France is Favoured for Luxury Home Buyers
Originally posted on & updated on 12th October, 2024
Over the past year UK home owners have all been living with the effects of George Osborne’s overhaul of the antiquated stamp duty system. Tax on homes worth less than £925,000 have been lowered whereas properties valued above £1.5 million have risen to a hefty 12%! These changes have tarnished the high-end housing market as the world’s wealthy property buyers look to spend their money elsewhere. Hopping across the Channel you can avoid the huge stamp duty bill in the UK by buying a luxury home in France.
In fact for the price of the stamp duty on an average London home you can buy a countryside retreat in France! Unlike the “must have” properties in the exclusive areas of London, France is filled with a charming collection of modern villas, prestigious French châteaux and traditional mansions for sale. Putting the facts and figures aside for a moment these changes simply mean that owning a property in France has never been so popular or more attainable.
Your investment property might be a second home, a new business venture or even a combination of the both, with many properties offering you a home away from home as well as accommodation for paying guests or relatives who “pop” over for weekend breaks. Your excuse for beginning your search for a new French house might initially be due to the numbers; increases in UK tax rates paired with advantageous exchange rates between the pound and the euro. However we are forgetting one thing, as well as making a saving on your money you are also benefiting from a home in the most popular and equally beautiful tourist destination in the world, France. Although a property in France is appealing on its own we can’t help but point out just what you can buy for your money, swapping the prestigious postcodes of London for the exclusive areas of the French Riviera and the Loire Valley.
The French Riviera has long been known as a playground for the rich and famous as the world’s wealthiest musicians, film stars and aristocrats flock to its shores each year. Offering residents and visitors privacy and paradise you might be surprised to know that properties in this area can be as little as just 250,000 euros. Modern and traditional village houses are scattered throughout typical Provencal towns such as Lorgues in the Var, or head to the coast where you can find apartments and modern villas in the resort town of Antibes or Cannes. It won’t surprise you to know that the French Riviera is a major tourist attraction but your home here can be as central or as secluded as you wish.
For a more laid back lifestyle the Loire Valley is renowned for its stunning properties, historical culture and of course the local wines. Situated in the heart of France homes in the Loire Valley are surrounded by its natural beauty and enjoy a relaxing pace of life, making it one of the country’s most popular holiday destinations. Not to be misled by its central location you can visit your home in France via a number of ferry crossings available and the TGV will get you to Paris in just over half an hour. Rich in beautiful landscapes, historical medieval towns and charming villages you might find your holiday home soon becomes your permanent residence.
In 2015 the Midi Pyrenees area in Southwest France was a popular area for buying a home in France, maybe due to its close connection to Toulouse or perhaps the traditional and classic French farmhouses, mills and Maison de Maitres appealed to buyers who wanted a typical French home. The west coast of France boasts a long stretch of sandy beaches and off-shore fishing, the coastline is heavily built up in areas, popular with tourists, but you will also find long sections of unspoilt seashores. The attractive ports of La Rochelle and Rochefort are famous for their attractions as well their lively city atmospheres. Inland we have a selection of properties to renovate or stone houses and chateaux that have already been renovated for you ready for a fresh start in 2016.
Don’t lose money on taxes in London, as we head in to 2016 experts are predicting changes to the UK property market resulting in many buyers taking advantage of the amazing opportunities available in France. With many Luxury properties for sale we offer you an alternative to your London lifestyle, imagine summer vacations, long weekends and winter breaks in some of the most exclusive areas and prestigious homes in France.
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