| According to Brice Bonato, Managing Director of | | | | willingness to accept much lower offers. In the North of |
| Sextant French Property Agents, the French property | | | | the department, in hamlets like Nontron or small villages |
| market looks set for an interesting 2009, due to a | | | | such as La Coquille, prices remain really cheaper than |
| mixture of further price reductions, cut in interest rates | | | | the area surrounding Bergerac (where one would find |
| and a good deal of properties on offers, both in resale | | | | the international airport) and guaranteed bargains are |
| and French new build markets. | | | | to be made by people with a good knowledge of the |
| Although most of the people here in the UK looking to | | | | market. |
| purchase a property in France seem to be "waiting to | | | | Property for sale in Limousin |
| see what will happen", especially with the current state | | | | In the Limousin, which remains the cheapest place in |
| of the Sterling, others are actively looking and | | | | France for someone looking to purchase a property, |
| negotiating very good deals. In fact, some have | | | | the average cost for a house is now 92 200 EUR; the |
| realised that given the combination of price reductions | | | | Creuse department remains the cheapest of all with a |
| and lower offers being accepted, prices of most | | | | 2-bedroom house costing an average 68 600 EUR. |
| properties on the French market have remained stable | | | | Prices are expected to drop a further 5% to 10% in |
| in sterling terms - the 25% fall in the pound's value that | | | | the course of 2009, but nobody really expects it to go |
| occurred over the past year has put many potential | | | | below this as prices are already very low. On top of |
| purchasers off; which is easily understandable. | | | | that, the opening of the new airport in Brive la Gaillarde |
| Waiting to see what will happen | | | | (expected soon) should see prices in the Correze |
| Indeed, the current situation favours purchasers rather | | | | department increase, especially in the villages that |
| than vendors, and most are accepting offers that | | | | could be reached in less than 1 hour from the |
| would have seemed comical just a few months ago. | | | | international airport. |
| Everybody is in agreement that the first six months of | | | | Property for sale in Languedoc |
| 2009 should remain a buyer's market and as such be | | | | In the Languedoc region, the favourite place for brits |
| an excellent time to property for sale in France. Then it | | | | looking for the sun, alongside the French food, wine |
| would not be surprising to see prices go up again, and | | | | and way of living, the average cost of a house is now |
| then, as a consequence, the return of mass | | | | 209 500 EUR; the Aude department, popular with |
| purchasers; the best deals will be gone by then as | | | | people looking around Carcassonne and Perpignan, or |
| vendors won't be in a position where they have to | | | | generally close to the sea, remains the cheapest with |
| agree to low offers. | | | | a 2-bedroom house costing an average 157 900 EUR |
| Property for sale in Brittany | | | | - the Gard and Herault departments, most popular with |
| In the Cotes d'Armor department of Brittany, which | | | | people looking for a Provence-style move, are very |
| has always been the most popular market with British | | | | close in prices, with the average cost for a house |
| expatriates, not only for its historical connection with | | | | being respectively 231,500 EUR and 232 000 EUR - |
| the British isles, but also because of its long-established | | | | prices in this region are expected to drop a further 5% |
| transport links with the UK, the average cost for a | | | | to 10% over the next year but most properties are |
| house is now 161 540 EUR; even though Brits | | | | having their prices reduced and owners seem content |
| purchased less properties in this corner of France over | | | | to accept much lower offers in this corner of France |
| the last year than previously due to the economic | | | | also. |
| downturn, they still represented 25% of buyers in the | | | | Property for sale in Normandy |
| first part of 2008. Areas further afield like Loudeac or | | | | Finally, in the Normandy region, also a traditional |
| Carhaix Plouguer remain favourites as prices are | | | | destination for property hunters from the UK due to |
| considerably cheaper than resorts closer to the sea | | | | the proximity to England, the average cost for a house |
| like Saint Malo for example; it is not unusual to see | | | | is now 156 800 EUR; prices have decreased during |
| habitable properties go under 50,000EUR in traditional | | | | 2008 and are expected to stabilize next year. |
| little villages such as these. | | | | As a conclusion, the uncertainty in Britain in particular |
| Property for sale in Aquitaine | | | | and in the world in general may encourage people to |
| In the Dordogne, also a popular destination for property | | | | buy a property in France. Indeed, compared with the |
| hunters from the UK, the average cost for a house is | | | | other overseas markets, France offers a very |
| now 150 100 EUR; the credit crisis is now having a | | | | protective purchasing system and low capital gain tax, |
| dramatic impact on the prices of properties that have, | | | | and is a long standing tried and tested market without |
| in the past, been popular with British buyers, especially | | | | the various risks that some of the emerging markets |
| the higher value and stone houses properties that are | | | | offer. And, in today's current climate, safety is priceless. |
| at reduced prices as owners are conveying a | | | | |