Property in Opio enjoys magnificent views of the surrounding woodlands and rural provencal landscapes. Due to the exceptional micro-climate, roses and jasmine flourish in the Opio region and are used by the local perfume industry in Grasse. To accompany these fragrances is the vast olive grove at the Grand Bastide, which is one of the largest in the region and can be purchased from the 15th century mill that is one of the last still operating in the region.

As an owner of a property in Opio, you will be close to all the modern amenities plus, only 25 mins from Nice International airport and a short drive to coastal towns of Cannes and Antibes. If you’re a golf fan then you are spoilt for choice with many spectacular course only a short drive away.

The village of Opio boasts a population of just over 2,000 and covering over 9km² means you will enjoy a great deal of tranquility while wandering through the village street and the many forest walks.

There is a large range of property for sale in the area of Opio from the large secluded family villa with a pool in Opio to the smaller 2-3 bedroom houses set in the surrounding hills and forests. Much of the property for sale in Opio is well kept and will benefit from spectacular views.

As an owner of a property in Opio you are also very near to other wonderful villages such as Valbonne, Mougins and Roquefort les Pins. There are many restaurants only a short drive away and even a ClubMed perched on a hillside with tennis, swimming, golf and many other activities.

Property in Opio and its surrounding areas are in great demand and this in turn has increased prices over the past few years. The area is serviced by excellent road, rail and air links and the public transportation/buses is fairly regular and incredible value.

With some research and help from local real estate agents, there are some great properties in Opio for sale. No matter what your budget or requirement for swimming pools or gardens, the area of Opio can offer the property buyer a wide selection to buy.

So, Opio could well be the perfect location for an investment property or even a second home on the French Riviera. However, your first thought should be how you might fund the property purchase in Opio. You will need the impartial advice of an Independent French Mortgage Broker preferably based near Opio in Valbonne. When the French mortgage broker is based near to your property they will be in a better position to handle the mortgage application with more efficiency and speed. They will have regular meetings with the regional bank officials and these close relationships will only benefit the clients of the French Mortgage Broker and in turn benefit their clients.

Terms:
Minimum down payment: 20%
Minimum loan amount: €100,000

This gives the UK based property investor in the South of France great security. The South of France is a hugely popular tourist destination, especially amongst Europeans. Nice International Airport is France’s second largest airport behind Paris. There are also a large number of the budget airlines such as EasyJet servicing Nice from all the major European cities, offering great value flights. Plus, the Côte d’Azur is less than a 2 hour flight from most European capitals such as London & other Northern European capitals. You are promised a mild climate in the winter and a wonderfully long, hot summer – The South of France boasts over 300 days of sunshine a year.

Compared to cities such as London and Madrid, property prices are still relatively good value. The French rate of interest which is set by the European Central Bank is at a historical low. According to FNAIM prices are stabilizing and prices are currently related to the levels they reached in the 3^rd quarter of 2005. So, 2012 is definitely the time to invest in a property in Cannes, Nice, Antibes or anyone of the many beautiful villages in the South of France.

Property ownership in France

The good news for buyers of Investment Property in France is that there is an abundance of property all over the South of France; a restored Mas, stylish new builds, a pieds-a terre, family villas or even winter sports apartments. Capital appreciation is good and rental yields are strong. The Cote d’Azur is second only to Paris in price, but you don’t need a fortune to buy. A good rental yield from an investment property can be achieved with so many tourists and the enormous quantity of conferences throughout the year especially in Cannes. This makes the South of France an excellent choice for your Overseas Property Investment.

For second home owners in the South of France and property investors – 2012 is the perfect opportunity to buy into some of the most desirable towns and cities such as Cannes, Nice and Antibes on the Cote d’Azur. The French banks have not suffered like their UK counterparts, meaning they are more inclined to lend to the foreign Property Investor who might not have considered France before. Coupled with some extremely attractive loan rates, France is fast becoming an astute investment for UK and foreign property investors.

Interst Only Hybrid

Terms:

• 3.6% Fixed 1st 5 years
• 80% Loan to Value (20% deposit required)
• Loan period: 8-20 years
• Primary, secondary residents/holiday home or investment property, home improvements

With the Interest-only mortgage there are additional benefits to give you extra flexibility:
- You can include payments of the principal to your interest-only payments anytime you want and for as long as you want.
- You can make early repayments towards the principal with no penalty, either partially or totally.

