tag:www.my-french-house.com,2008:/blog//1 2008-03-30T13:23:43Z Welcome to the my-french-house.com blog, featuring the latest news, hot properties, investor's tips, finance related news and not forgetting the weather! Movable Type 3.32 tag:www.my-french-house.com,2008:/blog//1.107 2008-03-30T13:16:48Z 2008-03-30T13:23:43Z

The “little Alpes’’ or to be more precise Les Alpilles has a very special attraction for thousands of people who enjoy its diverse, rugged beauty and all the advantages of a French rural aspect that’s well within easy striking distance...

Provence lying between Avignon and Arles where the Rhone slows down through its lower plain before it pours into the Med. To the west are Nîmes and, a little further on, Montpellier, while to the east are Salon-de-Provence and Aix-en-Provence. One characteristic of the area is the old style farmhouses, called “mas” in France, with their prolific olive groves and small vineyards. They are much sought after because they are such very sound buildings providing so much potential for improvement and renovation. Indeed some have already been very successfully upgraded to provide ample living space with the very latest mod cons, as you can see all here. There are many other property types and styles as well in Les Alpilles from new apartments to villas of all sizes and modest terraced houses, at prices to meet every budget. All of them ideally suited to providing a permanent home or a regular holiday-home income. Les Alpilles’ moderate climate is just one of the big attractions of this exceptionally beautiful corner of France. It’s also steeped in history and has an abundance of ancient sites such as the most important Ligurian-Greco-Roman excavations in France – the ruins of Glanum at St Rémy de Provence. And, of course, this particular town provided the inspiration for 150 of Vincent van Gogh’s masterpieces, which he painted in the surrounding countryside. But leaving history behind, the area enjoys every aspect of modern day living with ample water sports facilities on the Rhone and many other leisure activities including golf, horse riding, cinema, theatre, local pageants and several festivals. Plus everywhere there are excellent local wines and gastronomy. Not least of all of Les Alpilles’ many attributes is its close proximity to the Mediterranean which you can reach easily within 40 minutes. Indeed, fast roads can also take you to Marseille, Toulon, St Tropez and Cannes in the east and Montpellier, Narbonne and Perpignan in the west, where you can pick up the high-speed TGV train to Paris and Barcelona or aeroplanes to the rest of Europe and the world.]]> tag:www.my-french-house.com,2008:/blog//1.106 2008-03-11T23:09:58Z 2008-03-11T23:11:37Z

France is roughly 1100 km from north to south and about the same distance from its most westerly point to its eastern extremity of Alsace. That makes it the largest country in Europe and twice the size of the...

