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Living overseas

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Original poster

Live in France? Join us for a gentil thread

656 replies

TheAccidentalExhibitionist · 01/10/2013 19:39

So how about a lovely supportive, information sharing thread for us mumsnetters living in France?
I've been here for two years, this is my second time living here so 4 years in total.
I have my moans about France, the paperwork, the driving but other than that I love it Smile

OP posts:
MerdeAlor · 11/08/2014 19:53

Fenouille your name doesn't refer to your location by any chance does it?
I'm in 31 too but I dont think I know you dont worry Grin

Schnapps00 · 19/01/2015 16:48

Bonjour à tous! A bit of a long shot here, but am currently on the hunt for a band to play at our wedding in les Gers in June this year and wondered if anyone had any contacts in this neck of the woods? We would be keen to find someone who could do songs in English as the majority of the guests will be anglophone. Merci d'avance :)

GreatAuntDinah · 22/01/2015 13:36

Will ask DH, he's a music producer and has a finger in a lot of pies Grin

Schnapps00 · 22/01/2015 17:07

Thanks GreatAuntDinah! Grateful for any leads you could pass on. Funnily enough another option popped up today too, ironically through a UK-based agency..all is not lost :)

Gfplux · 30/01/2015 19:54

Joining, I am in Luxembourg

riverboat1 · 21/02/2015 14:35

Oh god, I had to drive DP and DSS into Paris (Gare de Lyon) this morning to drop them off so they could catch the train to go skiing (I have elected to stay at home this year). I HATE driving in Paris - round the suburbs where I live it's OK, but my god I swear the roads in Paris and connecting to the Periph are just terrifying. Does anyone else hate driving in Paris or is it just me?

The GPS is barking 'bear left then turn right and take the second exit, then stay in the left lane', I am frantically trying to translate all of that into reality, there are a million lanes and forks in the road everywhere I look...and then I can never easily get into the lane I need to be in without giving myself a heart attack trying to muscle my way through the cars that refuse to let me in. I got honked at twice by the same lorry while I was coming off a slip road and he was first of all trying to get past me on the right, then ended up joining the traffic on the left and honking at me from that direction as I tried to merge...I still don't know if I was at fault or him, but I feel totally traumatised.

This is why I usually leave the Paris driving to born-and-bred here DP! But that wasn't an option today.

And breathe...

Smorgs · 21/02/2015 14:50

Hello can I join? I'm also in 31 Haute Garonne. Been here 4 years and had both DC here (DS1 2yrs DS2 4 months). Moved here with DH's work and I found a job but it was a CDD and then they found out I was pregnant... Anyway very happily a SAHM now.

AlphaBravoHenryFoxtons · 21/02/2015 15:10

I'm wondering if anyone on this board might be able to help me, please.

We are looking to buy a house in France in which to spend our holidays. We would like a pool (or space for one) and at least one acre of reasonably flat garden. We would ideally like to be within an hour's drive of an airport with flights to London and we don't want to be in the middle of nowhere. Does anyone have any advice as to how we might decide on an area? France is vast and so many places fit the bill. As we aren't intending to reside permanently, we don't need to worry about schools or jobs.

I'm intending to go out to France in about 3 weeks in the hope of seeing properties so we can return as a family at Easter and view a shortlist. But I have no idea how to choose WHERE? Grin

riverboat1 · 21/02/2015 16:24

I'd look in Les Landes (south west France), accessible from Bordeaux or Biarritz airports. Beautiful coast and beaches, relaxed area, less crowded than the S.E. but weather not so guaranteed. I'm biased though, as I spend most holidays there and just love it!

castlesintheair · 21/02/2015 17:48

AlphaBravoHenryFoxtons, ooh my house fits all of your criteria except it has more garden and is in the middle of nowhere!

AuldAlliance · 21/02/2015 20:59

Alpha, you don't mention budget. If it's not an issue, there are lovely places in the Luberon, 45 mins from Marseille airport. Beautiful countryside, and reliable weather. Or nearer Montpellier would be cheaper.
And the Landes area is also lovely. As is the area around Toulouse.

But France is a big place with a huge variety of landscapes and regional cultures, so just sticking a pin in a map is a bit of a wild shot.

And bear in mind that Ryanair are not necessarily going to be running all their flights to and from France for much longer, since they were fined by the French courts...

I'd look for somewhere within TGV reach, rather than counting on air travel remaining affordable in the medium to long term.

AlphaBravoHenryFoxtons · 21/02/2015 21:20

riverboat - we are very drawn to the area around Biarritz. Thanks for your thoughts.

castlesintheair - I remember a thread of yours a VERY long time ago, about your son. I had no idea you were in France (perhaps you weren't at the time). Hope you are well.

AuldAlliance We are flexible on budget. We would drive as we have a dog (she's the reason we are buying a house for holidays Grin). But our older children would probably come and go during the summer, as would their friends, so access to an airport not too far away would be great.

At the moment my requirements go something like this:

We definitely don't want an old house.
We don't want to be in the middle of nowhere. But not urban.
Minimum 5 bedrooms.
We would like a pool.
We would like a tennis court, or sufficient (flat) land to put one in. (This is essential.)
We want warm sunny weather and a decent sized garden.

