Welcome to our latest agent in Central Brittany: IDA Immobiliere.
They are located in the Brittany countryside halfway between Saint Malo, Vannes and Rennes, beside the Broceliande forest.
Here is one of their lovely properties:
Town: SAINT BRIEUC DE MAURON
Department: Morbihan
Region: Brittany
Price: €132,500
A beautifully restored 4 bedrooms longere with attached outbuilding and larged enclosed garden. The property consists of a bright and airy fitted kitchen dining room with exposed beams and stone wall with log burner, a large spacious lounge with exposed beams and large feature fireplace with log burner.
PLOERMEL is only a 20 minutes drive, RENNES is 40 minutes drive and only one hour to SAINT MALO.
Is this an immutable law of physics? That photos taken by an immobilier, estate agents, notaires ALWAYS NEVER show you want you want to see!
The 2nd law of Agency photos states that all photos must show as much clutter as possible.
The 3rd law of Agency Photos states if possible put.....click title for details
Brittany, long time favourite for Brits buying Brittany Property, has a nasty secret. Be careful on some Brittany beaches! Vincent Petit was out riding on a Brittany beach (SAINT-MICHEL-EN-GREVE) when his horse and Mr Petit were overcome by toxic fumes believed to be hydrogen sulphide emitted by rotting algae! The horse died.....click title for details
Looking to buy a holiday home or re-locating to France? France is a big country so the choice is large. Our 2 videos help give you a flavour of France. The first video travels across northern France and down the eastern border to the Mediterranean regions, across the Pyrenees to the west coast.
The second video covers the West coast of France and into the central regions of France.
If you want to view more videos for each region: Regional Videos
One of the major factors for a UK resident deciding to buy a French property is the sterling / euro rate. If the pound gains in strength, then a French property becomes cheaper (in pound sterling terms). So where is the currency market heading? Our partners for French Currency Exchange Services at WorldWide Currencies provided the following summary (April 2011).
GBP (Sterling)
Economic data from the UK shows stronger industrial/export growth. Despite stronger than expected`official’ retail sales data this month, the British Retail Consortium data definitely confirms weakness in thissector. Austerity measures continue to bite with consumers reluctantly spending. Medium term economicgrowth prospects remain clouded thus keeping the Pound under pressure against the Euro as marketsexpect the ECB to continue their rate hiking programme. Consumer confidence remains low in the UK. AnySterling gains made versus commodity based currencies in March have also been given back this month.In this weaker USD environment the Pound is expected to trade higher versus the USD, but looks cappedagainst the Euro at 1.1350.
EUR
The Euro traded above €/$ 1.46 and has made further gains since yesterdays FOMC meeting and pressconference. Euro sovereign debt issues have taken a back seat again despite a further downgrading ofGreece. A second round of hawkish comments from ECB’s Trichet this month results in more aggressivebuying of Euros. One would now assume that Euro Zone inflation is more of a concern for the ECBcompared to those views of the Fed Reserve and Bank of England. Two further rate hikes of 0.25% areexpected by the year end.
EUR Trend: Overall – Euro Positive
If you have any currency concerns or want the best rates with no commission charges –> Worldwide Currencies
Sunday Papers still advising a good time to sell in France
Do you have a holiday property or investment property in France ?? Papers are advocating selling (if you are inclined) very soon.? They argue that the euro is now likely to weaken against pound sterling so you get more sterling.....click title for details
One big advantage for existing French Property Investors (from the UK) is that they are already sitting on good profits on their French property thanks to the strength of the Euro.In the last six months the Euro has increased in value by about 10% against sterling (six months ago it.....click title for details
Victoria Molyneaux-Beale writes for us from the South of France about Gruissan: Our region, the sunniest in France (with approximately 300 days of sun per year) is in the Languedoc area of South West France on the Mediterranean coastline. The ease of access, with several local and international airports and extensive motorway network, means that this area is one of the most popular in which to buy property in France.
We are based in Gruissan, which is located on the coast between Perpignan and Beziers. Famous for it’s long sandy beaches and traditional chalets on stilts; there are lots of animations all year round and Narbonne is only ten minutes away with more shops, markets and the famous Canal de Robine that passes through the centre of this bustling Mediterranean town.
Gruissan itself now boasts a brand new swimming pool, balneo spa complex and hypermarket, but also continues to offer the charm of a traditional French fishing town, with it’s port, commerces, restaurants and old village with a market three times a week and over 2000 years of history!
People come to see the Barberousse tower (built in 1246) and the Rennes le Chateau church, perched high above the town in the beautiful pine filled forests that line the hills beyond. This area is also well known for it’s water-sports; jet skiing, wind-surfing, kite-surfing and there are many other activities available to try such as go-karting, horse riding, buggy and bicycle hire, tennis and fishing.
Further inland, you will be able to explore the medieval town of Carcassone; with it’s walled city, carnivals, restaurants and unique culture.
All this making it a great area to live all year round or simply to come to for holidays. We are also only one and a half hours away from the nearest ski resort, making simultaneous sea and mountain living a possibility!
The Languedoc Roussillon region is waiting for you to come and take advantage of the low cost of living, endless sunshine, wonderful gastronomy and it’s captivating way of life!
NEW to Gruissan! Espace Balnéoludique is a recently constructed swimming pool and spa complex that offers reductions to residents.