France is roughly 1100 km from north to south and about the same distance from its most westerly point to its eastern extremity of Alsace. That makes it the largest country in Europe and twice the size of the UK. So you don’t have to be a professional climatologist to conclude that there must be quite a temperature variation from the country’s top to its bottom! And, of course, between the high mountains of the Alps, Pyrenees, Central Massif and the Atlantic and the Mediterranean lowlands. Understandably, climate and temperature are significant influencers in where people choose to buy a property in France. If you are keen on winter sports then you will expect to live with lower temperatures than if your priority is to barbecue and enjoy sultry evenings for eleven months of the year. Some say that France has three climates but when you weigh up the country’s various geographical transitions throughout its length and breadth, a distinct four-weather pattern tends to emerge. Starting in the northern coastal regions of Nord Pas-de-Calais, Picardie, Haute and Basse Normandie and, to a slightly lesser degree, Bretagne, the climate is temperate, not dissimilar to that of the UK. Winters are “mild” and summers not particularly warm, although global warming seems to be influencing this, plus it’s spiced with a year-round unpredictability of more or less rain! Pays de la Loire, Poitou-Charentes and Aquitaine in the south west reap the benefits of the Atlantic coast and the Gulf Stream. Winters are generally warmer and summers can be hot with substantially less rainfall than the north. Although quite spectacular thunderstorms are a common summertime feature. The Vendee is a particular feature of this area where many Brits choose to put down their roots possibly because it boasts a microclimate meaning it enjoys over 2,500 sunshine hours a year – that’s virtually equal to the South of France. The Dordogne, Lot, Tarn-et-Garonne, Gers and so on too, have warm, hot reputations with plenty of sunshine, but that doesn’t mean that it never rains across these regions. The summers are considerably hotter than England, which is a big attraction for people seeking to buy a second home and make a reliable income from the French indomitable leaseback arrangement. Provence, Languedoc Roussillion and, of course, Corsica bathe in a typical Mediterranean climate where there are hot summer days and short, mild winters providing an ideal environment for people to retreat from a tiresome UK winter to their sun-kissed South of France home. But it’s not without its surprises because the strong northerly Mistral wind blows across this area in late spring causing periods of cold windy weather that are known to tip the emotions of many a French man and woman. Eastern France and the mountain areas of the Central Massif, the Rhône-Alpes, the Jura mountains and on up to Alsace can experience quite severe winters and stormy summers as you would expect from these relatively elevated regions. But then the people who orientate towards these areas to purchase second homes are, probably, most interested in this vast winter sports arena which stretches along hundreds of kilometres of France’s extraordinarily beautiful eastern border. There can be little doubt that France has an exceptional, unique climate embracing so many variations that there is something to suit literally everyone from the excitement of a crisp, snow-covered black run to year-round swimming in your Mediterranean home’s outdoor pool. tag:www.my-french-house.com,2008:/blog//1.105 2008-03-10T18:05:37Z 2008-03-10T18:10:13Z

There was a time when Albertville in the Haute-Savoie was a modest French Alpine town enjoying little more than a close proximity to Mont Blanc - just 30km away as the crow flies - and not far from Annecy and...

exceptional property investment opportunity providing a guaranteed rental income. From Albertville you can ski and snowboard all-year round on really challenging runs or you can cross-country ski on the extensive, valley plateaus. And when summer arrives and the snows slip away from the lower slopes there is an even wider selection of activities! There’s walking, hiking, parachuting, karting, golf, climbing, bowling, horse riding, tennis, ice hockey, swimming and many more besides. The town also offers a comprehensive choice of “circuits cyclostouristic” marked out to various levels of difficulty from “flat and undulating” to “sporting or athletic” that will all take you through some pretty stunning surroundings. Then there’s the “lively” confluence nearby of the two rivers Arly and Isère adding a white water dimension to local water sports potential. But if you just want to stand, stare and explore, as well as the staggering Alpine scenery there on a bluff above the old town are the remains of the11th century Conflans ramparts with its renowned Sarracine Tower plus, close by, the handsome 16th century castle of Manuel de Locatel. The icing on Albertville’s cake has to be its accessibility! Geneva airport is only 70km away, Chambery is 53km away (35 minutes), Turin is around 105km and Lyon 160km. Or you can board a TGV in Lyon at breakfast time and easily be in Paris for lunch. Alternatively fast, multi-carriageway roads can quickly zip you to your destination. So it’s small wonder that people flock to Albertville year after year for peace-of-mind, recreation and to embrace that very special sense of fulfilment, which is so much a part of this town’s ambiance.]]> tag:www.my-french-house.com,2008:/blog//1.104 2008-01-29T21:15:02Z 2008-01-29T21:18:08Z

No matter how much money you are transferring to purchase a property abroad, many people find currency exchange can be costly, tiresome and confusing. Also there never seems to be a right time to do it because exchange rates are...

