If you are contemplating buying property in Europe, you’ll find that few other European countries can match what France has to offer, especially when considering price. The choice of properties selling for less than $100,000 is incredible. And we’re not talking about only ruins and renovation projects, either.
France Articles
Three Little-Known Havens in Italy, France and SpainPosted on April 17, 2013 by Steenie Harvey
If you’re in love with classic Europe and its history, romance and culture, take heart: Spain, Italy and France aren’t only for the vacationer who saves for months just to visit. Each one of these three countries has numerous small towns and villages that lie under the radar—places with enticingly affordable properties to rent or buy
Live the Good Life In the World’s Blue ZonesPosted on March 25, 2013 by International Living
What’s the secret to a long, healthy, and enjoyable life? A group of researchers believe that residents of five Blue Zones around the world know it. They have the longest life spans on Earth and are less likely to suffer from heart disease, cancer, and other serious conditions.
Mansions and Luxury HomesPosted on February 25, 2013 by International Living
Oak floors, chandeliers, large fireplaces, and exposed wood beams are things you’d expect to find in a chateau. And this perfect country getaway in Normandy has them all. Built in 1881, it’s set on five acres and surrounded by a mixture of lush green pastures and the forest of Eu. There’s a fruit orchard and the Yres River runs through the property, with a bridge leading to a private island.
Secret Burgundy: The Lure of Yonne, FrancePosted on January 24, 2013 by Barbara Diggs
For many people, the word “Burgundy” usually brings to mind either a deep purple-red color or an excellent bottle of wine. Here’s what comes to my mind… Fairy-tale woods, winding trails, velvety-brown cattle sitting heavily in the grass, nipping at clover. Springtime hills draped in lemon-yellow blossoms…
Romantic HideawaysPosted on January 24, 2013 by International Living
At 129 square feet, this apartment is what real-estate agents call “cozy.” But it’s Paris, city of love and romance. From your fifth-floor balcony you have a view of Place de la République. The square gives its name to the historic neighborhood that surrounds it, where the 3rd, 10th and 11th arrondissements (districts) come together. Le Marais, where some of the oldest buildings in the city line winding, narrow streets, is just a five-minute walk away.
Buy from $100,000 in the South of FrancePosted on September 17, 2012 by Steenie Harvey
Southern France isn’t only a dream-turned-reality for seriously wealthy buyers. Not if you target lesser-known locations. The problem—if problem is the word—is that there is a tremendous amount of south. Without months to spare, uncovering it all is impossible. But here’s one solution.
Southern France’s Affordable Secret: Buy from $100,000Posted on August 24, 2012 by Steenie Harvey
Roman arenas and triumphal arches suggest Italy. Bullfights and paella sound remarkably like Spain. But they’re as much a part of France’s sunny south as lavender fields and bouillabaisse. So, too, are village houses for $100,000 to $187,500. Southern France isn’t only a dream-turned-reality for seriously wealthy buyers. Not if you target lesser-known locations.
Europe: Now More Affordable Than Ever for North AmericansPosted on August 22, 2012 by International Living
Right now, doom and gloom in Europe runs deep. But there is a story not being told…one of opportunity borne of this crisis. A story of places where you could own your own piece of the Old World…for less than half the price of a budget family sedan. In Greece and beyond—prices are falling like a rock. And for anybody who ever mused about a European retreat, that’s the silver lining.
Follow the Painters’ Trail in the South of FrancePosted on August 14, 2012 by Steenie Harvey
Picasso’s Night Fishing at Antibes doesn’t resemble any fishing activity I’ve ever seen. But it’s fun seeing reproductions of art works displayed where they were painted. All along the French Riviera and into the Provencal back country of hill towns, vineyards and flower fields, I kept coming across spots on the region’s Painters’ Trail.
Off the Beaten Path in Provence, FrancePosted on August 11, 2012 by Steenie Harvey
Provence in France. Saying its name evokes memories of sun-drenched hills, starry nights, and the scent of sea-salted rosemary and thyme. Birds sing in olive groves, bees drone in vineyards, flowers spill from terracotta pots. In villages with crinkly-tiled roofs, lizards scurry into niches just as their lizard ancestors did in the Middle Ages.
Off the Beaten Track in Lavender-Spun ProvencePosted on July 26, 2012 by Steenie Harvey
Provence. Saying its name evokes memories of sun-drenched hills, starry nights, and the scent of sea- salted rosemary and thyme. Birds sing in olive groves, bees drone in vineyards, flowers spill from terracotta pots. In villages with crinkly-tiled roofs, lizards scurry into niches just as their lizard ancestors did in the Middle Ages.
Paris Beyond The ClichésPosted on July 26, 2012 by Steenie Harvey
Most tourists give Paris’s 12th arrondissement a miss. But a lack of showpiece landmarks and museums doesn’t mean lack of character. East of the Bastille, this mostly residential neighborhood offers an intriguing taste of Paris without the clichés. Stretching from the Bastille to Place de la Nation, Faubourg Saint-Antoine is one of the 12th’s principal shopping streets.
