Top 10 Locations for Overseas Property Investment - 9

Country:  France; France; Provence; Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur

Property in France

The global credit crunch has had less of an impact on France, compared to the UK, Germany and Spain. Knight Frank reported in its most recent Global House Price Index that prices of France property increased by 3.2 per cent between Q3 07 and Q3 08. This is slower growth than the previous year though, when prices increased by 6.8 per cent.

Properties along the Mediterranean coast in southern France have been in demand from foreign buyers for centuries and if proof were needed that things have not changed, the World's most expensive property, including 20 acres of gardens, was bought on the Cote d’Azur, near Cap Ferrat, in August this year for €500 million!

Unless you are a Russian billionaire, this may be a couple of million over your budget, but there are still some great deals to be had in the South of France, especially in the eastern part of the coast, including the cities of Cannes, Nice and Marseille.

This area, known as ‘Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur’ (PACA) is one of the most densely populated areas of France with 4.8 million people. Of the three cities, Marseille is the largest with a population of over 800,000 but there are an extra 1 million inhabitants if you include the suburbs.

The region is home to many technological industries and also attracts over 34 million tourists a year. According to the Comite Regional de Tourisme, almost 7 million passengers fly into Marseille each year and over 10 million fly into Nice, which was one of the first destinations to benefit from the arrival of budget airlines. The entire region is also well served by the French high-speed rail network, which explains why 80 per cent of tourists are French, and fast trains from Paris to Nice will start in 2010.

From the three main cities, the highest rental yields can be achieved from property in Marseille, according to the latest figures available from the French National Estate Agents Federation (FNAIM), where average prices are around £2,400 per square metre and yields 5 per cent. This compares favourably to property in Nice (£3,200 and 4.2 per cent) and property in Cannes (£3,700 and 3.75 per cent).

UK buyers can still get 85 per cent LTV mortgages and both euro interest/mortgage rates and the value of the euro, are expected to fall during 2009, which would make property in these popular cities seem even cheaper over the next six to12 months.

First published in February 2009.
Some information contained within this article may have changed since it was first published. Homes Overseas strongly advises you to seek current legal and financial advise from a qualified professional.

See Also:   France

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Some properties in France

	Ref 5287339, Languedoc-Roussillon, Herault, France
	Price: £16,198 Type: House
	Town offering all shops and services, markets, schools, situated 5 minutes from the Orb river valley, 30 minutes from Beziers and the motorway. Building needing total renovation (floors, roof, etc) in a quiet street, with 30 m2 private garden.
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	Ref 3734434, Languedoc-Roussillon, Herault, France
	Price: £16,614 Type: Apartment
	Autignac: Nice village with all shops, 15 minutes from Beziers, 20 minutes from the motorway and 30 minutes from the coast. Flat leisure land of 10 000 m2 located 500 m of a village with all amenities.
	View details | Enquire further

	Ref 5294673, Limousin, Creuse, France
	Price: £22,000 Type: Apartment Bedrooms: 1
	World Class Chateau Estate in idlyllic French Lake District* Non-Status Finance*150% Guaranteed Buy-Back* 8% guaranteed return years 1-2 *8%+ NET return year 3 onwards*Spa, Golf, Outdoor pursuits*Buy via your SIPP*Immediate income*I am an investor
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	Ref 3734432, Languedoc-Roussillon, Herault, France
	Price: £26,582 Type: Apartment
	Saint Genies de Fontedit : nice village with all shops, 15 minutes from Beziers, 20 minutes from the motorway and 30 minutes from the coast. Flat leisure land of 18 000 m2 located 500 m of a village with alla amenities.
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	Ref 4908202, Limousin, Creuse, France
	Price: £28,000 Type: Apartment Bedrooms: 1
	Make your pension work harder with 13.6% NET return pa via a SIPP*0% Non-Status Finance*Exit Strategy with 150% Return on Your Capital Investment*200% NET return over 10 years*Investment so brilliant I have bought one myself*Only 6 units left
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	Ref 4516140, Limousin, Haute-Vienne, France
	Price: £28,000 Type: Apartment Bedrooms: 1
	Last remaining fractionals at this stunning resort for 1/12 ownership of a luxury Chateau Suite. An opportunity to own a share in the luxurious Chateau de la Cazine, combining the perfect lifestyle choice, with a rewarding investment.
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	Ref 4236304, Languedoc-Roussillon, Herault, France
	Price: £29,074 Type: House
	In a hamlet at 5 minutes from Lamalou les Bains, stone house to renovate with possibility to make 90 m2 of living space on a plot of about 100 m2. Ground = Courtyard/garden of 30 m2 + ruine of about 70 m2 ground surface. 1st = Possibility to make a
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	Ref 3734435, Languedoc-Roussillon, Herault, France
	Price: £29,240 Type: Apartment
	Autignac : Nice village with all shops, 15 minutes from Beziers, 20 minutes from the motorway and 30 minutes from the coast. Flat leisure land of 20.135 m2 located 500 m of a village with alla amenities.
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	Ref 5178652, Languedoc-Roussillon, Herault, France
	Price: £33,219 Type: House
	Village with cafe / restaurant and small grocery store, 10 minutes from major shops and 30 minutes from Beziers, the highway and the sea.
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	Ref 5315444, Midi-Pyrenees, Gers, France
	Price: £33,228 Type: House Bedrooms: 2
	This village house is situated in a village in the north of the Gers. Property for total renovation. The house, of approx. 109 m2, currently consists of 4 rooms with two separate entrances.
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