My French House Blog - Advice, Tips, Stories and News

Image for "Our Postcard from the Tarn" blog post
For anyone who doesn’t know the Tarn , it’s a department located in the Occitanie region of South West France. It gets its name from the River Tarn that runs through the department. It’s creation in the…
  • 19th May 2014
Image for "Getting your Insurance Right" blog post
When you make the move to France, one of the first things you’re likely to need to get sorted out is insurance. When you sign with the Notaire to take ownership of your French property, you must have your house insurance…
  • 13th May 2014
Image for "Our Postcard from Gascony or the Gers" blog post
Gers (or Gascony), is located in Occitanie region the south west of France and in its official definition takes in an enormous expanse of land stretching from Bordeaux and Bayonne in the west, across to Toulouse in the east.…
  • 5th May 2014
Image for "Teaching English, Translating or Interpreting in France" blog post
Although France is a big country, globally there’s only an estimated 129 million French speakers. What this means is that most switched on French parents want their offspring to speak another language and most business…
  • 28th Apr 2014
Image for "Becoming A 'Mine Host'" blog post
When it comes to earning a living in France , depending on your general skills as well as your French language skills, your choices may be limited. But one choice that is open to anyone who is sociable, good with people…
  • 18th Apr 2014
Image for "Freelance Your Way to Freedom" blog post
Freelancing is a great way to secure yourself an income for your new life in France. If you’re thinking of moving to France with a young family or ahead of retirement, then the chances are that you’ll need to…
  • 14th Apr 2014
Image for "Tips for Starting a Business" blog post
If you’re a few years short of retirement or a young family yearning to move to France but keep being put off by the fact that you feel as if you might struggle to make enough income when you get there, today’s…
  • 7th Apr 2014
Image for "Choosing your Top-Up Healthcare Mutuelle" blog post
In recent weeks our blog has focused on the healthcare system in France, in this article we explore the best ways to choosing your Top-Up Health Insurance cover. While this isn’t one of the more glamorous parts of…
  • 4th Apr 2014
Image for "Money and Capital vs Income for your New Life in France" blog post
If you’re planning a new life in France, you’re sure to have done lots of research and will be facing many decisions, but one really important aspect of this adventure is often ignored until it’s too late.…
  • 28th Mar 2014
Image for "Our Beginners Guide to Banking in France" blog post
When you decide to move to France and buy your dream home, one of the first things you’ll need to do is open a bank account. When it comes to banks in France, like in the UK there’s plenty of choice. Caisse d’Epargne…
  • 21st Mar 2014
Image for "Getting Started with the CPAM" blog post
As we mentioned in our previous article , the organisation in France that manages the healthcare system is called CPAM (Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie). While most villages and small towns will either have a CPAM…
  • 12th Mar 2014
Image for "An Introduction to Private Healthcare System in France" blog post
The healthcare system in France is recognised as one of the best in the world and although not complicated for French people, it can be a bit confusing at first for people who move to France from the UK. In this article…
  • 9th Mar 2014
Image for "Further and Higher Education" blog post
If you’re thinking of moving to France with kids of any age, the likelihood is that you’ll have further education in your sights in some shape or form. While some kids that move to France with their parents even…
  • 6th Mar 2014
Image for "Moving to France with Babies and Toddlers" blog post
One of the main attractions of moving and living in France with kids is the fact that it’s a country that embraces the whole notion of ‘ les enfants ’ with open arms. In the UK, we’re accustomed to…
  • 1st Feb 2014
Image for "Extra Tips for Retiring to France - Part 2" blog post
Welcome to Part 2 of our Top Tips for retirees moving to France articles. We're following on from part 1 article which is all about things that you can do to make your transition to your new life in France as easy and stress…
  • 17th Jan 2014
Image for "Our Tips for Retirees Moving to France - Part 1" blog post
If you read our comprehensive guide to buying a French property , you’ll be aware that without the right planning, your move could be fraught with danger. In life, hindsight is a wonderful thing and one of the key…
  • 13th Jan 2014
Image for "Are you Moving to France to Retire?" blog post
With scary stories in the UK press about people having to work until they’re 476 years of age (OK, slight exaggeration!), it’s reassuring to know that there are still people who are able to retire early enough…
  • 23rd Dec 2013
Image for "Strasbourg Christmas Market" blog post
The spices and cinnamon may not have appeared in force yet, but wherever you are, Christmas is now an inescapable presence. In the UK, the decorations are already in full-swing in many places, while over in France, people…
  • 1st Dec 2013