We are determined not to spend forever looking. We'd like to holiday in our own house in France this summer.

castlesintheair · 22/02/2015 10:51

AlphaBravoHenryFoxtons, we've been in France for 2 years now and are very well thanks for asking.

As far as areas go, and if I had to choose, I'd go for Toulouse or Bordeaux but that's probably more from a permanent resident pov as I'd want to live in those cities. Obviously the Côte d'Azur is good weather. I also love the area around Nimes. No personal experience but these are meant to be good if you need an estate agent. Good luck, it sounds exciting!

Gfplux · 22/02/2015 11:08

Hello Alpha,
If budget is not a consideration I would reccomended the area in the Gulf of Ste Tropez (83)
Positives
Not totally freezing in the winter months and there are actually people around At that time of year. Great travel links (Nice Airport, motorways and TGV)
Negatives
Very hot in the summer and too many people.

Gfplux · 22/02/2015 11:09

Damb, where did that e come from.
Sorry
Saint Tropez

AlphaBravoHenryFoxtons · 22/02/2015 14:29

Gfplux Budget is a consideration Grin. We are willing to pay up to €500,000 to get what we want but would like to spend less. We probably wouldn't use the holiday home in the winter. So it doesn't matter how cold it is in winter.

Over half term we saw some friends who live near Toulouse and they said their house is utterly freezing at the moment (they live there permanently) and costs a fortune to heat.

Castles - Are you selling your current house?

Some houses have been on the market for years. Is it the done thing to make offers in France or is the asking price the price that the vendor expects to receive? I don't want to insult anyone with my English ways. Grin

Gfplux · 22/02/2015 15:09

You should be prepared to offer what the property is worth to you.
So don't worry about being insulting.

BriocheBriocheBrioche · 22/02/2015 15:18

I'm down in the south east and probably wouldn't recommend St Tropez. It's lovely but it can take hours and hours to get there from Nice in the summer.
If you're not bothered about the beach Aix en Provence is lovely and is a student city so plenty for the older kids to do. Can fly to Marseille or Nice.
Nearer to me and Nice airport there are lots of nice villages/small towns but they tend to be very expensive.

AuldAlliance · 22/02/2015 15:25

No hope of a 5-bedroom house with a pool and enough land for tennis courts within spitting distance of Aix en Provence for 500k. You might be hard pushed to find that in the South-East, TBH.

castlesintheair · 22/02/2015 15:32

Alpha, ours might be on the market later this year but it's a very rural boring area so probably not what you are looking for. It's also very old!

're buying houses, yes definitely make an offer. Most houses are on the market for years especially in the countryside because of the inheritance laws in France and the squabbling children (inheritants) can't agree what to do with it. You can get a lot for that money in the countryside. For example we looked at a house last week just outside a small town, that has 5 buildings, a huge garden, lake and river. It's currently on for 280,000€ reduced from 350,000 but they will probably take 200,000 as it's been on the market for more than 2 years and needs a lot of work. We are also looking in our local city and there are many 200+ m2 houses for less than your budget. But it ain't the Côte d'Azur!

AlphaBravoHenryFoxtons · 22/02/2015 16:39

Auld Alliance. Lots of houses in southern France have a pool and land enough for a tennis court, if not a tennis court, and 5 bedrooms for less than €500,000.

Castlesintheair - Oooh. Can you link to the house you saw that was reduced from €350,000. Just outside a small town is perfect for us.

We don't want to be in the Cote d'Azur. And boring is good. But my older two are at university and would probably like it if we are within walking distance of a bar.

AlphaBravoHenryFoxtons · 22/02/2015 17:02

AuldAlliance - Sorry, you said no hope in the SE. Yes. I get that impression. We aren't interested in skiing nor are we interested in the Med. So that should enable us to get something nice within budget, I think. I think I've now drawn a big box of a search area:
La Rochelle and a line East to Nevers then south to Perpignan, W to Biarritz then back up to La Rochelle.

I am very drawn to Pau and Orthez. We might then be able to get the 24 hour ferry from Plymouth the Santander and drive back up into France.

riverboat1 · 22/02/2015 18:13

In SW, maybe try around Mimizan or Biscarosse Plage in Les Landes. Both towns with bars, restaurants etc. The latter is v. touristy but in a very kitschy/retro/French seaside town way and there are tons of bars and restaurants, including many away from the tourist bustle. If your kids would be interested in surfing and the whole surf scene, the SW coast is the place to be.

riverboat1 · 22/02/2015 18:15

Oops, I wrote that before I saw your last post, don't know how those ideas fit with your search area

castlesintheair · 23/02/2015 15:09

Alpha, sorry I can't find the link. Can't remember which estate agent it's on with but will check when back in France next week. It's out of your search area (east Loire) so not sure it's what you want. If you are interested in The Charente, I know a house for sale there in a lovely village.

riverboat1, love the sound of SW France that you describe. Pity we are stuck in the boring Centre for the time being.