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.

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……..

Terms:
Minimum downpayment: 20%
Minimum loan amount: €80,000
Minimum revenue: €40,000 per annum

This gives the UK based property investor in the South of France great sucurity. 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, 2010 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 – 2010 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:

• 3.3% Fixed 1st year – Interest Only Hybrid – first 10 year Interest Only, next 15 years standard repayment
• 80% Loan to Value (20% deposit required)
• Loan period: 8-25 years
• Primary, secondary residents/holiday home or investment property, home improvements

This French Mortgage is divided into 2 phases:
1st phase: An interest-only loan: it allows you to pay only the interest for a specified period (5 to 10 years).
2nd phase: A repayment loan: anytime during the 1st phase or automatically when it ends, you can switch to a repayment loan to pay your loan off at maturity.

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.

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.

If you are Intersted in Finding out more about this

Incredible French Mortgage Offer

please call us now: +33(0)4.92.98.80.70 or complete the Enquiry Form

Loan Characteristics

• Minimum Loan Amount: €100,000  Maximum €1,000,000
• Minimum Down-Payment: 30% of Purchase Price
• Rate: 2.7%
• Term: From 10 to 30 year
• Minimum monthly revenue required of €6,000. 

Not suitable for retired applicants. This is an interest-only loan for the first 10 years followed by a second period of a repayment loan for up to 20 years.

Information Required:

• Name
• Age of Borrower(s)
• Nationality
• Monthly Salary (location, currency)
• Savings
• Details of any existing loans (amount, term and monthly payment)

Documents Required:

• A photocopy of each borrower’s passport
• A photocopy of each borrower’s birth certificate.
• Photocopy of marriage certificate if applicable.
• A letter from your employer specifying your position, length of service, and monthly income. If you have been there less than 2 years please also provide information about your previous employer.
• Copies of the last 3 month’s salary slips.
• Justification of your personal contribution (proof of down-payment) eg. bank account statement, building society statement showing you have the funds for down-payment.
• Photocopies of the last 3 consecutive monthly bank statements showing income, loans, mortgages & regular outgoings .If you have more than one bank account please indicate clearly where your salary is deposited each month.
• Details of any existing loans and mortgages plus, proof of ownership (title deeds, solicitors letter etc).
• A copy of your “Compromis de Vente” or Reservation Contract for the property you intend to buy.
• Signed completed application form and health questionnaire

LOAN APPROVAL WITHIN SEVEN WORKING DAYS