Image for "What Makes the French Lifestyle so Appealing?" blog post
At My-French-house.com we don’t need persuading about the benefits of French living but we’re always intrigued to know what has inspired our clients to look for their own dream home in France . Lifestyle is one…
  • 21st Nov 2013
Image for "Moving to France with Children" blog post
Although tracking down accurate figures is nigh on impossible, we and our confrères are coming across more and more couples with kids who are thinking of moving to France, lock stock and barrel to start a new life.…
  • 1st Nov 2013
Image for "Finding your Dream House in Early Autumn" blog post
Statistically speaking, France is the most popular destination for tourists in the world. In 2011, it had almost 80 million foreign visitors – and naturally, most of those travelled during school holiday periods .…
  • 15th Sep 2013
Image for "My-French-House.com Reports a Record Summer" blog post
A season of beautiful weather and a supply of bargain properties have helped My-French-House.com record its busiest summer ever for French property enquiries. Despite having already reached a new record, it is likely September…
  • 4th Sep 2013
Image for "Chanel Represents French Luxury on a Global Scale" blog post
Over the summer, a survey revealed that China's favourite luxury fashion brand was Chanel. Not only did the French design label beat many rivals in the fashion stakes, it was also one of the most popular brands overall,…
  • 24th Aug 2013
Image for "Dordogne is Second Most Popular Area for Property" blog post
The Dordogne region of France has long been a favourite destination for holidaymakers, expatriates, and second-home buyers. Its charm, lifestyle appeal, and accessibility from the UK make it a top choice for those looking…
  • 11th Jun 2013
Image for "France's Four Fabulous Seasons" blog post
With so little differentiation between the seasons in England in recent years it’s reassuring to know that just across the channel it’s still possible to experience the joys of a colourful spring, the long hot…
  • 27th May 2013
Image for "French Lifestyle Strengthens its Hold on British Expats" blog post
Recent research highlights a significant trend among expatriates living in France , revealing that they express the highest levels of satisfaction with their new lives compared to those residing in other countries. This…
  • 12th Mar 2013
Image for "Why Provence Offers the Ultimate Luxury Lifestyle" blog post
Some of France’s most exclusive properties are tucked away in the hills and valleys of the Provence region, which stretches from chic coastal resorts on the Cote d’Azur to the breathtaking mountain scenery of…
  • 23rd Dec 2012
Image for "Explore the Fairytale Chateaux of the Loire" blog post
The calm and understated rural landscape of the Loire Valley is the perfect backdrop for this region’s impressive collection of more than 300 historic chateaux. An ideal place to unwind, this picturesque area is dissected…
  • 14th Sep 2012
Image for "A Love Affair with Le Tour" blog post
Every year sports fans and Francophiles the world over are gripped by the Tour de France , one of Europe’s most exciting and challenging endurance events. Covering 3,497 kilometres and passing through spectacular scenery,…
  • 16th Jul 2012
Image for "Our Guide to Moving to France with Small Kids" blog post
Last week we wrote about moving to France with babies and toddlers and this week’s subject, which is a natural follow-on is aimed at those of you who are seeking a new life in France and have primary school age kids.…
  • 28th Jun 2012
Image for "Enjoy a Fairytale Lifestyle in your own Loire Castle" blog post
The picturesque Loire Valley has always been a place where dreams have been made. Kings of France planned their nation’s cultural renaissance from this beautiful valley region and they have left behind many magical…
  • 23rd Jun 2012
Image for "The Enduring Appeal of Historic Normandy" blog post
Normandy has always enjoyed a special place in the hearts of British holidaymakers and ex pats and the reasons for its popularity go far beyond its accessibility. For many ferry cross-Channel travellers this is their first…
  • 12th Jun 2012
Image for "The Cannes Film Festival and Beyond" blog post
The Cote d’Azur resort of Cannes has been synonymous with glamour since the 1950s when Hollywood celebrities such as Cary Grant, Brigitte Bardot, Kirk Douglas and Sophia Loren began to make regular appearances at its…
  • 10th May 2012
Image for "The Triangle d'Or in Tarn" blog post
The Tarn is considered by many as the prettiest department in the Occitanie region and the area connected by the UNESCO world heritage city of Albi, the market town of Gaillac and the medieval village of Cordes-sur-Ciel…
  • 1st May 2012
Image for "Exploring Around Pau in the Pyrenees Atlantiques" blog post
Pau can be found 50km from the Pyrénées and 100km from the Atlantic Ocean and it is the capital of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of the Nouvelle Aquitaine region in south-west France. Set…
  • 12th Apr 2012
Image for "Discover Peaceful Tarn et Garonne in southwest France" blog post
The Tarn-et-Garonne department is part of the Midi-Pyrénées region and is home to some of the most beautiful villages in south-west France. It borders the departments of the Lot, Aveyron, Tarn, Haute-Garonne,…
  • 18th Mar 2012