French Embassy London
Address of the French Embassy:
French Embassy
58 Knightsbridge
London SW1X 7JT
Telephone: 0207 073 1000
Closest tube: Knightsbridge
For Visas and other official papers but do go to the consulate
Consulate in London
21 Cromwell Road
London SW7 2EN
Consulate in Edinburgh
11 Randolph Crescent
Edinburgh EH3 7TT
More information about services provided on the website:
http://www.ambafrance-uk.org/
Information on the site includes
- Visa information
- Moving to France
- Importing personal goods
- Investing in France
- France from A to Z
- Studying in France
- French media
- The French governmen
Google France
Google France Servers
Google has many search servers across the world. If you do a search in one country, you will not get the same results in another country.
To illustrate as an example - say we are searching for "French Properties" in the UK (these are the google.co.uk servers), then for 1st for French Property was the top result (excluding the Paid search results). But if the repat the same search on the Google French servers (google.fr) then the results are different! 1st for French property is the fourth result.
Why? Google tries to return the most pertinent results and that can vary from one country to another.
How can I search results in different countries?
There is an excellent plugin that is available for Firefox and Chrome that will help you swap from one country's search results to another. It is called Google Global. You can see details here:
Google Global and download the plugin.
Google Global is a Firefox Extension/Add-On that installs quickly and allows you to easily see what any Google search results look like in outer countries, cities and zip codes… exactly as if you were in that location. This extension is unobtrusive and the functions are only available when on a Google search results page so it will not clutter up your menu bar, right click menu or slow down your browser.
As you can see it is possible to setup the plugin so that you can see local results - down to region and city level.
The plugin is easy to install but by default you may need to add the parameters for France. The setup is described in easy to following instructions here:
http://www.redflymarketing.com/internet-marketing-tools/google-global/
By default these countries are pre-installed: USA, UK, Ireland, Canada, and Australia
Google France Settings
The settings for France are:
Extension: .fr
Country Code: FR
Also you will probably want to check the De-personalize Google search results check-box to see "normal" search results.
6 ways to assess the value of your home
Some
may think that selling their house is a simple process that doesn't
require too much effort on their part, but this is not the case for most
situations. Finding the right price takes some time and effort, both on
the part of the seller and the estate agent that they hire. If you're
at a loss as to where to start and are thinking to yourself, "how on
earth am I going to sell my house?" Here are a few tips to help you get
started.
Firstly,
when selling a house, remember that the appearance of the property
matters. It needs to be in excellent condition and neutrally decorated
where possible, as this will be more likely to appeal to the masses. You
can only raise the price if the house appeals to a lot of people,
rather than a select few, so it really is worth spending a little extra
time and money on redecorating. After this has been done, it will be
easier to assess the value based on the overall condition of the
property.
The
second tip is to check out the market value of the house. Do some
research and find out what similar houses are going for on the market.
Remember that if your price is higher than the average for such a
property, it will inevitably take far longer to sell. Equally though, if
you price it lower than other houses of a similar quality, prospective
buyers may be suspicious and believe there is something wrong with the
house.
The
third piece of advice is to base the price of the property on the
location. The location of the house is usually an easy way to determine
its value; some neighbourhoods will be in higher demand than others,
based on their reputation and amenities. As well as comparing the prices
of similar homes on the market, you also need to take a look at the
prices of the houses in the local area. This will give you a good idea
of how to price your own house.
The
fourth tip for assessing the value of your home is to take into account
the features of the house. Features such as an original period
fireplace, a swimming pool or wooden floors throughout the property
will, in all likelihood, increase the value, so make sure to take note
of each one. If you're still thinking to yourself, "how much should I
sell my house for?" tip number five is that it may be time to call in
the experts. An estate agent or property appraiser can help you to find
the right price for the property within a week or so. Of course, there
will be a fee for this, so taking this step may depend on your budget.
The
sixth and final tip for finding the perfect price for your home is to
always take into account the current state of the market when pricing
the property. If the market is doing well, then prospective buyers may
be inclined to pay a bit extra for the house. However, if the market is
weak, it may be time to keep the price at the lower end of the scale.
The
key to finding the right price for the house is to take your time. The
value of the property will rise and fall, depending on the demand in the
market. Keep yourself informed about the latest market trends and try
to sell the house when the market value is at its highest.
You can sell your French house on 1st-for-French-Property: Private Vendors
About the Author:
The
above article is composed and edited by Shannen D. She is associated
with many finance and real estate communities as their freelance writer
and adviser. In her free time she writes articles related toonline estate agents, real estate features etc.
