along is friendlier/richer/snobbier/cheaper/full of Brits, what houses are for sale privately rather than through immobiliers, where the youngsters gather to get their drugs, and so on and so on and so on.