In a world of uncertainty a HALF PRICE HOUSE is always of interest... n'est pas?

Our House in Brittany • Summer 2016

It's 17 years now since we stumbled across our house in Brittany. In retrospect it was a gift, of course, at such a seemingly very silly price of just £12,000 plus Notaire's Fees and then a commission to the agent who introduced us to the property. Needless to say we were happy to pay a fee for him opening our eyes to what seemed like such a rare find.
Back in 2000 the system of buying in France was somewhat haphazard and, fortunately, things have formalised to make it as simple as buying in the UK (simpler in fact). Although, the reality that you may be buying in another country, where one might imagine difficulties; where you are unfamiliar with customs that full timers over there take for granted - but for you there may be a language barrier for a start - and unfamiliar procedures and systems etc., it's wise to rely on advice from those who have trodden the path before you and who can help to clear up any potential pitfalls.

Our 'agent', back when we bought, was a builder who had moved over from UK to the Cotes d'Armor. Probably more by good fortune than by a well formed plan - he had begun to buy and develop bargain priced houses - do them up - and sell them on. He realised that he was governed in this by the fact that he could only renovate one or two properties at any one time and so decided to build a portfolio of his favourites from the local market and to offer them to an intrigued UK market which he tapped atoverseas property shows in the UK. Then, we happened along right on his doorstep.

We had kicked the wheels on properties found on websites which were (by comparison to to the sophistication of today's world wide web) very fledgling and some extremely rudimentary. And we had already made two journeys across the channel - very much combining enjoying time finding out that Brittany is very much 'the land that time forgot'; empty roads, sleepy villages, great food and drink and properties that would make your head spin in terms of beauty as well as value for money. Our third trip over was via one of the early and, for a while, largest player in the French property market, where almost every buyer with them became an agent... By default, because of a lack of communication and co-ordination we discovered Hal through the B and B owner we stayed with on the night before we were about come back to UK 'empty handed'. Our host, Richard, when we told him that we had had no luck, suggested we should meet Hal, 'He's just come back from the NEC French Exhibition and he's got a book with about 50 properties in it... Half an hour later we were in the vast kitchen of Hal's mill (he'd bought it for £10,000 with 10 acres of woodland and pasture) and subsequently, when he had done the required amount of work and installed a heated pool etc., he would go on to let it for £1,500 per week during the summer months.... So, yes there is money to be made from letting well prepared gite properties to the widening market out there!

Our first viewing was in March 1999...

These tales of cross channel bargains beg the comment... "OK, but that was a long time ago"... and "Things are changing within Europe, so what does the future offer for those buying from outside Europe?" Which, of course, is what those within the UK will be in a couple of year's time.... outside Europe! And, of course, no one can truly predict the future. It's true our buying experience was a long time ago. I have to promote my own thoughts based on common sense and what's been gleaned from our experiences in dealing in French property.  True, prices have gone up with inflation over these intervening years. But there are still some extreme bargains.

The one below is currently available - a 4 bedroomed detached house on 1,276m2 of land in the Cotes d'Armor... 105,995€ + Notaire's Fees - Have a look by clicking the link below the photo...

A 4 Bedroomed Detached Longere on 1/3 of an acre for under £90,000 (exchange rate as at 8th Feb)

http://www.ahouseinbrittany.com/component/ezrealty/ezrealty/28-detached/1755-ahib-1-js8157186

I'm sure most people reading this can plainly see that any rural property but near a thriving town, with four bedrooms and a large garden in southern England (pretty much anywhere in the UK) is going to be double/treble... plus plus plus this price- in spite of dodgy exchange rates... Food for thought eh?!

Prices are lowering because houses have stuck on the shelf due to erratic currency exchange rates and political scares and surprising developments Brexit, Trump, ... and the longer term concerns; what about healthcare provision overseas for ex-pats once we are outside Europe?... Seriously, does anyone expect, after all of the hard work of establishing reciprocal healthcare for our (what will be) previous European partners, that these common sense agreements will come to an end? Surely not! And, when it comes to being out of Europe, as a major purchaser of French/Spanish/Italian properties, then prices of already seemingly bargain properties... will fall still further in order to maintain an attraction for buyers from the UK. Right now there are houses for sale within Brittany and Normandy at what might very realistically be regarded as half price.... and lower than like for like in, say, Southern England and even lower than those further north or in Wales.

I suppose it's wise to say, fortunately, that things have changed a lot in the way that properties in France are marketed, although back in the day there was always a job satisfaction element of the 'pioneer' about taking the car ferry and travelling around checking out locations and calling in at Notaire's offices or estate agencies for details of local properties on their books. But these days the quest often starts with searching the web for what lights your lamp... But nothing lights your lamp like a bargain and there are some radical bargains just now... True there are some  political and economical elements that maybe dull the get up and go....but there's nothing like a half price house to sharpen the ambition!!

Chris and Micki Slade have run the property finder sites www.ahouseinbrittany.com and www.ahouseinnormandy.com since 2002 • 01903 202272