France is Favoured for Luxury Home Buyers

Over the past year, UK homeowners have been living with the effects of Mr Osborne’s overhaul of the old stamp duty system. Tax on homes worth less than £925k has been lowered, whereas properties above £1.5 million have risen to 12%!

These changes have tarnished the high-end housing market as the world’s wealthy property buyers look to spend their money elsewhere. Hopping across the Channel, you can avoid the huge stamp duty bill in the UK by buying a luxury home in France.

Attractive Alternatives

In fact, for the price of the stamp duty on an average London home, you can buy a countryside retreat in France! Unlike the “must have” properties in the exclusive areas of London, France is filled with a charming collection of modern villas,  prestigious châteaux and traditional mansions. Putting the facts and figures aside for a moment, these changes mean that owning property in France has never been more popular or attainable.

Investment Opportunities

Your investment property might be a second home, a new business venture or even a combination of both, with many properties offering you a home away from home as well as accommodation for paying guests or relatives who “pop” over for weekend breaks. Your excuse for beginning your search for a new French house might initially be the numbers: increases in UK tax rates paired with advantageous exchange rates between the pound and the euro.

However, we are forgetting one thing: as well as saving your money, you are also benefiting from a home in France, the most popular and equally beautiful tourist destination in the world. Although a property in France is appealing on its own, we can’t help but point out just what you can buy for your money, swapping the prestigious postcodes of London for the exclusive areas of Occitanie and the Dordogne.

The Allure of the Riviera

The French Riviera has long been known as a playground for the rich and famous as the world’s wealthiest musicians, film stars and aristocrats flock to its shores each year. Offering residents and visitors privacy and paradise, you might be surprised to learn that properties in this area can cost as little as 250,000 euros.

Modern and traditional village houses are scattered throughout typical Provencal towns such as Lorgues in the Var, or head to the coast where you can find apartments and contemporary villas in the resort town of Antibes or Cannes. It won’t surprise you to know that the French Riviera is a major tourist attraction, but your home here can be as central or as secluded as you wish.

Serene Loire Valley

For a more laid-back lifestyle, the Loire Valley is renowned for its stunning properties, historical culture and, of course, the local wines. Situated in the heart of France, the Loire Valley surrounds homes with its natural beauty. It offers a relaxing pace of life, making it one of the country’s most popular holiday destinations.

Not to be misled by its central location, you can visit your home in France via several ferry crossings available, and the TGV will get you to Paris in just over half an hour. Rich in beautiful landscapes, historical medieval towns and charming villages, you might find your holiday home soon becomes your permanent residence.

Explore the Pyrénées and the West Coast

The Midi-Pyrénées region in southwest France is a popular area for buying a home in France, maybe because of its close connection to Toulouse, or perhaps because the traditional, classic farmhouses, mill houses, and Maison de Maîtres appeal to buyers who want a typical French home. The west coast of France boasts a long stretch of sandy beaches and offshore fishing.

The coastline is heavily built up in areas popular with tourists, but you will also find long sections of unspoilt seashores. The attractive ports of La Rochelle and Rochefort are famous for their attractions and lively city atmospheres. Inland, we have a selection of properties to renovate or stone houses and chateaux that have already been renovated for you, ready for a fresh start in 2016.

Luxury Lifestyle in France

Don’t lose money on taxes in London; as we head into 2016, experts are predicting changes to the UK property market, which will see many buyers take advantage of the fantastic opportunities available in France. With many Luxury properties, we offer you an alternative to your London lifestyle, imagine summer vacations, long weekends and winter breaks in some of the most exclusive areas and prestigious homes in France.