End of 2010

This will be the last blog of 2010, and what a strange year it has turned out to be.Strange

Great business opportunities

To make a real success of life in France, it is most important to have a good, steady income,

New territory

Having moved from the Poitou Charentes in the summer, the last few weeks have been taken up sorting out

New rules for property sales

Normal 0 21 With effect from 1st January 2011, any advertising of a property for sale must specify

France No 1 again

Once again France comes out top in the quality of life index. According to http://www.uswitch.com/France enjoys the earliest retirement

U turn on Taxation of Capital Gains

Normal 0 21 Currently Capital Gains in relation to immovable property (except the main residence) are taxed in

Immaculate 19th century Château with far reaching views

This beautiful and homely chateau, built at the end of the 19th century, is in a private position overlooking

Great business opportunities

With the summer season now past, there are a number of gîte complexes out there for sale, some are

Currency volatility back in the news

Once again the GBP/Euro pairing was volatile this week with highs reaching 1.1807, lows of 1.1509 and an average

Golfer's paradise

A luxury modern property with a heated swimming pool, close to leisure lake & golf course, just bring your

Fantastic building plot

Fabulous land of 7,870m² with stunning views towards the south west, in a quiet hamlet under 5 minutes from

Moving forward

They say that moving house is one of the most stressful experiences of your life, up there with divorce

Great renovation project

A renovation project with a lot to offer. Comprising of a detached house with 2 rooms of 25 &

Bargain properties

In times of difficult market conditions there are always times when some vendors are under more pressure than others,

Survive France Network

During recent weeks, I have joined a network called “Survive France” and found the people there interesting, helpful and

Dordogne Valley properties

Having worked in the Poitou Charentes area for 9 years, the time is rapidly approaching for our move, (at

An SCI for Unmarried Partners

There is no longer any French inheritance tax between spouses or couples who have a French civil partnership agreement.

The perils of a private sale

Something happened this week to a client that had viewed with our agency in June, and it has prompted

Remove the World Cup blues

Both France and England have seen their World Cup hopes shattered. Both teams were on early flights back home

Bargain properties

Estate agents long for real value properties, and we are currently lucky to have 2 superbly priced properties for

Currency situation - Ex-Pats selling to return to the UK

In this article I am going to return to the currency question, but looking at the situation exclusively from

Golfer's dream

A well presented 35 year old property, built to a good standard, set in a quiet location surrounded by

Strong sterling as predicted - dont let your money go up in smoke

Just a few weeks ago, I looked at the £ / € situation and predicted that the tide

Bargain basement price - 91,800 €

Set in the heart of a quiet hamlet is this deceptively large 2 bedroom house. Enter from the courtyard

5 years old

Normally, I am not a great lover of modern French properties, preferring the older style character houses. From time

Sterling on the up

With the UK election finally over and a decision made as to who will form the British Government finalised,

Where now for currencies ?

So we head into the weekend not knowing who will be the next resident of 10 Downing Street, not

Uncertain markets

May Bank Holiday weekend – and what confusion on the markets.With the prospect of a “hung parliament” in the

Another moulin

Last week I wrote about three recent additions to our portfolio - all of which were water mills. Well

Water Mills

A bit like buses, you wait ages for one to come along, and then three arrive together !That is

QROPS, QNUPS & a Seminar

One of the hardest parts of becoming an ex-Pat is knowing where to get the best financial advice to

Selling a house in France is quite different to the UK, or so most people believe. Agency fees are

Taxing news

Gîte ownersPlease note – a little publicised law was passed in France at the end of last year –

QROPS pensions

It is estimated that there are currently around 200,000 British expatriates living in France and most have a UK

Politics & the market

The political uncertainty surrounding the forthcoming election is doing nothing to help the volatility surrounding the £ currency, both

Xynthia

This past weekend, the Poitou Charentes and the Vendée have been blasted by an exceptional storm – called Xynthia

Market picking up ?

Spring time is traditionally the period in the property market when activity picks up. There are signs that here

Tree planting day in Paizay-le-Tort

Regular readers of this Blog will recall that in late autumn, Allez-Français advised that for the end of 2009

More on the £ / € situation

The year has started better for UK ex-Pats as the £ rises to recent highs against the Euro, making

Great buying opportunity for the £ against the €

The pressure on the Euro has become immense since Greece was downgraded and the Eurozone refused to step in

France is officially, for the fifth year in a row, the best place in the world to live according