With a surface of 10,000m², it has four different areas offering a spa, 25m pool, cardio-training and an outdoor Summer aquatic park with water slides.
The professional staff also offer Aquabike, Aquapalm and.....click title for details
We are all aware of Peter Mayle's prolific activity in promoting the Provence - especially the Lurberon. Now more support for the delights of Provence! Susan Spano writing in the Los Angeles Times identifies 3 more reasons to love Provence:1) APT MARKET - For visitors, it's a bacchanal of Provencal.....click title for details
We are pleased to work with our currency partner: Worldwide Currencies. They continue to go from strength to strength. Worldwide Currencies (WWC) is pleased to announce that, having worked successfully under the rules and regulations of the FSA for the past year, they are now fully authorised under the Payment Services Regulations 2009 as an Authorised Payment Institution (525361) for the provision of payment services.
David Tucker, CEO of WWC, stated that “Authorisation with the FSA is a significant step for our business, as it is imperative that companies such as ours are properly regulated and that our working practices are controlled and monitored”. Commenting on the sector as a whole, David went onto say “There have been examples of poor working practices in our industry that hopefully this
requirement by the FSA to be authorised by the end of April, at the very latest, will address. It is important to protect not only the client’s interests but also the more professional companies operating in this sector, like WWC”.
WWC has had a very profitable 2010 as it continues to build upon its success in foreign exchange and continues to grow the company. The annual turnover of the company has almost trebled over the past two years, as has the gross profit. With
costs tightly under control now, they have employed an additional 10 people over the past two months and are planning further growth in the second half of the year, once they have moved into their new and larger office in the City next month. “It is
essential that you continually review your services and listen to your clients needs.
We have found that the major banks are charging more for foreign exchange and not providing a service to clients, which is great for a company like ours” David Tucker added “to this end we continue to improve our processes and intend to launch a number of innovative products later in the year”. WWC believe that having the right team of people providing the best possible level of service is key to achieving their objective of becoming the pre eminent company in this sector.
For more information on Worldwide Currencies please contact either Tonya or Arran Duke on 020 3326 4444.
One of the major factors for a UK resident deciding to buy a French property is the sterling / euro rate. If the pound gains in strength, then a French property becomes cheaper (in pound sterling terms). So where is the currency market heading? Our partners for French Currency Exchange Services at.....click title for details
Experts have said that investing in French property is becoming increasingly attractive.
Property investment specialist Assetz International highlighted tourist regions including the Alps and Paris as areas particularly attractive to prospective investors.
And Britons are already wising up, with Assetz recording a 78 per cent increase in demand for French property......click title for details
Cap d’Antibes, on the French Riviera, is a promontory lying in the break between the Bay of Cannes on the southwest and the Baie des Anges on the northeast. The beaches along this part of the coast offer fine, white sand that transition to lush Mediterranean vegetation. The bay is one of the most beautiful in the region, filled with picturesque sailboats (especially in the summer when French families flock to the area.)
Image via Wikipedia
This is one of the Riviera’s most exclusive destinations with many wealthy businessmen looking to holiday or invest in luxury property in the Cap d’Antibes area. Those who are not enjoying the glorious light and mild temperatures behind the walls of a private estate are camped out at Hotel Eden Roc. (During the Cannes Film Festival the place is crawling with movie stars.)
At the northern tip of Cap d’Antibes look for Plage de la Salis, an especially pretty stretch of sandy beach. The most famous beach, La Garoupe, offers views of both the walled city of Antibes and the Mercantour mountains. Be advised that part of La Garoupe is under the management of Keller restaurant so there will be a fee to rent a lounge chair, but the remainder is open to the public.
From La Garoupe, walkers will want to follow the Chemin de Tirepoil around the tip to take in the spectacular view of the sea. The walkway also extends to the 19th century Villa Eilenroc. Although the interior is closed to the public the gardens are open every Wednesday afternoon. Keep walking and you’ll reach the Napoleon Museum situated in the remains of the old battery. (Don’t miss the Thuret Gardens, which were designed by Gustave Thuret, a famed botanist, in 1857.)
There is no train station in Cap d’Antibes, but both Antibes and Juan les Pins are on the main Nice-Cannes line. Although the drive down on the coastal road can be really beautiful, summer is not the time to do it if it can possibly be avoided. If it can’t, be patient and expect traffic jams. (Bus service runs regularly between Cannes, Antibes, and Nice, with Nice offering the nearest airport. The distance to Paris is approximately 900kms from Paris).
While Cap d’Antibes is one of the most exclusive destinations on the French Riviera, it is not out of reach of families on holiday. Life here proceeds at a somewhat slower pace than in neighbouring Cannes, with an emphasis on being outside in the sun, enjoying coastal walks, or venturing into nearby Antibes for a day of exploring — altogether a wonderful spot to just relax and let the pace of life slow to a delightful crawl.
Today over one million people a year move between EU member states, and most of them take their home contents with them. Prices for these removals can vary dramatically and service levels likewise. So how can the unwary avoid the pitfalls?Firstly you should be aware that there is NO fixed.....click title for details
We have regional guides to France - to help you decide where to buy!
We have a new writer who has a wry sense of humour - so you can learn and enjoy at the same time!
Some extracts:
France Regional Guides
Writing about Provence (PACA): "The Alps of Provence are home to the.....click title for details
