Over 70% of foreign purchases in France are by UK buyers, followed by the Italians, Dutch and Belgians. Figures for Russian purchasers are not available but are estimated to be considerable.

Of those non-residents purchasing in France, 70% are for second homes,  with 17%  intended as primary residences. Low French interest rates and the strengthening sterling are the 2 major factors in driving these sales through.

There are some great deals to be had within the French property market and the South of France is leading the way. Local estate agents are saying the number of solid enquiries over the last few months have increased. 2010 is still proving to be a buyers market and when couple with some great French Mortgage Interest rates and the strong sterling – now is the time to grab your dream holiday home in the South of France

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.

With a minimum loan of only 50,000 euro, a loan term of 8 – 30 years plus, you even have the flexibility of suspending the repayments for a period of up to 12 months. You can even use the loan for an Investment Property or a Second Home.

If you’re interested in finding out more about this incredible French Mortgage call Matt or Gael on +33(0)4.92.98.80.70 or complete the Enquiry Form

Terms:

• Payments can be suspended for upto a 12 month period
• Product can be switched from variable to fixed at any time
• Adjustable interest rate giving security and savings – pls contact our team for more information
• Loan period 8 – 30 years
• Minimum laon amount of 50,000euro
• Primary, Secondary Residence or Holiday Home
• Property Investment
• Home Improvements
  

Purpose of Loan:

• Primary or Secondary Residents or Holiday Home
• Property Investment
• Home Improvements

Interest rate:

• Fixed on a 12 month basis and indexed on the 3-month Euribor
• The rate can be switched from adjustable to fixed at any time

Monthly payments

• Monthly payments are set for 12-month periods. At the end of each period, the payment amount is adjusted based on changes in the reference index.

Notes:
At the end of the 12 months if the index has gone down – the monthly payment remains the same, which means that the capital will be paid off more quickly and the loan duration will shorten. If the index has gone up – the monthly payment increases, but the increase is capped at the rise in the French cost-of-living index. The new payment amount will then be in effect for to the following 12 months. Based on the projected payments schedule, any capital that is not repaid at the end of the initial loan contract may be repaid through an extension of the loan. The loan may be extended for a maximum of five additional years. The bank will bear the cost of any amounts in excess of this contractual framework.