Watch out there's a banker about...

If your experience of buying a house in France is anything like ours was back in 1999 then you are embarking on one of the most exciting phases of your life...

It might be my age, but the more I hear about life in the UK compared with the way things used to be (the need for reporting just about everything negative on 24 hour rolling news might have something to do with it) then the less I like it right here - right now. But Brittany and Normandy offer a lifestyle very similar to that of the UK the way it was back in the 1950s (yes, unfortunately I am old enough to remember what that was like! but I did look at it through a child's eyes). The pace of Breton and Norman life is very leisurely, the roads are good, no actually - they're great (NO Road Tax) and comparatively empty too - and the folks you encounter are friendly (if you are keen to integrate) if not they'll wonder why...because everyone is eager to give you a welcome nod, a smile and a "bonjour". But, before I digress into how good things can be, there are a few things we may be able to help you with. Since buying our own place and starting our business we have come up against a number of situations where a helping hand, a recommendation or a positive experience is well worth passing on and, most often... it's appreciated. But there's no hard sell. Why would there be? We introduce people to houses. But we DO hate hearing stories of clients who have had bad experiences in situations where we may have been able to point them in the right direction.

Mortgage/Property Funding:-

Buying in a foreign country is something that causes trepidation with everyone... so don't feel that you are alone if having found a house that alarm bells are going off in your head. Firstly, to me, it seems logical to source funds for purchase in France from an organisation... in France... That phrase 'when in Rome' etc., rings true to me... As with their Notarial system... it's something the French have been doing in their own way for a very long time. Having said that it too makes great sense to deal within someone you can speak to in your own language and who knows his or her way around the French lending market. Martin Heathcote is just such a person... English, yes - and working for France Home Finance... over in France. Martin has been living and working in France long enough to know the French system inside out)... Call him to discuss your plans and how he can help make them a reality:- Call 00 33 144 88 59 44. There'a very interesting and informative website too: France Home Finance

Foreign Currency Exchange

Now this is really all about keeping as much of your own money in your pocket as possible on both sides of the channel... And, until the UK joins the Euro (Eek!.. or, until Hell freezes over)... when you buy a house abroad...you will have to secure the services of a currency exchange house. Who to use? Well, there are dozens of these and most of them will save you money when compared to your High Street Bank (now there’s a surprise).
So, whatever you do... Don't Do a Dave! Names have been changed to protect the hapless! David was very happy to find his house in Brittany... nay ecstatic! And we offered, as we sometimes do, to recommend someone to exchange his funds from Sterling to Euros. Dave said he felt very happy about leaving the conversion of his £300,000 to his bank. "Well they've already got it, haven't they?" he said confidently. This simple assumption - that they would be the best and cheapest to convert his funds caused him so much anger, annoyance, anxiety in reality... all the A's. His house effectively cost him £9,000 more than was necessary. Afer this dawned on him he was incandescent (well you would be) and he was intent on suing them... but that would have just been throwing good money after bad! Caveat Emptor is the phrase to Google if you haven't come across it before. And my well worn phrase... "watch out there's a banker about" is true, in as much as it will always cost you more to use a bank than a dedicated and specialist Currency Exchange House. And even here timing the exchange is also very much the key... It's definitely not a DIY job!
We have come across a good few currency houses over the last 15 years and we are called virtually daily with offers of help for our clients and to enter affiliation agreements. We have settled on MoneyCorp - quite a while ago now. They are one of the larger ones but are structured in such a way as to offer ‘one to one’ dealings via your own account executive. So the feeling is good and, you’re unlikely to feel like a small fish in a big pond... Speak initially to our contact at Moneycorp, Carole Jaskarzec. Carole is very approachable... She speaks perfect English as well as her own native French and will explain the system and she'll guide you through what may seem initially like uncertain territory. Personally with my grasp of maths being so disastrous at school I am like a rabbit in headlights when confronted with the prospect of losing out from my own misunderstanding of things. But here you'll be in good hands. Carole will see that your funds convert at a competitive rate of exchange going forward to meet your purchase needs...Call her if you wish on 0207 828 7000 (Carole Jaskarzec)
There are many reasons and purposes for movement of funds from just purchase to regular pension payments as well as lump sums for renovation stage payments etc., Check out the MoneyCorp website It's full of interesting facts.
Also - here's a handy tool to check the 'up to the minute' value of your purchase budget... using the MoneyCorp "Converter"

Above all "Good Hunting" and... it does make good sense to get your ducks in a row before you travel to view! - CS