Le Frog Blog

About the Loire Valley

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:32:15 +0000

People travel from all over the world to marvel at the intrinsic beauty of The Loire Valley. The area is home to an amazing natural landscape of rolling hills and as well as many handmade creations such as the many chateaux, churches and monasteries. And since June 2010, the area has another reason to draw in the crowds. The Loire Valley is now home to the largest natural "Swimming Pool" in France measuring a massive 2,000 sq. m. And with the region welcoming long hot summers (reaching up to 24ºC (75ºF), and short winters, what better way to cool of than in a swimming area with water purified exclusively through an organic process. That means no chlorine or other chemicals. The pool is located within 1.5 hectares of park and greenery not too far from the Château de Chambord. These luscious green areas are not uncommon within the Loire Valley, which is not a surprise as it is known by many as the “Garden of France”. And most properties in the area also benefit from these beautiful surroundings. Here at My-French-House we have plenty of properties in the area. Whether you are looking for a larger property with a pool, or a much smaller place, take a look at our selection to help you find your perfect property. There is plenty to do in the area too. One of the most popular outdoor attractions is the Chateau de Chenonceau, a stunning country villa surrounded by a moat and inspired by the Italian Renaissance. The striking building is the most replicated image of all the castles of the Loire, a must see by all. Make sure to go early as the area attracts a lot of visitors during the peak seasons. The Loire Valley is easily accessible thanks to its excellent transport links. It is well served by major roads and motorways and has good connections from Paris with the TGV trains.

September is the perfect month for house hunting in France

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:24:47 +0000

This September looks set to be the busiest for years for the French property market as British investors make the most of attractive house prices and good mortgage deals. Buying activity is traditionally high in early Autumn as house hunters take advantage of the weeks following the peak tourist season when the weather is still mild but the roads are quieter and hotel prices cheaper. But this year investors can expect to find a greater range of properties than in recent years and good value for money. We believe that recent improvements in the exchange rate between the euro and the sterling and good mortgage rates and availability will make this coming September a prime time for buyers. September is a great time to visit France because most of the holidaymakers have gone home but the weather is still warm and sunny and the countryside and scenery is at its best. Property prices are low in France right now but they are starting to rise so anyone looking this Autumn should act quickly to take advantage of the investment opportunity.

Luxury Villas and Exclusive Homes in France

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 15:50:03 +0000

Whether you are planning a short trip to France or you are looking for a property to buy there, a luxury home is a great investment. For the ultimate relaxing holiday, your own private villa is ideal. Why not visit the picturesque French Riviera? According to the World-wide Property Group, 65% of people believe that now is a great time to invest in property abroad. And with France being the second most popular place to retire to, why not start looking now. This autumn, the kids will be back at school and the temperature will still be high so it’s the perfect time to visit to avoid the crowds. Before you make your decision, why not take a holiday first and sample what life could be like if you were to make the move across the Channel. Accommodation can be one of the most important parts of any trip and a luxury villa is the ideal location for your well deserved break. Most people think of rental luxury properties as being far too expensive for their budgets, but if there is a group of you, the price soon seems much more affordable. And you don’t have to spend a small fortune on food either. Being able to cook your own meals can also help bring down the price. Without careful planning, moving abroad can be a bit of a disaster and can end up proving quite costly. Why not register with us and tell us what sort of property you are after and we will conduct searches based on your requirements. With properties in the beautiful areas of Cannes, Nice, Antibes, Mandelieu, Juan les Pins, Villefranche sur Mer, Cap d'Ail and many more throughout the French Riviera, My-French-House can help you find your perfect property without all the fuss and hassle. French Holiday Rentals Luxury homes for sale in Provence and Cote d'Azur Prestige Homes in France

Top Ten French Property Website

Sun, 08 Aug 2010 23:49:01 +0000

My-French-House.com has been listed as one of the top ten French property portals in a survey carried out by Global Edge. Our recently redesigned website uses cutting edge technology for quick and easy searching and features detailed information about each property along with high quality images. Registering with us means you will receive e-mail property alerts as soon as new homes come onto the market and tailored information to help you find your dream home in France.

Choosing a Coffee Machine

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 22:51:39 +0000

Came across this great guide to Buying a Coffee Maker which without going into too much geeky details covers all angles of explaining the main differences between the various coffee makers on the market, from the French Press to the Nespresso, via Bean to Cup Machines and the stunning The Presso. Choosing and buying your new Coffee Maker

The Tour De France 2010

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 21:09:13 +0000

The Tour De France is a one of France's biggest sporting events and it attracts millions of people from around the world. The first annual Tour De France race took place over a century ago on the 1st July, 1903. A local chief cycling journalist, Geo Lefevre, came up with the idea of individuals and teams racing round the perimeter of France as a way to promoting the publication he worked for; L'Auto. The race was broken into stages and the winner received 12,000 francs (approx £1,200). Although the route has changed since the earlier races, they continues to end in Paris and since 1975, final stage has been along the Champs-Élysées. These days, many spectators camp along the route days before the event even begins and some holiday makers plan their trip around the route, booking rooms at various points along the way to make sure they don't miss out on any of the action. There are also plenty of people who visit in July each year without even knowing the race is going on or crossing paths with it once. If you do plan on visiting France around this time, make sure you plan ahead. There will be a number of roads closed during the three weeks so make sure you find out in advance if your journey is likely to be affected. And don't assume that just because the road is open, that it will be an easy ride. Remember there will be lots of spectators trying to get from one stage to the next and with most Tour de France stages ending in a completely different city to the one they begin in, there is a lot of ground to be covered.