French Property Review of the Year 2011
Here is 1st for French Property's review of the year 2011! The year when France overtook Spain as the most desirable place to buy an overseas property in Europe.
The results are a summary of the pages visited on
1st-for-French-Property.co.uk from 1st Jan 2011 to 31st December 2011. These are the results of 354,078 people visiting the site with just under 5 million page views.
The top region was
Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur property but closely followed by Brittany.
Top 6 Regions
Provence
Brittany
Languedoc-Roussillon
Lower Normandy
Limousin
Aquitaine
France is split up into regions and then subdivided into departments. This year the most popular department was the Dordogne in the Aquitaine region. Perhaps
Dordogne property was popular due to the Little England TV series?
Top 10 Departments
Dordogne
Charente-Maritime
Vendee
Haute-Vienne
Morbihan
Cotes-d'Armor
Pyrenees-Orientales
Gers
Aude
Creuse
Then looking at individual towns (cites, villages etc):
Top 10 Towns
Dinan, Brittany
Cotignac, Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur
Plemet, Brittany
Lake Annecy, Rhone-Alpes
Bergerac, Aquitaine
Le Dorat, Limousin
Pont Aven, Brittany
Merdrignac, Brittany
Chabanais, Poitou Charentes
Dompierre les Eglises, Limousin
All our properties are categorised by Type, and surprisingly Lakes came out top. and then Gites. Gites are often seen as offering a different lifestyle with an income from the holiday lets.
Top 10 Property Types
Lakes
Gites
Farmhouse
Watermill
Barn
Farm
In terms of
budget not surprisingly the bargain basement was most popular (< 50,000 euros) - way ahead of any other price band. Up to 100,000 euros came second.
Locality: Rural properties once again was most popular but closely pursued by Coastal properties.
Rural
Coastal
Village
Hamlet
Town
Visiting The South OF France in Winter
Visiting the south of France in winter is a great idea for anyone who is looking for a destination in Europe that is easy to get to and provides a wide selection of activities and entertainment. Whilst temperatures in the south of France do drop in winter (to between 6 and 13 degrees centigrade), they don’t
fall as far as elsewhere in Europe, making the area a great option for a holiday where you can still get out and about without having to wrap up in lots of layers.
The region of the south of France
encompasses Aquitaine, the Midi-Pyrénées, Languedoc-Roussillon,
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Corsica and the Southern parts of
Rhône-Alpes and within these areas there are a number of well known
cities, such as Marseille, Bordeaux, Biarritz, Toulouse and
Carcassonne. Whatever it is you are looking for from a winter break,
you are sure to find it in one of the towns or smaller villages that
populate the area. Here are a few ideas of what to if you are
thinking of visiting the south of France in winter.
Eat and drink
No matter whether the sun is shining
outside or the rain is coming down in sheets, the south of France is
always able to provide some pretty spectacular cuisine and some
excellent fine wines. If you are visiting during November then watch
out for the Beaujolais Nouveau festival which takes place on the 3rd
Thursday of the month and celebrates the arrival of the new wines.
Anyone looking for haute cuisine should head for Nice where there are
no less than five Michelin starred restaurants, including the Le
Chantecler at the Hotel Negresco (http://www.hotel-negresco-nice.com)
and Keisuke Matsushima (http://www.keisukematsushima.com).
However, you don’t have to pay through the nose for food in the
south of France as most local cafes and restaurants have some superb
treats in store for the winter traveller. If you are staying by the
sea then try a piping hot French onion soup followed by a steaming
bowl of mussels or if you have a sweet tooth opt for a deliciously
creamy hot chocolate and a large patisserie to provide protection
against the winter weather.
Sightsee
Ok so if you are visiting the south of
France in winter then perhaps it is not the best time to go out on a
boat or try a particularly treacherous coastal walk but there is
still plenty to see and do in the area, whether the weather is wet or
dry. Christmas markets are a great idea if you arrive here in the
festive season – the market in Strasbourg is particularly well
known (http://www.noel.strasbourg.eu).
Most museums and galleries remain open during the winter months,
whether your interest is in classic French painters, sculpture or the
history of the region. You will also find that many of the area’s
historical sites and buildings are still open to visitors all year
round, such as La Cité on the outskirts of Carcassonne
(http://www.carcassonne.culture.fr),
the Roman amphitheatre at Nimes and the Pont du Gard, Roman aqueduct
(http://www.pontdugard.fr).