The Little-known Stretch of the French RivieraPosted on July 3, 2012 by Steenie Harvey
Although southern France comes with a medieval legacy of troubadour poets, I never expected to see a poetry shop. But there’s one in the harbor town of Cassis. Framed and written on marbled paper, there are over 4,000 poems on love, life and friendship to choose from. Dominated by a fortress castle and with a back garden of vineyards, Cassis is the unhyped Riviera…
The Real FrancePosted on June 30, 2012 by Steenie Harvey
From rosé wines to summer sunflowers, there’s nothing gray about France’s sunlit south. If you love art, history, kind weather and good food, the pleasures of Provence are almost endless. And what’s more, the Mediterranean is its playground.
War and Peace in France’s MeauxPosted on June 15, 2012 by Steenie Harvey
Given the proximity to Paris, property prices are less than you might expect. In Meaux and nearby villages, 120,000 euro – 250,000 euro ($151,000 – $315,000) delivers plenty of individual houses, some spacious enough for a small B&B. For example, 209,000 euro ($263,000) buys a restored, 1,400-square-foot stone house with a garden and small swimming pool in a village 20 minutes drive from Meaux.
Scouting For Homes in Southern FrancePosted on June 13, 2012 by Steenie Harvey
A medieval village of stone-built houses and vaulted passageways, Villars sur Var fits my idea of “the real France.” Following the farming community’s rhythm of the seasons, life probably hasn’t changed that much for decades.
Property Bargains in Paris, FrancePosted on June 11, 2012 by Steenie Harvey
No part of Paris can be described as inexpensive, but the 20th is comparatively more affordable than its central arrondissements. Although invariably bijou, studio apartments can be had for under $200,000. For example, a 19-square-meter (204-square-foot) studio for $189,000. It sounds small, but all across Paris, numerous vacation-rental studios are no larger.
Bargain Hunting for Property in Paris, FrancePosted on May 31, 2012 by Steenie Harvey
A Boulevard St-Germain landmark, Café de Flore is one of Paris’s most hallowed literary cafés. I adore art deco elegance, but it isn’t somewhere I’d frequent regularly. Not after seeing the prices—$6.86 for a cafe crème, $8.45 for hot chocolate, $11.22 for a small beer. If it’s the hangout of the next Simone de Beauvoir or Picasso, I’d be astonished.
Hunting Pied-à-Terres in Paris’ Bargain DistrictsPosted on May 28, 2012 by Steenie Harvey
A Boulevard St-Germain landmark, Café de Flore is one of Paris’s most hallowed literary cafés. I adore art deco elegance, but it isn’t somewhere I’d frequent regularly. Not after seeing the prices—$6.86 for a cafe crème, $8.45 for hot chocolate, $11.22 for a small beer. If it’s the hangout of the next Simone de Beauvoir or Picasso, I’d be astonished.
Restore a French Historic Home (Grants Available)Posted on January 29, 2012 by Barbara Diggs
Six years ago, I received a birthday present worth over $70,000. No, I’m not friends with Oprah. We had recently fallen in love with—and bought—a crumbling, pigeon-infested, 150-year old maison bourgeoise in northern Burgundy, France, only two hours away from our apartment in Paris.
Restore Your French Dream House and Save ThousandsPosted on December 20, 2011 by Barbara Diggs
Six years ago, I received a birthday present worth over $70,000. No, I’m not friends with Oprah. The gift came in the form of a book about restoring farms and village houses and it was a nod to the massive restoration project my husband and I were about to undertake.
A Property Empire in Paris for $45,000Posted on August 31, 2011 by Adrian Leeds
I was lucky, not smart, when I bought my first Paris apartment, but it was still the smartest thing I ever did. I simply didn’t want to move from my 17th-century pied-à-terre in Le Marais district when the owners wanted to sell.
Live Well in Europe: Where to Find the Good Life for Less in France, Spain, and ItalyPosted on August 29, 2011 by International Living
Europe has so much to offer a potential expat…great food, a diverse choice of cultures, stunning countryside where life is quiet and relaxed and the buzz of everyday life seems a million miles away, awe-inspiring mountains for skiing and soft, sandy beaches for wiling away summer days…
But isn’t Europe expensive? That’s the observation we hear most about Europe and the answer is that Europe can be expensive…unless you know the right places to look!
In this report we’ll tell you about our favorite places in “Romantic Europe” and hope to make you dream of new places in the “Old World.”
A Romantic Corner of France from $92,000Posted on August 22, 2011 by Steenie Harvey
Wednesday is market day in Piégut-Pluviers, a town in the north of Aquitaine’s Dordogne département. A French country market is a gastronomic Garden of Eden, so leaving these stalls of foie gras, saucissons and cheeses feels like being cast into the wilderness.
Fractional Ownership the French WayPosted on May 24, 2011 by Gregory Mose
La Bruyere is one of those dreamy, remote French farmhouses that make you ache for your own place in the sun. You get exposed stone, terra cotta roof tiles, and an idyllic rural location with the restaurants and shopping of Bergerac just a stone’s throw away. This sort of house makes you want to ask the owners, “How on earth did you find this place?”