About Mirepoix in the Ariege (France)

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 20:59:17 +0000

We now have properties for sale near Mirepoix in the Ariège, the Midi Pyrenees region of southern France lies the hidden gem of Mirepoix, a historic town full of unique medieval architecture dating back to the 12th century. The area really comes to life weekly on a Monday morning when the market opens. Expect to see a vast range of goods up for sale. Whether you are after some local fresh produce for your lunch or a looking to pick up a bargain antique, you can be sure you won't leave empty handed. Throughout the week, why not enjoy the atmosphere of the medieval town by watching the day go by in one of the many local restaurants and cafes. You can sit outside in the summer months with a soundtrack of buskers while you watch the locals go about their daily lives. Why not pick up a book in one of the many surrounding bookshops that have texts available in both English and French. If you fancy venturing a bit further out of town, why not take a walk and soak up the beauty of the surrounding Pyrenees. There are lots of churches and castles steeped with history. And don't forget to make a stop at the Basilica of Saint-Nazaire, one of the area's most famous tourist spots located in the city of Carcassonne. The huge Romanesque and Gothic church was originally built the 11th century. Make sure you take a look inside and you can get a glimpse of the famous relief carving of the 1209 Siege of Carcassonne. Mass is celebrated there every Sunday at 11am. Mirepoix is easy to get to with its closest airport, Carcassonne Airport 37 km (23Miles) away. Toulouse, Perpignan and Beziers Airport’s are all in the nearby areas too. Homes for sale in Mirepoix (Ariege) Properties for sale near Carcassonne in the Aude.

About the different types of currency exchange contracts

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:13:15 +0000

Learn about the different types of contracts and options for your foreign currency exchange requirements. The Spot Contract is the most basic and popular foreign exchange product. It is 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 foreign 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. 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). You also have the flexibility to take delivery of your currency in an agreed time period before the expiry date. 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. A Limit Order is an order to secure currency at a specific price that may not be currently available. This type of contract is particularly useful when the markets are moving in a positive direction for you. This is one of the two most common types of orders, the other being a Stop Loss Order. A Stop Loss Order is used when the market is moving in a negative direction for your currency. An order is placed on file with your broker to help ease the stress of adverse market movements. A stop loss order instructs your broker to buy when the currency hits a certain point. The purpose of the stop loss is obvious – you want to prevent any further movement before the currency falls any further. Find out how much money you can save with FCGs commission free foreign currency exchange service.

Learn about the medieval city of Carcassonne

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:58:44 +0000

Carcassonne is home to an amazing fortified medieval hilltop city dating back to the first century. Known to many as the Walled City, La Cite, the area's main attraction, is a city built within a castle. Without even stepping foot inside, you are already enchanted by the sheer size of the magnificent castle. And it is clear to see how it inspired the design of the Castle in Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty. As Europe’s largest fortified citadel, Carcassonne is the perfect place to be transported back into the medieval days. The area is free to enter and is a fully a working town with homes, shops, hotels, and restaurants. There is even enough room to fit in an open air theatre. Along the perimeters lie over 3Km of ramparts and a total of 52 towers, all of which provide fantastic views of the lower city below. Inside the castle walls is a maze of thin cobbled streets, lined with a selection of small shops selling local items such as handmade jewellery and artwork. It is possible to spend hours of your day wondering around the city, exploring new areas and admiring views of the rolling hilltops in the distance worthy enough to be on a postcard! Carcassonne Pays Cathare Airport is now accessible by many budget airlines and has regular flight connections between the UK, Ireland, Germany and Charleroi In 1997, the city of Carcassonne became part of UNESCO's (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) World Heritage List as one of 28 sites in France. Thanks to a great deal of restoration work in 1853 by the theorist and architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, UNESCO were happy to deem La Cite as “an excellent example of a medieval fortified town.”. Alongside the culture, the beautiful location in Aude, Languedoc Roussillon makes it the perfect place to visit for your slice of medieval history. Our houses for sale in the Carcassonne area All properties for sale in the Languedoc Learn about the Languedoc

