Buying a property in France is still a great investment. It is the largest country in Western Europe and fairly central as a good starting point for those who want ease of travel to the rest of Europe as the road, rail and air links are superb. It has a countryside rich in colour and a landscape dotted with beautiful chateaux set in elegant grounds, picturesque villages, ancient towns and lively, exciting and bustling cities. Whether you want the rustic charm of Brittany, the elegance of Paris, the beautiful and picturesque landscapes of Bordeaux, or the much warmer Cote d’Azure with its glamorous and exciting resorts of St Tropez, Cannes and Nice, France  certainly has the variety to suit everyone.

France is also famous throughout the world for its cuisine and fine wines. Despite the growth of fast food chains, good wholesome food is still highly regarded and is artistically prepared and presented. Bistros and restaurants offer excellent menus and many cater for the different regional specialities, like Bouillabaisse, a rich seafood stew, the best of which is said by many to be found in Vieux Port, Marseilles. Other regional dishes such as Quiche Lorraine from the north east and Boeuf a la Bourguignonne, a beef stew Burgundy style, are also well known outside France. There are many more of these regional dishes and all are good wholesome food. France is still the one of the worlds biggest wine producing countries and most restaurants will stock many different types of wine from vins de table to the superior vintages. Some special meals are not  complete without Champagne or Cognac.

Once you have found your ideal property, a legally binding contract will need to be drawn up and signed. This basically lets the vendor know that you are prepared to buy the property although there is a 7 day cooling off period. Please bear in mind that in France, you as the buyer are legally responsible for paying the vendors fees and if an Agent is used, their fees also. This is normally between 8 and 10% of the purchase price. Buying direct from owner can save you a lot of money in agents fees. The complete process normally takes around 3 months from the initial contract to the signing of the final contract when, after all the money has been paid you become the new legal owner of the property.