To produce this annual index ‘International Living Magazine’ considered nine categories: Cost of Living, Culture and Leisure, Economy, Environment, Freedom, Health, Infrastructure, Safety and Risk, and Climate. This involved a lot of number crunching from “official” sources, including government websites, the World Health Organization, and The Economist, to name but a few. They also listened carefully to what their editors from all over the world had to say about the findings. Below is a summary of why France yet again won this year’s Quality of Life Index

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1. France

For the 5th year running, France takes first in the annual ‘Quality of Life Index’. No surprise! Its tiresome bureaucracy and high taxes are outweighed by an unsurpassable quality of life, including the world’s best health care. France always nets high scores in most categories. But you don’t need number-crunchers to tell you its bon vivant lifestyle is special. Make that trip from the UK, step off the plane and you’ll experience it first-hand. If only quality of life indicators could measure a country’s heart and soul. But it’s impossible to enumerate the joy of lingering for hours over dinner and a bottle of red wine in a Parisian brasserie, or sitting on the croisette in Cannes sipping an afternoon beverage watching the world go by.  Perhaps strolling around one of the many hill top villages scattered throughout the South of France, such as Saint Paul de Vence. Romantic Paris offers the best of everything, services don’t fall away in the Cote d’Azur with its many coastal towns such as Antibes, Cannes and Nice…in wild and lovely Corsica…in lavender-scented Provence. Or in the Languedoc of the troubadours, bathed in Mediterranean sunlight. Provincial French properties and investment properties in the Cote d’Azur are often keenly priced and lifestyles are less expensive than Paris. The South East of France and the Cote d’Azur offers just about everything France has to offer in one sun drenched stretch of coast line – form Monaco to St Tropez. Property prices are great value at the moment, 2010 is a buyers market. A property investment in the South of France for someone living in the UK can offer solid rental yields and a steady capital appreciation. Cannes, Antibes and Nice have always been a favourite for the UK tourist – the airport in Nice is served well by budget airlines and is only a short 2 hour flight from London and many other European capitals. The towns of Antibes, Cannes and Nice offer excellent rental yields due to the quantity of tourists visiting this region of France every year. Cannes is even more attractive for rental yields due to the large number of congress throughout the year such as MIPIP, MIPCOM and of course the Cannes Film Festival in May each year.

So…………. who filled the other top spots?

2. Australia 3. Switzerland 4. Germany 5. New Zealand 6. Luxembourg 7. United States 8. Belgium 9. Canada 10. Italy 25. United Kingdom……..

Property ownership in France has been a firm favourite with the British for many years. Driven by strong growth rates and good investment yields for the second home owner and investors alike non-resident ownership in France has being growing especially during the past 10 years. Traditional ferry routes improved by cross channel road and rail links, extensive road networks and the ever expanding budget airline flights into an increased number of French airports has made travelling across the channel more accessible and even cheaper.

This proximity to the UK has made French Property one of the most popular choices for Investment Property Buyers. The French property market is extremely diverse and offers much to the potential UK Investor in Overseas Property. The South of France is a prime example and the airports of Nice and Marseille offer tremendous access to the French Riviera all year round and are serviced by the budget airlines such as Easyjet from London and all over the UK.

The good news for UK based buyers of Investment Property in France is that there is an abundance of property all over the South of France; a restored Mas, stylish new builds, a pieds-a terre, family villas or even winter sports apartments. Capital appreciation is good and rental yields are strong. The Cote d’Azur is second only to Paris in price, but you don’t need a fortune to buy. A good rental yield from an investment property can be achieved with the many tourists and the large quantity of conferences throughout the year especially in Cannes, making the South of France an excellent choice for your Overseas Property Investment.

Unlike the UK, a long history of prudent lending in France (lenders do not allow borrower’s total outgoings on finance payments to exceed 1/3 of their total gross monthly income) has meant mortgage finance in France is still readily available and great value. Coupled with an approximate discount of 10% on French property prices compared to a year ago – there is no better time than 2010 to acquire an Investment Property in the South of France.

For second home owners in the South of France and UK property investors, 2010 is the perfect opportunity to buy into some of the most desirable towns and cities such as Cannes, Nice and Antibes in the South of France. The French banks have not suffered like their UK counterparts, meaning they are more inclined to lend to the Foreign or Non-Resident Property Investor who might not have considered France before. Coupled with some extremely attractive loan rates (2.7% interest only for non-residents plus, the ability to pay down at any time with NO PENALTIES) France is fast becoming an astute investment for Non-Resident and Foreign Property Investors.

Considerable mortgage product innovation by some leading banks such as GE and BNP coupled with a diverse range of property available in the South of France that can deliver good solid yields and investment growth is driving the UK property investor to look across the channel. Properties in the South of France remain in the buyers favour, and 2010 could give the UK and non-resident Property Investor a firm foothold within the French property market.

It is important to deal with an French Independent Mortgage Broker registered in France with a Siret number. The business should also hold a Carte Demarchage Bancaire/Financier; this means they are professionally registered with the Bank of France to carry out and advice on Mortgages in France. The advisor should also carry ORIAS membership; Enrolment in this register is compulsory for an individual resident in France, or a company having its head office in France, in order to be able to practise insurance or reinsurance intermediary activity. Professional Indemity Insurance is crucial and a business must hold this to be registered with ORIAS.