 | Home > Off Topic > France .. forums for information |
 
|
|
|
| ian series 1 Member Since: 17 Nov 2014 Location: south Posts: 3127   
|
Try Anglo info.
Just take everything with a pinch of salt though!!  80" 80" 86" 88" 90"
Wanted, Forward Control Anything considered. |
||
4th Aug 2016 11:29am |
|
| languedoc Member Since: 13 May 2016 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 283  
|
Agreed, Anglo info changed their site at the beginning of the year and very few people use it.
If you want any advice, I am happy to help where I can. Lived here for 15 years. |
||
|
4th Aug 2016 11:47am |
|
| ian series 1 Member Since: 17 Nov 2014 Location: south Posts: 3127
|
Likewise, we worked, brought and sold over there a few years ago.
 80" 80" 86" 88" 90"
Wanted, Forward Control Anything considered. |
||
|
4th Aug 2016 11:59am |
|
| Riverboy Member Since: 16 May 2016 Location: French sector, Earth Posts: 1288 
|
Lived here for 12 years and happy to help if I can. Just about to leave for a few days in hospital though..... Hopefully see you all later
Big tip, make sure you have health insurance! |
||
|
4th Aug 2016 12:05pm |
|
| bm52 Member Since: 04 Apr 2010 Location: Kent Posts: 2189 
|
Thanks for the advice, I am just beginning my research and hope to buy or rent mid next year either in the Charente area or in the Gironde or towards Bergerac. Choices choices choices.
Thinking about down sizing here, then renting out the house while we rent in France for a year or so to make sure we want to live there. We want to keep a house here in case we came back and as an investment. We have carefully been around Southern France and really like the Orange area and St Remy along with Nyons. We then looked around Beaune, Nolay and Chalon, love Givry and Buxy. But we are drawn towards the south west. We have loads of research to do! |
||
|
4th Aug 2016 7:27pm |
|
| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5804  
|
Don't bother: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic48345.html Seriously though, AngloInfo as others have mentioned and if you're looking specifically in the Alps, PM me and we can chat. In my ninth year. Still don't know anything, so we'll just have to talk about the weather....  Monsieur Le Grenadier
I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
||
|
4th Aug 2016 9:43pm |
|
| Riverboy Member Since: 16 May 2016 Location: French sector, Earth Posts: 1288
|
I was going to say that Gren would get you up to scratch
But thought better of it |
||
|
4th Aug 2016 10:06pm |
|
| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5804
|
^^^ Not bad for 11pm at night!
 Monsieur Le Grenadier
I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
||
|
5th Aug 2016 7:03am |
|
| Birdy Member Since: 07 Oct 2011 Location: Côte d'Azur Posts: 864 
|
“… carefully been around Southern France”
How far South? It costs no more to live in the Côte d’Azur sun than anywhere else; we've had a gaff in Le Rayol for nearly thirty years, formally making it our résidence principale from September (pre-Brexit, rat leaving sinking ship and all that). Brilliant local dentist and, as an example, when the missus suffered a stroke a couple of years ago while out shopping she was taken by the paramedics to the clinic near St Tropez from where she was flown by helicopter to a military hospital in Toulon specialising in head wounds and brain trauma. Don't think you'd get that on the NHS! Land Rover main dealers in Fréjus and Toulon (although when I've settled in permanently I'll downsize my “fleet” to a little Up! or Coccinelle Convertible), what more could you want? Don't hesitate to pm Possibly a subject of debate, but it does so annoy me when I encounter those who live in a country without bothering to learn the language. I know a husband and wife who have lived in Bretagne for nearly ten years, neither of them speaks a word of French. “But everyone speaks English” NOT everyone, and certainly not when they're talking about you. Peter |
||
|
5th Aug 2016 7:44am |
|
| languedoc Member Since: 13 May 2016 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 283
|
I second Birdy.
