French Real Estate
Cognac - World famous yet still a "hidden gem".
The property mantra of "location, location, location" is well
known in the UK/US markets but buyers of French property would
also be well advised to follow this golden rule.
You may well have read that house price inflation was slowing in
France (12% in 2005). However, with the European housing market
in the doldrums, the French property market can still offer a
great deal in terms of investment and capital growth.
One of the areas tipped by the experts as a "hot spot" is
Poitou-Charente and the market here was indeed active throughout
the last 12 months. In particular the area around Cognac in the
Charente seems both sensibly priced and, most importantly, is
extremely well located for overseas buyers.
Cognac is surrounded by no less than four airports (La Rochelle,
Bordeaux, Limoges & Poitiers) as well as being close to both the
Motorway network, allowing a four hour drive to St Malo, and TGV
service at Angouleme from which it is direct access to Paris &
one simple change to London Waterloo.
This all provides a great deal of comfort, as well as
convenience, to those who travel to/from the UK. They know that
regardless of the fortunes of the low cost airlines they will
always have easy access to their holiday homes. Beware those
locations that are solely reliant on one of the smaller airports
it could prove costly.
Of course ease of travel is not the only aspect of location
buyers are looking for. They want decent weather, pretty
villages, friendly locals and plenty of property to choose from.
The Charente has these characteristics in spades.
It is the second sunniest area of France with warm but not
oppressively hot Summers. It also boasts some of the most
beautiful villages in France. You will find them dotted
alongside the Charente river as it meanders it's way through the
countryside. The towns and villages are surrounded by both
sunflowers and of course the vines that produce the grapes for
one of the World's most popular digestifs.
Perhaps the success of the local Cognac, Pineau and wine
accounts for why the locals here are renowned throughout the
country for their laid back and generous attitudes. No holiday
should be taken here without sampling the delights of Remy
Martin, Hennessy, Courvoisier, Martell or one of the many
smaller Cognac houses dotted around.
All of this means that the region is popular with property
buyers throughout Europe & the US - but what do they get for
their money.
Property here is predominantly built out of the local stone
which is light in colour - take a stroll in any local village at
sunset and watch how the houses take on a warm glow. But as well
as stone houses & green (it's common but not obligatory!)
shutters there are still excellent bargains to be had.
At the base level a client of ours has just bought two excellent
plots of land totalling around 4,500 m2 for 50,000