Property prices on the rise again in France

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:51:19 +0000

Property prices in France continued to rise for older and character French homes in the first half of 2010, according to figures from the branch network Century 2.1 Prices nationally were up 4.89% for the first half of 2010 and a 8.48% year over the last 12 months. For Paris, the rise over the last twelve months is as high as 15%, with 15.6% in Poitou-Charentes and 11% in Provence Alpes region. See all our properties for sale in France. Source Patrimoin.com

Strengthening pound is fantastic for British Buyers

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 20:48:54 +0000

The news of the strengthening of the pound against the Euro is fantastic for British Buyers. Alongside the exchange rate reaching a 19-month high of 1.2222 Euros, the number of people showing an interest of buying property abroad has increased significantly. And with the availability of some great French mortgage deals around, now is a fantastic time to invest. The current exchange rate means it is now cheaper to make deposits on properties and also the net cost of mortgage payments is lower. Leading French loan broker Athena Mortgage says “The horizon for rate increases still seems a way off and mortgage rates remain at their historic lows. So for the meantime the buying conditions in France are improving overall.” Despite the fact that the pound to euro rate is still much lower than the incredible 1.45 level that we were lucky to witness pre-credit crunch, now is a good time to take a look at the French property market and My-French-House.com has an extensive selection of properties for sale to choose from.

New measures for retirement and CGT in France

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 13:41:15 +0000

The French will now have to work beyond the age of 60 in order to get a full pension after President Nicolas Sarkozy's Right-wing government raised the retirement age to 62. In this way, the change is expected shortly to get the country's spiralling public finances under control. The French Government and Mr Woerth, the labour Minister confirmed yesterday (16th June 2010) some measures to slash budget deficits. Changes in capital gain tax and how this applies to English owners of property in France. Capital gains tax in France is called 'impot sur les plus values' and is payable on the sale of land or buildings, on shares, and certain other personal property. If you are not resident in France, but are resident in the EU, then the applicable tax rate was 16%, as no social charges are payable. The new rate should be 17% very soon. The French Government will discuss the proposals in July which will be expected to go before the autumn. Please contact us if you wish to be put in touch with our in house bilingual Notary or want to enquire about converting your euros in pound sterling, US dollars or any other foreign currency.

Holiday Rentals, Your Villa in France

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 13:18:26 +0000

With the recent increase of the GBP against the Euro raising to a high of just over 1.20, exchanging some of your hard earned sterling in for even more Euros is a great way to get more for your money and what better way to spend it, than in the beautiful France in a holiday home. Renting out a Holiday Home for your stay is a fantastic way to truly experience the French way of life. If you are considering buying your own property in France, a holiday home can be a great way to experience living in France without any commitments. You can get to know the locals and really get a feel for the area. It is also a great option for larger groups of people. You can avoid the hassle of trying to book numerous rooms in a hotel and have everyone under the same roof. Villas are often a popular option with their classic French look of red roof tiles, terraces and homely interiors. A great option if you are looking for a home from home during your stay. If you are after something completely different, why not rent out a Chateau, your own private house, surrounded by the idyllic French countryside. Each unique property is full of its own personal style and individuality and you can guarantee your experience will be unforgettable. Whether you are looking for an elegant property fit for a king, or more relaxing option where you can spend your days lazing by the pool, the warm weather and fantastic scenery make France the perfect place to spend your holidays.

Discover the Alpilles area of Provence

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 13:04:06 +0000

The Limestone peaks of the Alpilles mountains are a must see for any tourist visiting the Provence area. The famous landscape of olive trees, oak forests and deep valleys have been an inspiration for writers, musicians and artists including the likes of Van Gogh who painted over 150 of his works while living in the local area. There is so much to see in the area and whizzing past it all on a bus isn't going to let you fully appreciate it all. Why not take it all in at your own pace on a cycling tour? The nearby town of Saint Remy de Provence, located at the base of the Alpilles is a great starting point. The area of Saint Remy itself, is full of French heritage and is your typically Provençal town. One popular cycling tour loved by foodies, is a route that includes the local markets where you can stop off and sample the local foods including local cheeses, plump olives, tasty saucisson and regional wines. And you don't have to feel the slightest bit guilty thanks to all the cycling you'll be doing! A popular option for cyclists is to stop off and have a picnic surrounded by the fresh air and the aromas of wild mint, garlic, jasmine, and of course the infamous lavender the area is known for. Cycling around the area is a great way to head off the beaten track and discover some of Provence's hidden delights. If you don't trust yourself with a map, you can organise trips in small groups with people who have similar interests. Just make sure you book early to guarantee a space. Learn about the Provence area Properties for sale in the Alpilles area of Provence Luxury villas and country houses for sale in Provence

French Lifestyle & French Houses for Sale, see our video on YouTube

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 20:29:50 +0000

We are pleased to announce the arrival of their very own my-french-house.com YouTube Channel. Take a look at our first video, an introduction to my-french-house.com, some beautiful French houses and luxury villas for sale in France, and the fantastic landscape and lifestyle that comes with it.