102 LEGGETTFRANCE.COM
France is still a rich hunting ground for affordable property, and that does not just mean
a romantic wreck. By Liz Rowlinson
WHERE TO BUY IN FRANCE
Properties under €60K
France is full of
wonderfully
affordable
property from
Brittany in the
northwest to the
Auvergne in the southern half
of the country. For anyone
seeking a rural home full of
character, it's surprising just
how far your money can go
today.
Forget finding an old cow
shed or tumbledown barn;
it's perfectly possible to find
a cute little cottage on the
edge of a lovely village, ready
to move into, or let out. But
where to look?
Starting with the most
accessible corner of France,
take a look at parts of the
northwest, says Lisa Greene,
regional coordinator of the
Grand Ouest that includes
Brittany, Normandy, and Pays
de la Loire: "Of course, inland
areas are less expensive,
with Central Brittany, Orne,
Lower Manche and Mayenne
in particular. Locations
away from larger towns
are where bargains are to
be found and are ideal for
second homeowners seeking
peaceful holidays."
But there are also vast
swathes of central France
that are rich hunting grounds
for those with €60k burning
a hole in their pocket. "In
general, the Limousin has the
cheapest property in France,
and within the Limousin,
the Creuse is the cheapest
department," says Kevin
Andrews, who looks after
most of the region, as well
as nearby Indre, Cher, Allier,
Auvergne, and Cantal.
"Prices in the Creuse can
be 10 percent less than in the
neighbouring Haute Vienne
and up to 40 percent cheaper
than similar properties in
better-known areas such as
the southern Dordogne and
the Charente Maritime."
He says do not be
tempted to buy a house with
a lot of land, unless you need
it for something specific
like horses, just because it
is very affordable. "Not only
will the land need a lot of
maintenance, but the location
may be too remote - and not
ideal if you want to become
part of a local community or
to run gîtes or B&B."
Look at being within
reasonable striking distance
of facilities and travel links.
"Limoges airport is well
served from the UK, and the
drive from the channel ports
to the area is around seven
hours: the limit of an easy
day's drive. I also chose to
live in the Limousin because
it offers a warmer climate
than regions further north,"
he says.
AFFORDABLE PROPERTY LEGGETT MAGAZINE