Be entertained
The casinos of Monte Carlo remain open
all year round and if you’re looking for a glamorous way to spend
an evening then it doesn’t get more high class than this. In
addition to the gambling, there are also international variety shows,
jazz evenings and cabaret, as well as fine dining and fun nightclubs
(http://www.en.montecarloresort.com).
If you prefer something with less potential to break the bank then
there are theatres throughout the south of France – such as the
Théâtre National de Marseille (http://www.theatre-lacriee.com)
and the Théâtre du Capitole in Toulouse
(http://www.theatre-du-capitole.fr)
– where you can see everything from opera and ballet through to
small, up and coming productions and musicals. If you are looking
for nightlife then this area remains a lively spot for clubbing and
bar-hopping long after the summer crowds have headed home. The
bigger cities such as Nice, Bordeaux, Biarritz and Nimes offer the
best selection of club nights, restaurants, cosy bars, glamorous
drinking dens and high class food.
Whatever your reason for visiting the
south of France in winter – whether it is for relaxation or to get
away from it all and let your hair down – there is plenty here to
suit all tastes. Simply pack a case and a sense of adventure and
start exploring!
Amy is a writer from Easyjet who
provide cheap
flights to Nice in the South of France from London, Rome, Geneva
and more than 20 other airports across Europe.
Top for Quality of Life in France - 3rd year running
According to Uswitch which published a "Quality of Life Index", France came 1st for the 3rd year in a row.
The Index calculates an overall quality of life score for ten
European nations - based on 16 factors including net income, VAT and the
cost of essential goods such as fuel, food and energy bills, as well as
lifestyle issues like hours of sunshine, days holiday, working hours and
life expectancy.
It also reports that France may have achieved
the highest Quality of Life score, but most
people would actually prefer to live in Spain, which took second place.
In a poll, 13% of Brits said that if they could live in any European
country they would choose Spain, while 7% chose France.
Where did
the UK figure? It is officially the worst place to live in Europe.
Despite having higher than average pay, the UK’s overall score in the
uSwitch Quality of Life Index was dragged down by long working hours,
the lowest number of holiday days a year, a high retirement age, the
most expensive food, high energy prices and higher than average petrol
costs, as well as very few hours of sunshine.
Full article from USwitch: uSwitch Quality of Life Index: UK is the worst place to live in Europe
Why buy an off plan property near Geneva in France
Off Plan Property nr Geneva
The Rhône-Alpes region of France has much to offer holiday makers, expats and property investors alike. Due to its stunning topography and restrictive French planning by-laws, permission for new building developments are sparse and few and far between. Pricey Geneva next door, along with the demands of modern day living from an ever increasing population, place a relentless strain on existing property stock. In addition, the highly buoyant local property market is accelerated further by low interest rates from lenders, plus favourable exchange rates against leading currencies.
As a consequence many home owners and shrewd investors alike opt to purchase ‘off plan’. The term ‘off plan’ does not necessarily refer to an empty field where one day a modern housing development will proudly sit, it also includes developments that are well under way and very near to completion. An advanced legal system backed up with safeguards written in the French constitution protects buyers from hazards and disastrous pitfalls which could occur in other countries. All of which supervised by the ubiquitous notaire!
Where to Buy nr to Geneva
At the moment the investment hotspot for those in on the know are the superbly located Ferney-Voltaire and Divonne- les-Bains in the Ain (01) department. Both of which are within the metaphorical arm’s reach of the very centre of Geneva and well connected by road and public transport. Combine this with the colossal savings on like for like properties in nearby Geneva city which has brought canny buyers to the area in their droves. The four new build developments launched recently by a leading local developer are all at an advanced stage of reservations which has left some buyers smarting at their missed opportunities. However, some choice apartments still remain and the lucky few are managing to secure and reserve an excellent investment.
So do not delay - enquire further for more information on buying off plan and let us find you a supreme property in the stunning Rhône-Alpes.
Rhone-Alpes Properties: Properties near Geneva
Starting a Business in France
Starting a Business in France Website
There is now a site dedicated to Starting a Business in France. This site is in English and there is some great advice about Starting a Business in France. It seems to be frequently updated with advice and tips.
Here is a typical extract from Starting a Business in France site titled: 5 Reasons why your French business might fail
I’ve worked with hundreds of French and English entrepreneurs over the past 5 years, helping them set up, develop and market their business. What strikes me this year is that some entrepreneurs have had to close their business in the very same year they launched. Yes the economic climate is tough, but in my experience this was rarely the cause of the business to fail.
