L
et’s put propert y investment marketing
i n Fr a n c e i n t o c o n t e x t f i r s t . It i s
may sta r t a fa mi ly, a nd young fa mi l ies may
need to move nearer to secondar y schools or
Over the last decade, more and more buyers
have been investing in a variety of property for
sale in France, in line with the trends outlined
So t hen it ’s t ime to t rade up, t rade dow n,
or just move on. Some will want to buy a new
property for sale in France more suited to their
needs, others may prefer to cut their investment
losses and ret urn to their countr y of origin.
But it is not always that simple, particularly if
you’ve invested in a property leaseback scheme
in France and are selling up before the contract
(usually 9-11 years) and the 20 year qualifying
per iod for t he 19.6% VAT d iscount has r un
However, what some purchasers fail to take
into account is t hat persona l circumstances
inevitably change over time. Childless couples
Obv iously, it pays to take a long-term v iew
b e for e c om m it t i n g y o u r s e l f to a pr op e r t y
purchase. Ask yourself if what suits you so well
today w il l stil l be the right choice f ive years
hence? Wi l l it be possible to adapt, e x tend
or convert your propert y investment to meet
you r cha ng ing needs? A nd if not, how easy
w il l it be to trade places? Current needs and
wishes have to be balanced against likely future
developments. It can be wise to plan your exit
route, or at least have an idea of what your next
move might be.
important to realise that it has developed
dramatically over the last ten years, particularly
as far as British buyers are concerned. As growing
numbers of overseas buyers have stepped onto
the property investment ladder to buy property
for sa le in France, so the number of bargain
properties in France suitable for renovation and
farms with outbuildings ripe for gîte conversion
have dwindled. On the other hand, new build
developments have continued to f lourish and
buying off-plan has become commonplace for
purchasers who like the comfort and convenience
of a truly modern home. In addition, the growing
number of Brits relocating to France has resulted
in the increasing popularity of large family-sized
character homes, while investors have found that
buying property in France can give better returns
than stocks and shares or pension funds.
above, and in accordance with their personal
c i rc u ms t a nc e s . D ow n sh i f t i n g c ouple s a nd
families looking for a better quality of life have
been purchasing permanent residences, and some
have chosen to buy larger properties that provide
them with both a family home and an income
stream, offering B&B accommodation. Holidaymakers have bought older, r ura l cot tages or
newer, coastal apartments, investors have opted
for ski chalets and seaside property developments
(often bought via a leaseback scheme), and city
centre apartments, while older folks have been
investing in v il las of a manageable size and
retiring to the sunny south of France.
www.reimag.co.za
u n iver sit ie s a s c h i ld ren b ecome te ena ger s.
Able-bodied pensioners will f ind themselves
becoming less act ive, or a su r v iv ing g ranny
might need to come a nd l ive under t he
fa m i ly roof. Mone y i nve sted i n a prop er t y
leaseback scheme in France may be needed to
f und u rgent hea lt hca re or ot her un foreseen
f inancia l demands; the job that prompted a
move to France may fall through, the business
opportunity that seemed so clear cut may fail to
transpire… the list goes on and on.
its cou rse; or i f you’ve “over-specced ” you r
property to the point where you cannot recoup
your investment; if you’ve bought a home that
has limited appeal to others due to its location,
layout, size, condition or decoration.
Offshore Handbook 2013
35