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Following Brexit, if you are a UK citizen without an EU passport, you will need to apply for a long-stay visa if you wish to spend more than 90 days in the EU out of any 180 day time-frame.

The process to obtain your visa is an administrative exercise and we can put you in touch with someone who specialises in arranging french visas for British citizens if you’d rather someone managed the process for you.

The basic criteria you will need to meet are:

The moment when you receive the keys for a new property is always so exciting!  When buying a house abroad, whether you're looking to move to Europe permanently, or it has been a long held dream to have a second home in France, being handed the keys of your new home in France is often quite an emotional moment.  It's a time to enjoy and celebrate, and it's good to know all the admin has been taken care of.  

Having house insurance in place at the time of the handover is a good safety net to have in place prior to completion so you can just concentrate on the fun bits of moving in and exploring the area.  We've partnered with english-speaking insurance specialists that can get everything sorted for you, arranging a level of cover that is appropriate for you, with minimum fuss.  Here is a general overview of all you need to know about french house insurance, and if you'd like further information, simply drop us an email and we can put you directly in touch with the specialists.

 

If you're in the fortunate position of being able to work from anywhere and are thinking of escaping to the country to make the most of your freedom, a good internet connection is likely to be a key consideration.  On that front, France is by far the most developed country in Europe when it comes to their fibre optic network roll out.  

The french government has committed to ensuring every residential property in France has a 'very high speed' internet connection by 2025 

When done well, properties for sale with a swimming pool will always see a good return on investment and a ‘statement’ pool can really help you achieve a premium.  If you are planning to rent out the property or offer B&B or gîte accommodation, installing a pool instantly makes it more attractive to potential clients, and can definitely give an edge in a crowded market.  Whether thinking about resale or rental, if you’ve got a great pool, just the photos alone will make your property stand out from the competition.

 

 

Many plans were put on hold when the pandemic struck however, for lots of people it has been just the impetus that was needed.  The reasons for having a home in France come down to each individual, but it is usually a combination of factors.  The top 5 reasons cited are:

* the ability to work remotely and France's superior high-speed internet roll-out

* the relative affordability of beautiful houses with lots of space to enjoy spending time with family and friends

* Easy access without having to fly.  Swerving the chaotic and unreliable airports for the significantly more civilised rail and ferry options

* Being able to spend extended periods of time enjoying the warmer, sunnier weather

* Fresh produce, great food and wine - Enjoying the french way of life that is impossible to replicate anywhere else in the world

France is a huge and varied country and most peoples' research starts online.  Here are some useful resources to help get started:  

Rightmove Zoopla Smart Currency