I many cases the failure is linked to one or more of the following 5 reasons:
- Lack of, or poor market research
- Stock related issues
- Lack of investments and under funding
- Marketing plan with no, or an unrealistic budget
- Lack of support
Reference: 5 Reasons why your French business might fail
If you are looking to start an existing business in France - here are some existing businesses in France
More tips about Starting Your Business in France
One way to earn an income is to buy an existing business in France. Depending on your budget there are opportunities from bars to hotels and plenty in between. In general businesses are expensive in the South. "Rural" located businesses tend to be cheaper. Lakes are in good demand as fishing businesses.
Gites and B&Bs
One of the favourites! In terms of businesses, this is a very popular way forward. Typically a "Gites" business consists of a property for the owners and several other units for letting purposes. The other units are often converted barns or outbuildings. If you are considering this option, please remember that the letting season is typically just July and August. There is plenty of competition! So you may need a USP and a good location near one of budget airline airports to extend the season.
For more about Gites in France
Prettiest Villages in France
Are you one of the millions of tourists going to France for your summer holidays? Chances are you will be close to one of the 10 most picturesque villages in France! So you may want to take a detour. French village life is the real France that the Brits love ... so while there you may want to find a French property for sale in a village!
The Sunday Times published its list of ten villages in August 2011 .... you may not agree!
Top 10 Villages in France
1. Lyons-La-Foret in Normandy - the ST comment made me laugh. William of Normandy had a warm-up chasing boar here before the main event nr Hastings!
2. St-Suliac in Brittany
3. Montsoreau in Pays de la Loire (Western Loire)
4. Charroux in Auvergne
5. Baume-Les-Messieurs in Jura, Franche-Comté
6. Eguisheim in Alsace
7. La Bastide-Clairence in Aquitaine
8. Conques in Aveyron, Midi-Pyrenees
9, Roussillon in the Luberon (PACA)
10 Saint Agnes on the Cote d'Azur (PACA)
Creme de Creme of French Villages
There is a specialist website that specialises in the most beautiful villages in France: les-plus-beaux-villages-de-france.org/en. (English version).
Currently they feature 156 villages across France. The latest (August 2011) is Lavardens (Gers) .
The site is very user friendly and easy to use. On the site you can choose the village by Geographic area or from a List of all the featured villages or by Theme (such as Panoramas, Gastronomy or Castles, etc)
Each village description has a map, photos, descriptions and places to see.
Celebrity Spotting on the Cote d'Azur
Many celebrities, such as Elton John and Brigitte Bardot, have homes on the Cote
d’Azur. Officially, the Côte d’Azur is home to 163 nationalities with 83, 962
foreign residents, although estimates of the number of non-French nationals
living in the area are often much higher.
The area was frequented by the
likes of Coco Chanel, David Niven, Isadora Duncan, F Scott Fitzgerald, Aldous
Huxley, Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso, and now may be one of the world’s best
places to live?
Celebrity Homes on the Cote d’Azur
More recently
with Cote d’Azur properties: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie just can’t get enough
of the French Riviera and have made Chateau Miraval their home there. Johnny
Depp lives with his long-term partner Vanessa Paradis and the couple’s two
children in a $2 million villa in the village of Plan-de-la-Tour. Bono owns a
property on the beachfront in Eze-sur-mer. Tina Turner owns a property inside
the gated community of Mont Vinaigrier’s Le Castellet at Villefranche-sur-Mer. A
short drive away in the hills above Beaulieu Sur-Mer and Villefranche is the
world-class home of Bill Gates purchased for over $76m.
Attractions of
the Cote d'Azur
It is famous for its luxury hotels, beaches and boutiques.
But what else can you do there? It is an excellent base for many out door
sports, which include cycling, mountain biking, walking, fishing, skiing, rock
climbing, canoeing, rafting, and horse riding. Some places to visit include: The
Gorge of Verdon, known as Europe's Grand Canyon and the hot spa town of
Dignes-les-Baines.
Chic and modern, the Cote d'Azur is internationally
recognised for its fabulous beaches, blue sea, spectacular scenery and warm
climate. Cannes, Nice and St Tropez are all places to visit for chic culture,
but traditional harbour villages are quaint. Then there are aromatic lavender
fields, sunflowers, olive trees, vineyards, cliffs and gorges to inspire
visitors.
Where and when to spot Celebrities?
The most obvious spot is
Cannes during the film festival. Then there is the Monte Carlo Television
festival which runs during the month of June. The Monaco Grand Prix is a magnet for
the stars. Check out the Nikki Beach near St Tropez - a popular celeb hangout.
For nightclubs: in St Tropez are also good places to try are Le Caves du Roi,
the VIP and the Papagayo club.
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