Finding Real Estate in Paris: What You Need to KnowPosted on May 4, 2011 by Adrian Leeds
One thing to keep in mind when searching for properties, which we find true primarily in such a competitive market as Paris: properties advertised on websites, in magazines and even agency windows have either been sold and have not been yet removed from the advertising or have been on the market a long time…for good reason.
Renting Your Paris Apartment for ProfitPosted on May 4, 2011 by Adrian Leeds
Paris rentals come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. An apartment rented unfurnished is a very different animal from one that is rented for vacation use completely equipped for as little as a few days or by the week.
Cover Story: Corsica–The Affordable French Island You’ve Never Heard OfPosted on January 26, 2011 by Steenie Harvey
The luminous hour before sunset is special. Every bay is a brilliant turquoise. Villages take on a honeyed glow; vineyards are dusted with gold; mountain crags flare orange. Out to the west, rocky islets change from dusky pink to a deep blood-red.
Corsica’s Seaside Towns and Island VillagesPosted on January 20, 2011 by Steenie Harvey
Teetering above the north-west coast, the villages of the Balagne region in Corsica, France, have a grandstand view of white yachts, silver sands and luminous blue sea. I spent one day of my October trip driving between these settlements.
Corsica: The Best of France and Italy in One Enchanting IslandPosted on January 19, 2011 by Steenie Harvey
Fresh air, fish stew, red wine. I’ll sleep. Tonight’s lullaby is the murmur of waves and the tinkle of masts in Macinaggio’s harbor. Earlier I’d walked the village’s Sentier Douane, a seashore footpath once used by customs officers hunting for smugglers. Views are spectacular: the turquoise Mediterranean, a crumbling Genoese watchtower, the tiny trio of Finocchiarola islets.
“My House in Provence More than Pays for Itself”Posted on December 30, 2010 by Maria Trenzado
The hardest thing about owning a home in France is leaving it. From the moment I looked through a viewfinder at the age of eight and saw slides of rolling French landscapes, I’ve been hooked. But it wasn’t until 2004 that my lifelong dream of owning a place in France became reality.
Corsica, France: The Mediterranean’s Unspoiled IdyllPosted on November 16, 2010 by Steenie Harvey
Fresh air, fish stew, red wine. I’ll sleep. Tonight’s lullaby is the murmur of waves and the tinkle of masts in Macinaggio’s harbor. Earlier, I’d walked the village’s Sentier Douane, a seashore footpath once used by customs officers hunting for smugglers.
How to Grab French Property at a Fraction of Its ValuePosted on April 12, 2010 by Adrian Leeds
There’s a wonderful 1972 French film called Le Viager. Its comic plot revolves around an unscrupulous French doctor who becomes so convinced one of his patients is about to die that he persuades the supposed invalid to enter into a very particular type of annuity contract.
France’s Prettiest Villages—Fantasy Homes for Less Than $100,000Posted on June 25, 2009 by International Living
The warm sun on your face, the aroma of crushed grapes, a view toward the Pyrénées mountains… For a wine lover, I can think of no bigger thrill than owning a vineyard. Especially if that vineyard is in southwestern France.
Live Inside a Storybook: Buy in France’s Secret SouthwestPosted on June 25, 2009 by Steenie Harvey
Everyone loves bargains. But despite the economic downturn, you might think the romance of living in a restored mill in the South of France costs quite a bit more than $230,000. As for a chateau for less than $450,000…surely that’s pure fantasy?
France’s Best-Kept Property Secret Just 90 Minutes From ParisPosted on February 2, 2009 by International Living
Where can you find a solid stone village house of 1,400 square feet, ready to move into, for $84,000? Your neighbors make a world-famous white wine, and on your doorstep is a nature reserve and one of Europe’s last wild rivers.
Your Alpine Ski Chalet for $94,000…Plus, Guaranteed RentalPosted on November 20, 2008 by International Living
Worried about the credit crunch and having to cut back on your spending? Don’t let it stop you taking vacations—I’ve found a way for you to enjoy winter vacations…and make them pay for themselves.
- Buy a Home in Provence and Save $42,000
Posted on November 14, 2008 by International Living
If the name Provence makes your heart soar but has your wallet diving for cover, I have some good news. I’ve found new property in the heart of this lavender-filled region that not only costs you less, but also brings you income in euros. And it’s just a few miles from the most prestigious vineyards of the south.
- Your Home in a Wine Paradise for $36,000
Posted on October 28, 2008 by International Living
Imagine waking up in your own cozy 18th-century house, looking out over a green patchwork of vineyards. You stroll down to the medieval square for an espresso and gaze down from the ramparts at the Loire river and its ever-changing banks. You buy lunch from the local market, choosing earthy cêpe mushrooms, tender lettuce, free range duck, and fresh creamy cheeses just right for your crusty baguette—and, of course, a bottle of your favorite wine, cost price from the producer.
- Bordeaux: Paris—Without the Label
Posted on August 13, 2008 by International Living
If you like red wine, chances are you enjoy a drop of good Bordeaux. And if you like cities with a history, a laidback lifestyle, and drop-dead-gorgeous architecture, you won’t be able to resist the old port city where this wine was shipped from. And the good news is that property prices in Bordeaux are less than half those in the capital.
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