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Real estate: when the French fall under the spell of the countryside

Since the beginning of the health crisis, many French people find the taste of life campaign. Many households thus invest in a second home located in a more peaceful environment than that of a large city in particular. The idea appeals to many French people. But we still need to know what budget plan and find the funding necessary. We take stock.

Immobilier : quand les Français tombent sous le charme des campagnes

It all starts with the first lockdown, in March 2020. Residents of large cities then go to live, even temporarily, with relatives. This is the case for many Parisian students who are rediscovering a taste for life in the countryside or just about everything in a medium-sized city, with their parents. But some people are not satisfied with one solution « provisional ». Many in fact, at the very beginning of the health crisis, began to consider settling elsewhere, for good. And we don't waste time. Just a few days after the start of the first confinement, the French many take contact with some Real estate agencies, for the most part research of a house of campaign. For Alexander Kraft, president and CEO of Sotheby’s Interational Realty France – Monaco, a group of agencies specializing in luxury real estate, this period marked the more than profitable return of buyers and sellers to the market of real estate of prestige. The manager explains that the number of clients who contact his agencies is clearly increasing, and that they are looking for “ quality goods ”, with a particular penchant for “residences with outdoor spaces”.

Enthusiasm French people for real estate naturally also benefits Cimalpes whose agencies operate in the luxury resorts of Courchevel, Méribel or Val-d’Isère. The desire of the customers to have residential homes of luxury is tangible, explains the group, emphasizing that the relaxation of health rules has enabled the organization, under better conditions, of visits of the property and moves. Cimalpes expects that a market of opportunities will develop rapidly, in which sellers inclined to make concessions rub shoulders with buyers at the same time. research of property quality but not too expensive. The group at the same time predicts the development of a other market, more wait-and-see: owners would be less quick to make concessions or even sell quickly, preferring to wait until demand returns to its pre-crisis level.

The market of the second homes is not, however, the only one to benefit from the relaxation of health rules. YouGov, an international company specializing in opinion surveys and studies of market, carried out an interesting study on behalf of Meilleurs Agents, a major player in real estate valuation in line. The survey reveals that nearly 75% of French people would like to own a country house – 67% of those questioned say they need one to recharge their batteries and 62% insist on the importance of proximity to such residence with nature.

The investigation confirms other  criteria on the choice of the French in terms of houses the country. Among these criteria, there is in particular the accessibility of the location of the residence. 41% of those surveyed “plan to go there every weekend or almost,” the study authors explain. The French may want to escape from time to time, but proximity with the residence principal remains an essential criterion. According to this study, 46% would be ready to invest in a country house located less than a hundred kilometers from their home; a second home located within a radius of one hundred and fifty kilometers around the main residence appeals to only 16% of those questioned.

On the budget side, the French are ready to spend €170,000 on average for the acquisition of a country house. The amount is reasonable and allows realize a good deal. Near Paris, the Meilleurs Agents teams have, for example, property accessible with this budget in localities like Luigny (Eure-et-Loir) or Yèvre-la-Ville (Loiret). Quality goods are also available in La Roche-Guyon (Val-d’Oise): for example, you can become an owner of a house of 76 m² with garden for €171,000.

Some residential homes of quality are also available near Bordeaux, for example in Mano in Landes or Allons in Lot-et-Garonne, where buyers can treat themselves, for €165,000, to, among other things, a 160 m² house with a spacious garden with a view on the forest. It is also possible to find a pretty country house in Périgord, particularly in villages like Bourrou.

The Lyonnais have the choice among numerous properties of quality located in particular in the areas of Vercors, Livardois and Beaujolais. The country houses in question are located more precisely in peaceful localities such as Montmirail – an attractive village where it is possible, for example, to acquire a 98 m² house with garden and swimming pool, for €164,000 – but also Le Brugeron or Saint-Clément-sur-Guye again.

It is also possible to find a pretty country house around Toulouse. Several property are for example available in charming localities such as Saint-Géry-Ver in Le Quercy, Camon in Ariège but also Siron in Haut-Languedoc. Among the residences available in the surroundings of Toulouse, there is for example this pretty 103 m² detached house with swimming pool, located in Camon, accessible at €156,000.

While it is important to budget for the acquisition of the residence, the purchaser must also anticipate the annual cost for the interview of his New property. This cost includes housing tax (€800 on average), property tax (€1,250 on average), maintenance and operating costs (electricity, telephone line, cleaning of the interior and exterior spaces such as the garden or the swimming pool, etc.)

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