Buying Guide Details

Buying Property in French cities

Overview

Buyers looking for property in the French cities are often looking for quite different qualities in their property than property buyers in the countryside, in the mountains or on the coast.

City properties can be holiday homes but are often purchased as investments. Paris and Nice, for example, have a huge tourist trade looking for short-term accommodation. The likes of Strasbourg, Bordeaux and Marseille each have their own qualities which may appeal to a niche market of property buyers, not least the buy-to-let investor who does not necessarily want to live in the city.

Commercial and academic centres have a year-round rental market and a desirable property with a long-term let (or series of short-term lets) can easily pay its way month to month. Where coastal resorts may have a limited season, a property in one of France’s many historical cities has appeal for the whole year.

In France, most overseas property buyers are attracted by the space, natural beauty and slower pace of life offered in rural and coastal locations. Its cities, though, offer a more dynamic lifestyle, diverse cultures and commercial opportunities, and, in Paris, a truly world-class city which, though expensive by French standards, is very competitively priced in comparison to London and New York.

There's also a range of articles for you to read about buying property in France:

as well as overseas property news stories affecting the property market in France or view our range of property for sale in France.

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