currency exchange can be costly, tiresome and confusing. Also there never seems to be a right time to do it because exchange rates are jumping up and down all the time! Although you might think there’s peace of mind in using your own bank perhaps because of your personal standing with a friendly bank manager who will “hold your hand” all the way this is, in fact, rarely the best route to go down. Indeed there have been numerous examples of high street banks holding things up and even floundering in certain money market situations. By far the safest and most straightforward way to transfer money is to use a system such as the my-french-house.com service, which is fast, foolproof and although it’s ostensibly on-line you can always speak personally to your advisor, at any time. It operates in conjunction with UK-based The Foremost Currency Group who are specialists in foreign currency transactions. A dedicated account manager deals with your specific requirements and you’ll not suffer the frustrations of automated call answering as you might with other financial institutions or even with your own bank. What’s more – and extremely important – there are no fees or commissions and everything is planned to go through totally stress and worry free, saving you time and money. All you have to do to get things underway immediately on their “Currency Exchange” page and follow the simple, two-step on line procedure. Step One will ask you some simple questions which roughly speaking amount to “when”, “what” and “where”? Then you move onto Step Two that simply requests your address and telephone, plus there’s a couple of relevant boxes to tick. You’ll get an immediate response and the currency exchange process will be underway. What could be simpler and more positive?]]> tag:www.my-french-house.com,2008:/blog//1.102 2008-01-26T14:41:30Z 2008-01-26T14:48:19Z

HIGH HOPES PINNED ON NEW FRENCH COACH FOR SIX NATIONS SUCCESS - It seems a pretty common assumption in rugby circles that the final outcome of the Six Nations Championships that commence in February is like the two post of...

HIGH HOPES PINNED ON NEW FRENCH COACH FOR SIX NATIONS SUCCESS - It seems a pretty common assumption in rugby circles that the final outcome of the Six Nations Championships that commence in February is like the two post of a goal, wide open! But does the French team enter the tournament with better promise than it exited the semi-final of last year’s World Cup? This year all French hopes seem firmly pinned to the broad shoulders of new coach Marc Lièvremont, the 25 times capped, former flanker. According to some rugby commentators there’s a reasonable expectation that he can make up for his predecessor Bernard Laporte’s shortcomings. And he aims to do this by “starting from scratch” bringing on many “new faces” but all with well-proven credentials. Over a long period Lièvremont has observed many matches and painstakingly followed the progress of French rugby. So his final selection for the country’s 22-man squad has “considered everyone”. He is reported to have said: “We took into consideration everything, the players who are in form and the team we are playing against. We wanted coherence with 2011 in mind and we also wanted a team that could be competitive at this year’s Six Nations”. As a consequence the French pack “will barely be recognisable from the World Cup.” Whether or not this drastic decision pays off remains to be seen so all eyes are turned on Murrayfield on 3 February. The 2008 Six Nation Fixture dates are: Saturday, 02 February: England v Wales Ireland v Italy Sunday, 03 February : Scotland v France Saturday, 09 February: France v Ireland Wales v Scotland Sunday, 10 February: Italy v England Saturday, 23 February: France v England Ireland v Scotland Wales v Italy Saturday, 08 March: Ireland v Wales Scotland v England Sunday, 09 March: France v Italy Saturday, 15 March: England v Ireland Italy v Scotland Wales v France]]> tag:www.my-french-house.com,2008:/blog//1.101 2008-01-26T14:38:10Z 2008-01-26T14:40:20Z

WATCH THE HOLIDAY ZONES AND AVOID THE JAMS... In the UK 90% of school holidays commence at the same time whether it’s summer, Christmas or Easter. Consequently everyone going away at these times hits the road at roughly the same...

