Are you interested in buying a French Property?

We have a great selection of Gites for Sale on Gites-in-France.co.uk – but perhaps you are looking for a holiday home, investment property (including leasebacks) or a permanent relocation? Looking for French Property News – latest properties and guides?

Our partner 1st for French Property has over 5000 French Properties for sale – the #1 site on the Internet. You can immediately see at a glance thumb-shot photos, number of beds and baths, land area, region /department of France and of course the price! From La Loire to the Cote d’Azur in Provence and plenty in between. They work with a large number of French Estate Agents (Immobilier sarl or agence in French!). Perhaps you want to arrange a viewing trip – not only can we arrange viewings but also have a large selection of French Rentals for viewing trips!

1st for French Property’s international clients include property buyers from Canada to New Zealand and most European countries. They also work with agents from Real Estate Agents in the USA looking for property in Europe.

French Regions
The most popular regions at the moment seem to be Aquitaine (including the Dordogne), Brittany, Normandy, Limousin, Languedoc and Poitou-Charentes.

Property Types
Types of property/ house available: If you are interested in a particular type of property – say, farmhouses then the 1st for French Property site makes it easy to find just such a particular type of property. If you are looking for a commercial opportunity such as a bar or a hotel – they can help you! They have an easy to use Search Tool to help you with your searches.

More Information
You will also find lots of background information: property buyers guide, region and department guides and lots of helpful articles. A new feature is a Video Guide to each region. There a daily email newsletter report listing latest properties matching your criteria – this service is called My Notify. There is a large range of RSS feeds for your Newsreader application so that you can keep up to date.

Services

Currency Exchange – services for transferring regular mortgage payments, one-off payments and travel money
French insurance – holiday and permanent residence
Mortgages – both Euro and Sterling.
French Property News – latest properties

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Gites in France

Had enough with the rat race? Fed up with hours of commuting? Weather getting you down?

Love to move to France but need an income? One of the favourite options is to buy one or more French gites – so you have a main house (or caravan!) to live in during the season and let out your gites (converted barns, outhouses, etc) to your paying visitors.

It all started when French farmers needed additional income and there were grants and good tax concessions to convert outbuildings and barns to Tourist accommodation. Gites de France successfully promoted the “gites” to both the French and International market. Traditionally, the gites were rural but many are available near the beaches too. Even chateaux have cottoned on and many offering accommodation are marketed as “gites”.

The season is short – just 10 weeks (July and August) coinciding when the French go on holiday en masse! So you have just a short time to make your income. Many gites complexes have adapted to the short season by converting many buildings – so they have a lot of units available for the peak season.

Outside the French holiday season – if you wish to remain open – you will have to learn marketing skills. Remember this is a very competitive market and you will have to work hard to fill up your units!

Top Tips for Gites

• You need repeat bookings & recommendations – so concentrate hard on the visitors you get. It is easier to keep existing customers than finding new ones!
• You need tip-top facilities – do not skimp
• Location, location, location
• Niche – as this is a competitive market offer something different (wine tours, creches, evening meals, gastronomic events, wine-tasting or use any local skill/food/happening to make you stand out). Say, you are going to concentrate on walkers – it is much easier/cheaper to market in walking magazines than glossy French Travel magazines.
• Network – use the internet (contribute to travel / niche forums – postings usually allow you to leave signature to say your website)
• Develop a website to “market” your gites to an international audience

Yes, it can be hard work! But don’t forget the location, weather, fine wines and food, the outdoor lifestyle …. tempted? Have a look at some Gites for Sale to whet your appetite.

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