Real Estate In The South Of France

The Best Of French Country Life For 70,000 Euro Or Less

Aug. 2, 2010, Languedoc, France: You could purchase and renovate a small house in southwest France for a total cost of 70,000 euro or less.   

  Dear Live and Invest Overseas Reader,

At our recent Live & Invest in France Conference in Paris, France-Correspondent Lucy Culpepper got everyone's attention with her tale of a friend, a fellow expat in southwest France, who'd bought a small stone house for 50,000 euro, invested 15,000 euro in the renovation, and created for herself in the process a cozy and charming French country home. In the photo Lucy showed the group, the little house her friend had renovated couldn't have been cuter. 

Could that really be possible, attendees wondered aloud? To secure a foothold in France for less than 70,000 euro?

"Mais oui," Lucy assured the group. Then, to drive her point home, Lucy forwarded to me this weekend four examples of properties currently for sale in this part of France at this price point. In each case, some renovation work would be required but not a great deal. ("Of course, that's relative," Lucy points out. "Some folks are happy with basic living quarters. Others want more elaborate.")

Here are the property samples Lucy has uncovered:

In Cessenon-Sur-Orb:

A town house of 55 square meters, including an entrance, a dining room with a kitchen corner, three bedrooms, a shower room, and a toilet room. This house is in relatively good repair and would require only minimal work to be very comfortable. It includes a cave. The price is 57,800 euro, including the agency commission.

In Cazedarnes:

A town house of 77 square meters, including a living room with a kitchen corner and a fireplace/woodstove plus four other rooms (two without windows). The recently added bathroom includes a toilet, and there's another toilet room. This is a pleasant house in a quiet location. The price is 78,500 euro, including the agency commission.

Also in Cazedarnes:

Another town house of 87 square meters with good exposure. This is more of a renovation project. However, there is a large and luminous dining/living room with a sink, three bedrooms, and a shower room with a toilet. There are also three caves (for a total of 37 square meters of utility and storage space). The price is 59,000 euro, including the agency commission.

In Villespassans:

A town house that includes a living room with a kitchen corner, two bedrooms, a shower room with a toilet, and a large entrance that could be used as an office. The price is 60,000 euro, including the agency commission.

Lucy sourced these tempting examples of French country life with the help of her favorite property contact in the region, French House Languedoc. The owner's name is Phillip Godia. He speaks English.

Kathleen Peddicord 

P.S. As our recommended mortgage broker Tahminae Madani explained to the group at our recent conference, it's a straightforward process for foreigners to borrow in France for the purchase of real estate in France. Typically, you can borrow up to 80% LTV. Current (variable) rates of interest can be less than 3%. Tahminae can tell you more when you get in touch here. Continue Reading:

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