WATCH THE HOLIDAY ZONES AND AVOID THE JAMS... In the UK 90% of school holidays commence at the same time whether it’s summer, Christmas or Easter. Consequently everyone going away at these times hits the road at roughly the same moment with the usual predictable degree of chaos and bumper-to -bumper frustrations. The French, on the other hand, manage to avoid this by staggering holiday start dates in their educational establishments. And this is cleverly achieved with a simple Zone A, Zone B and Zone C system. The school holidays in each zone commence on a different date with about seven days separating each one. And, of course, the schools reopen at the end of each holiday period with the same time gap. The dates for these ‘time zones’ are set by the French Minister for National Education and usually span a four-year period. The dates which are presently operating in the country were set in 2006 and will finish next year, 2010 and you access them on the Ministry’s website. So, when you plan to travel around France at the start of peak holiday periods, it as well to be aware of these zones, where they operate and what are their key holiday start dates. The three distinct regions are: Zone A - Caen, Clermont-Ferrand, Grenoble, Lyon, Montpellier, Nancy-Metz, Nantes, Rennes and Toulouse; Zone B – Aix-Mazrseille, Amiens, Besançon, Dijon, Lille, Limoges, Nice, Orléans-Tours, Poitiers, Reims, Rouen and Strasbourg; Zone C – Bordeaux, Créteil, Paris and Versailles. As they say “for warned is for armed” and if you bear this information in mind you should avoid being snarled up anywhere in France!]]> tag:www.my-french-house.com,2008:/blog//1.100 2008-01-17T11:35:31Z 2008-01-17T11:39:02Z

The French department of the Aude is located between the Mediterranean Sea and the Pyrenees mountains. It is part of the current region of Languedoc-Roussillon. It is surrounded by the departments of Pyrénées-Orientales, Ariège, Haute-Garonne, Tarn, and Hérault, with the...

Languedoc-Roussillon. It is surrounded by the departments of Pyrénées-Orientales, Ariège, Haute-Garonne, Tarn, and Hérault, with the Golfe du Lion on the east. Find out more about the Aude department View our properties for sale in the Aude]]> tag:www.my-french-house.com,2008:/blog//1.99 2008-01-17T11:29:11Z 2008-01-17T11:34:20Z

Were you aware that France has well over 400 different types of cheeses and produces around 7 million bottles of wine every year! Find out more by visiting our webpages relating to Wine and Cheeses, as well as Classic Recipes...

Wine and Cheeses, as well as Classic Recipes from France. Bon appetit!]]> tag:www.my-french-house.com,2008:/blog//1.98 2008-01-09T20:34:55Z 2008-01-09T20:41:23Z

If you are looking to exchange large sums of money from pounds into euros over a broad timescale, as you would when buying your French property or indeed any overseas property think about ways to get the best deal and...

exchange large sums of money from pounds into euros over a broad timescale, as you would when buying your French property or indeed any overseas property think about ways to get the best deal and protect your money against exchange rate fluctuations. There are two ways of securing yourself the best exchange rate within your timescale: - Buying Spot – The Spot Contract is the most basic and popular foreign exchange product. It’s an agreement to buy or sell one currency in exchange for another. You have 2 days to settle the contract, at a price based on the prevailing "spot exchange rate" the current value of one currency compared to another. Although the spot market lets you buy or sell currency as you need it, spot exchange rate movements are highly unpredictable, even during a single trading day. Upon receipt of cleared funds currency is available for onward transmission. Or you may feel that you would like to leave what money you have in your domestic account to accumulate interest and only change your money just before the signing of contracts- this can be risky, however, as the Euro and pound fluctuate in value leaving the final price in pounds uncertain. - The forward contract - A Forward Contract lets you buy or sell one currency against another, for settlement no later than on the day the contract expires. Unlike spot contracts, a forward contract eliminates the risk of fluctuating exchange rates by locking in a price today for a transaction that will take place in the future (up to a maximum of 2 years). A 10% deposit is required to secure the contract and is payable within two working days with settlement due on the day the contract expires. This option gives you peace of mind as you know exactly what you will be paying for your villa or apartment overseas, so that you can budget your finances without any nasty surprises. Hence it is especially useful when buying properties off-plan with 3 or 4 stage payments of 18 months so you don’t end up going over budget. Also, because you don’t have to pay for the Euros until the maturity date it frees up any money you have and gives you some time to arrange the finance. All you will have to pay is a 10% deposit of the amount you wish to buy with the balance due on maturity of the contract. This forward contract is also useful if you receive a pension in pound sterling but live overseas. In this case you may want to be sure what your monthly income will be up to two years in advance so that you plan your finances. Also, if a French mortgage is paid for out of a pound sterling bank account you can ensure that the monthly outgoings are the same each month by entering into a forward contract. If you can afford to take the risk and speculate on the foreign exchange market in the hope of paying a lower price for your property then it may simply be best to buy the Euros spot as and when you need them but for most people the second option makes more sense. WHO DO YOU USE? You have two options: either use a regular bank which you are comfortable with which may not always offer the best deals or speak to our recommended currency specialist who focuses on currency transfers and could well offer you better rates of exchange and more efficient & personal service. Either way, your money is precious and like most people what you really need is piece of mind and to leave the risk taking to the professionals.]]> tag:www.my-french-house.com,2008:/blog//1.97 2008-01-06T21:56:42Z 2008-01-06T21:59:05Z

