Living in France - what's it like?

A phone conversation with a friend and a typical Daily Mail article have prompted this post.

Let's start with the phone call.  I spent twenty minutes or so chatting over a potential property purchase with a friend of mine.  We spoke about buying property with both the head and the heart.

There's a convincing argument for French property as an asset class by itself at the moment. UK equities are tied in with the ropey economy, gold looks over-valued, UK property could go either way, gilts & bonds have low returns while France has a stable economy and property is realistically priced after recent falls.

Then, of course, there's the added bonus that owning a place in France gives.  Decent weather, high standard of living and the chance to own somewhere that makes your pulse race as you drive up to it.  Owning a place in France can bring pleasure that a share certificate simply can't match.

However, life isn't better over here, just different.

This article in the Daily Mail typifies this.  It's well written and after reading it through you have to feel sorry for Mrs Booth (although a little less for her husband who was driving at five times the legal limit. My best friend out here lost his wife and left leg fifteen years ago due to a drunk driver).

Pause for even a nano second though and you can see where it all went wrong.

Looking to "escape" is not a good reason to live here - despite the name of the TV series.  If your marriage/career/life has problems then they will probably be exacerbated by a move to France.  Particularly if you don't bother to learn the language. It won't be the fault of France Telecom, Ryanair, EDF or your local bartender either.

However, come here because you want to embrace the culture or because you love the scenery, pace of life, politics and/or weather and you stand a good chance of happiness.

Be realistic and do your research - then move for a positive reason.

Believe me when I say that whilst I adore my life here and am very happy, my kids still get sick, it can rain, earning money is difficult, I sometimes argue with my wife, my dog chases rabbits and - above all else - French tv is dire.

www.cognacproperty.com

France tops "quality of life" survey

It's official - France offers the highest quality of life within Europe according to Uswitch.com.

Over here we enjoy one of the lowest retirement ages, the longest life expectancy and the best healthcare.

Workers benefit from 34 days annual holiday (yeah right) and only Spain and Italy offer more sunshine.

France had a total score of 6.87 with Spain second on 6.42.  The UK came bottom on -7.65 despite having the highest net household income in all of Europe.  Long working hours, low holiday entitlement, high cost of living, rain and Simon Cowell seemed to be the reason (OK I made the last one up).

You can download the full research and press release here.

www.cognacproperty.com

Seven tips on moving to France

We did it ourselves in 2003 and I've been helping clients do it ever since.

Here are my seven top tips - if you have any others please feel free to share.

1. Make sure your finances are in place and you know how you will earn a living. It's no use thinking "I'll easily get a job when I'm there". Unless you are completely fluent and have a special skill with great contacts it will be difficult to enter the corporate world. That means you'll probably be self employed and 100% reliant on your own endeavours to put bread on the table.

2. Get your tax affairs sorted out from the off. The only thing in life more complicated than the French tax system is the Duckworth-Lewis system in cricket. Use a specialist and understand the implications of your move.

3. Make an effort to learn the language. It's not easy and takes application but it's essential to your integration and enjoyment. So many things rely upon you being able to converse with the locals (work, schooling, healthcare, social activities). Even if you were hopeless at languages at school. Fail to do this and you'll miss out on all the good stuff.

4. Research, research, research. Look at the area you want to move to - how hot does it get in summer, how cold & wet in winter? Is it lively all year round? What are communication links like (airports, motorways, TGV). Do the schools have a good reputation and are there plenty of activities for your kids?

5. Understand what houses are available. It looks pretty easy when you're sat at home looking at pretty pictures on the internet. You think you have a handle on the market. You're wrong! Most agents don't have websites and you're seeing the tip of the iceberg. By definition you're looking at houses which are being marketed by "switched on" agents....and guess what, they come at a premium price. Nearly 50% of houses bought & sold in France are private sales. then there are the notaires and the many back street agents who don't have websites, email and glossy photos. They do have some cracking houses at low prices though.

6. Paperwork. Make at least five copies of passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate and get any diplomas or degree certificates translated. The French just love paperwork.

7. Buy "Living & Working in France" by David Hampshire (and no, I'm not on commission, nor have I ever met him). We found it invaluable.

www.cognacproperty.com

Bush & Obama in "trial of the decade"

OK, hands up...I'm sure you spotted my cheap shot at getting your attention. Bush & Obama aren't actually involved at all.

It's Sarkozy and de Villepin who are today beginning the so called "trial of the decade". That shouldn't lessen public interest though.

It's a complicated affair but in a nutshell ex French prime minister Dominique de Villepin faces accusations of a smear campaign against current prime minister (and Obama favourite) Nicolas Sarkozy.

If found guilty he faces up to five years in prison and you can read about the accusations and murky background of the case here.

It's old money against new and it's going to get dirty. My eyes will be glued to the news each night for the next few weeks.

www.cognacproperty.com

France "most popular destination" for expats

The Halifax have just issued some research claiming that 16% of British expats currently live in France which tops the charts ahead of Spain (10%).

This comes hot on the heels of research by BNP Paribas that says Britons will make up 20% of all overseas buyers in France during 2009.

It's no surprise that France remains popular with Brits - either as a place for a second home or indeed to move here permanently. There's a good reason why it's the most visited country in the world with 82 million foreign tourists making an annual pilgrimage.

In troubled economic times you need this kind of heritage and stability if you're thinking of investing in real estate - prices may well tempt you to open a gite business in Bulgaria but are you sure it's going to be popular with the punters!

Ultimately though we Brits love it over here because of one thing, perfectly described by Jean Anouilh:

"Everything ends this way in France - everything. Weddings, christenings, duels, burials, swindlings, diplomatic affairs -everything is a pretext for a good dinner".

www.cognacproperty.com