Half my family is French and close to you in St Raphael. No matter what advice is given (and I grew up in France). Nothing grates on the locals more than British, or any other cultures, who dont try and integrate. You don't have to be bilingual but any attempt to speak to locals will be welcomed with open arms. Try not to be the roast beef who congregate in bars and speak at a strangely high volume making it look like you think nobody understands you. Healthcare is much faster here but get real advice about top ups. Don't get carried away with renovations if you think its going to add value. There isn't the uplift generally that you see in the UK. And as you see with Gren, get your plates changed over. No matter what people think, a British plate car has to be fully UK compliant with tax, mot and insurance (and you need to tell the insurance regardless of what the extended EU cover says). Gendarmes love a random roundabout to set up at post lunchtime. All being said, its a fabulous country. Charente is very popular and if you base around Angouleme then you have great climate, easy road and rail network and good choice of airports. I hear a fifth of the population is British. Make of that what you will. Oh,and before you move, buy a good printer and you can never have too many copies of your birth certificate! |
||
|
5th Aug 2016 8:14am |
|
| ian series 1 Member Since: 17 Nov 2014 Location: south Posts: 3127
|
I wholeheartedly agree with the intergration comment.
Our next door neighbour was our local farmer, after many months of hand waving, he stopped one day and invited us around one evening for aperitifs. It was a great evening, with myself not understanding a word he said, and him not understanding what I said! But we managed a whole evening laughing about how to explain what we meant, and how to explain things. We became good friends, and always managed to help each other out. Needless to say we came away happy, and full of Calvados! 
It seemed All the Brits around us were just there to see how much beer and wine they could consume in the day time! 80" 80" 86" 88" 90" Wanted, Forward Control Anything considered. |
||
|
5th Aug 2016 8:40am |
|
| Riverboy Member Since: 16 May 2016 Location: French sector, Earth Posts: 1288
|
Main things are, try your best to learn the language. You don't need to be fluent but the better you are at conversing with the natives the happier you will be here. Have a suitable income to maintain the lifestyle you desire. France is not cheap no matter what you read on forums, especially down in the south. Health insurance is one of the most important to sort out. Don't even try to do without it because as I just found out, you never know what is about to happen. Luckily I got my mutuale arranged in time.
One more thing, prepare to meet lots of friends and family from the uk you never knew you had. Learn to say no. It's quite easy really and don't worry about upsetting them, freeloaders are just freeloaders. Enjoy, it's a great country. |
||
|
5th Aug 2016 2:43pm |
|
| Spookytooth Member Since: 19 Jan 2014 Location: Lincolnshire Posts: 202 
|
We are in a similar position right now, ie looking to buy in France but keep our house on in the UK and spend time between the two. Before I even worry about improving my French or taking out health insurance I am finding identifying the correct price point to be the biggest issue, followed by pool or no pool and thirdly rural or village. Houses in the 150 to 180 region can often be exactly the same as houses in the 250 to 300 region leaving you puzzled as to 'Am I missing something?' Everyone with a pool say they are too much hassle, everyone without one says you must have one. Rural looks and feels idyllic, however, soon seems remote once you get back home and think about it.
Anyway good luck, we are still determined to go ahead regardless of what Brexit has done to sterling. We were about to press the button and now back into re negotiating or looking elsewhere, never easy. Going back on Monday for a further nose around. Fell in love with Morzine a couple of weeks ago, however, looking for somewhere a little more temperate in winter, as they say you cant have it all. |
||
|
5th Aug 2016 5:32pm |
|
| ickle Member Since: 22 Jul 2010 Location: South Vendee Posts: 1777 
|
Agree with all of the above, we bought 9 years ago in the south of the Vendee as we had friends there, had had many happy gite holidays, great weather and easy access to St Malo & Caen, important as we can't retire until daughter has finished uni / draining our recourse's (3 years time).
I speak a little French but don't mind making a complete 4rse of myself when trying, and we have found nothing but help and great company from the locals. I've never heard of any anti British feeling or cars being damaged in our area although the general standard of driving is somewhat shocking, and have suffered a couple of parking dings. We get the 'Living France' magazine which has some useful bits but also a lot of unanswered questions followed by 'for specific advice please contact XYZ ltd' French entrée . com is also worth signing up for, but local knowledge and experience is worth more. Depending on your age also worth considering inheritance rules and rates (up to 60% tax!) and also care home costs, payable in full or taken from your estate, I think there are ways of mitigating these I believe not sure though (property in a company?) I also think that rented out property is classed as un earned income and attracts higher rates of tax. We love France but it is a very different country. |
||
|
5th Aug 2016 7:29pm |
|
|
|
| All times are GMT |
< Previous Topic | Next Topic > |
Posting Rules
|
Site Copyright © 2006-2024 Futuranet Ltd & Martin Lewis