Skiing and winter sports are now so popular that many UK enthusiasts in particular, relish the chance to buy their own affordable pad in the mountains, especially if it’s right on the French slopes of Mont Blanc. So a little...

www.my-french-house.com because it will be announcing completion of the high quality Résidence Le Monte Bianco refurbishment in Saint-Gervais-les-Bains. This is an extremely popular village in the Haute Savoie department, less than an hour by fast road from Geneva airport. It means that in just over three hours from leaving the UK you could be on your balcony sipping a hot toddy whilst soaking up the outstanding vista of Mont Blanc and contemplating a few lively black runs. And when the snow has left the piste, Saint-Gervais-les-Bains remains very popular with people on walking holidays who want to soak up the staggering views as well as the refreshing mountain air. There will be 71 apartments with living accommodation varying in size from 19 to 74sqm for sale at around €4 850 per sqm, providing a great investment opportunity with an annual rental yield of 4.5%. Half of them will be available on a leaseback scheme and the other half on a light leaseback scheme. You will find that the Résidence Le Monte Bianco is only 400m from the cable car and even closer to the shops. It will include exceptional facilities such as a covered, heated swimming pool, a sauna and fitness room, children’s games area, ample ski storage, sun bathing terraces and a cosy bar with an open fire. What more could you want and so relatively close to home!]]> tag:www.my-french-house.com,2008:/blog//1.96 2008-01-06T21:44:47Z 2008-01-06T21:52:26Z

Leaseback back is a unique, positive investment solution for purchasing new property in France. Well managed properties such as the latest My-French-House projects at La Butte aux Cerfs, in Vire, Normandy, Residence Kerbotez at Landevant, South Brittany and Les Jardins...

La Butte aux Cerfs, in Vire, Normandy, Residence Kerbotez at Landevant, South Brittany and Les Jardins de Lestayrie in the Midi town of Graulhet, have the potential to provide leaseback purchasers with guaranteed annual income rentals up to 6%. All new properties in France are subject to VAT but by agreeing to lease it back to a rental management company for a minimum of nine to 11 years VAT is, in fact, eliminated from the purchase price. And over the period the 100% guaranteed income from the annual rent repays the mortgage, including interest. So what you end up with is a virtually trouble-free investment which you can live in free of charge for two to four weeks every year, with the firm knowledge that for the other 11 months you’ve got a tidy income rolling in! Leaseback properties are usually bought “off-plan” on a development that will enjoy all the benefits and conveniences of local sports facilities, swimming pool, integral leisure provisions, restaurants and so on. And, like La Butte aux Cerfs, Residence Kerbotez and Les Jardins de Lestayrie, are in the most popular parts of France, easily accessible by road, rail and air. Wherever you are from - in or outside of the EU - you can buy one or as many leaseback properties as you like. Obviously you have the certain peace of mind knowing that however many you own they will be expertly looked after by the management company which is also responsible for paying all the utility bills. They also settle any local rate requirements, except for Taxe Foncière, which is your responsibility. You can sell a leaseback property at any time but, depending on how long you have owned it, you will have to repay the relevant portion of the VAT to the French government. If you sold it within five years you would have to refund the total VAT amount. At the end of the leaseback period you can either sell the property or live in it yourself. However, because leaseback is such a sound investment, at the end of the term most people remain in ownership and automatically renew their arrangement with the management company, so their rental income continues uninterrupted. ]]> tag:www.my-french-house.com,2008:/blog//1.95 2008-01-06T21:39:26Z 2008-01-06T21:43:30Z

Exceptional and rare partially renovated Manor House set on a 3.7 acres park with pool situated in a beautiful village of the Minervois, close to the Canal du Midi. Built in 1907 and used as a summer residence, this magnificent...

Manor House set on a 3.7 acres park with pool situated in a beautiful village of the Minervois, close to the Canal du Midi. Built in 1907 and used as a summer residence, this magnificent home offering 850 sq.m of habitable space (10 beds & 4 bathrooms) is a perfect example of the famous Napoleon III style; original features include parquet and marble floors, tapestry on the walls, high ceilings, and marble fireplaces. A very large terrace overlooks the swimming pool and the solarium is the work of Gustave Eiffel. Click here for full details]]> tag:www.my-french-house.com,2007:/blog//1.94 2007-12-30T22:57:28Z 2007-12-30T23:04:49Z

The Tarn is a glorious meeting place of those desirable features we cannot fail to worship, with her back resting against the Pyrenean mountains, the rocky slopes and upland pastures fall into deep dales, wide plains and sunlit forests, also...

The Tarn is a glorious meeting place of those desirable features we cannot fail to worship, with her back resting against the Pyrenean mountains, the rocky slopes and upland pastures fall into deep dales, wide plains and sunlit forests, also close to the great cities of Toulouse, Carcassonne and Montpellier. The Tarn borders South West France and the Midi-Pyrenees. A 10 hour drive from northern ferry ports, with motorway up until the last 30 minutes, makes for practical access by car. The availability of surrounding airports gives interesting travel options. Rodez is 50 miles away away Toulouse 60, Carcassonne 100 and Bergerac 120 miles. The Paris Toulouse TGV service with local rail links as also a favourite. With short mild winters averaging 14.7 degrees and sun soaked summers, the climate offers the best of cool green Atlantic freshness with the warmth of the Mediterranean. The Tarn has approximately 2,380 hours of sunshine annually with temperatures rising to 40 degrees. Learn more about the Tarn departement (81) ALL our properties for sale in the Tarn and Tarn and Garonne ]]> tag:www.my-french-house.com,2007:/blog//1.93 2007-12-13T21:49:39Z 2007-12-13T21:57:25Z

">Hérault is part of the current region of Languedoc-Roussillon and is surrounded by the departments of Aude, Tarn, Aveyron, Gard, and the Mediterranean Sea (Gulf of Lion) on the south. The department is very geographically diverse, with beaches in...

Hérault is part of the current region of Languedoc-Roussillon and is surrounded by the departments of Aude, Tarn, Aveyron, Gard, and the Mediterranean Sea (Gulf of Lion) on the south. The department is very geographically diverse, with beaches in the south, the Cévennes mountains in the north, and agricultural land in between. We have many properties for sale in the Beziers area – in the countryside and traditional villages among the vineyards between the Mediterranean coast and the spectacular Languedoc National Park. The advantages of this area are numerous; it is the sunniest in France with approximately 300 days of sun per year and there are not the strong winds you may find in other parts of the Languedoc. Learn more about the Herault (34) Our properties for sale in the Herault]]> tag:www.my-french-house.com,2007:/blog//1.92 2007-12-06T16:29:47Z 2007-12-06T16:40:25Z

Our partner GO-SIM provides travellers with an attractive alternative to roaming overseas with a domestic network SIM card. By selecting Global prepaid SIM cards, travelers can significantly reduce their roaming charges, in many cases by up to 85%. Even with...

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