Languedoc property news

Talk of green shoots in the UK economy and predictions that the recession might soon be over were reflected in increased visitor numbers at September 2009’s French Property Exhibition in London.

Despite the global downturn, there is a considerable amount of new build activity taking place in the southen French region of Languedoc-Roussillon, with contrasting projects offering buyers the choice between vineyard villas, traditional-style village houses and ultra-modern pads within a golf resort.

Top UK hotelier Gordon Campbell Gray is to launch a new eco-hotel in Languedoc-Roussillon. According to Campbell Gray (the man behind London’s ultra-chic One Aldwych hotel and others across the world), Lodge St Germain will be an alternative to the more spartan “boot camp” style health retreats found elsewhere in Europe; he describes his Languedoc venture as “rustic and pure – but it will also be extremely environmentally considerate, and have a wonderful restaurant.”

London’s annual French property and lifestyle event, the France Show, was held at Earls Court from January 9 – 11th. Organised by the Archant Life group (publishers of French Property News, Living France and France magazine), it is always a good place to judge levels of UK consumer interest in French property.

We now bring you the views of agents selling some of Languedoc’s most noteworthy new build developments. Read on for the inside track, and some background that may well be of interest to house hunters in the southern French region of Languedoc-Roussillon.

With the credit crunch biting hard in the UK and French estate agents (particularly those working with British and Irish clients) experiencing a slow down in sales enquiries, we felt it was time to test the water and find out how things really are.

Property prices grew steadily in France from the late 1990s through to 2007, and although agents are now seeing a pronounced slow down in sales and prices becalmed, the French estate agency federation (FNAIM), predicts “a stable year for property prices in France in 2008”...

Sales of holiday homes in France have dropped as a result of the current financial crisis – some newspapers report that the number of Brits buying homes in the Dordogne has halved recently, and Languedoc property professionals are certainly finding themselves with time on their hands...

Owners unable to sell second homes are resigning themselves to long-term winter lets to tide them over the next six months, meaning that for Brits dead-set on relocating to the Languedoc (and indeed other parts of the south of France), there should be an increased selection of homes to rent...

If you’re planning a property purchase or wondering whether to move to Languedoc-Roussillon, you need to know about a report just published that lists the very best places to live in France.

Languedoc-Roussillon - France’s fastest-growing business centre after Paris-Ile de France and one of Europe’s most dynamic regions – has opened its fourth overseas city foothold, in central London’s Cavendish Square.

To make it easy to see what good value Languedoc real estate represents compared to some of its pricier neighbours in Provence and other parts of the country, we’ve pulled out the relevant figures and popped them into a table.

France’s news and current affairs magazines regularly publish special issues on the French property market, based on latest facts and figures released by a variety of sources, including Notaires de France (notaires are the officials responsible for over-seeing all French property transactions), FNAIM (the French estate agents’ association) and FONCIA (one of France’s leading property sales and management companies).

Languedoc-Roussillon’s regional capital Montpellier was recently in the spotlight in French current affairs magazine L’Expansion.

Figures distributed at Montpellier’s Salon de l’Immoblilier property show this month show that growth is predicted over the next six months (April-September 2008) for selected spots within the Languedoc region.

Reports from the UK’s RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) and the FNAIM (the French estate agents’ federation) would seem to show that as far as French bricks and mortar are concerned, the va-va-voom has vamoosed.

Languedoc-Roussillon records France’s highest rise in taxe foncière over last five years

South of France's 'boom-town' set for Brit house hunting frenzy with launch of new low-cost flights

France is still one of the most popular places for Brits to buy homes overseas, maintaining its second place in 2007 despite the US sub prime mortgage crisis and reports of the market going soft as people start to feel the “credit crunch.”

According to the findings of L'Express magazine, published at the end of 2007, the Languedoc-Roussillon département of Lozère is the very best place to retire to, all things considered.

According to a survey conducted by French news magazine L’Express, the Languedoc-Roussillon département of Aude offers the very best quality of life for older folk or “les seniors”, as they are known in French.

It used to be the case that if you wanted to build, refurbish, renovate or extend a property in France, you had to jump through hoops, fill in forms and contribute to the flow of paperwork that France is famous for.

Languedoc-Roussillon and the south east show the best regional property price increases, while French property market experiences slowest growth since 1998.

Amid fears that there was no longer a market for a French lifestyle event here in the UK, following the demise of Vive la France under Blendon last year, Archant Life France have well and truly proved the doubters wrong with their first ever France Show.

With Eurostar’s recent move to its new international terminal at London’s Saint Pancras station, UK newspapers have been full of French property stories, praising the train as the faster, greener way to get to your second home across the Channel.

In the December 2007 issue of UK magazine French Property News, editor Karen Tait sings the praises of the Languedoc region.

According to recent research by currency exchange provider HiFX, France is one of the least stressful countries to move to.

New figures released on where the British buy property world-wide.

A recent report sheds much light on how, where and why British buy property in France.

According to figures released in October 2007 by FNAIM (the French estate agents’ federation), prices for resale property failed to rise in the third quarter of the year...

As predicted, the Bank of England has decided to keep UK interest rates on hold at 5.75 per cent for October 2007...

Recent statistics from FNAIM - the French estate agency association - show that investing in property in Languedoc yields higher returns then that in Provence...

One date that’s always in the Crème de Languedoc diary is the three-day French property show at London’s Olympia show hall, held every year in January...

“Are any parts of France still to be invaded by foreign house-hunting hordes?” asked UK specialist magazine French Property News in its September issue...

When it comes to purchasing homes in France, the Brits out-do every other nationality...

Properties with “en-suite” vineyards have particularly found favour with English speakers; according to Adam Dakin of Vignobles Investissement...

Deep down in the south of France, Languedoc-Roussillon is right next door to Provence, but light years away in style...

The founders of Crème de Languedoc were recently asked by UK property trade magazine OPP why Brits are flocking to buy homes in the Languedoc region...

The rundown on 3 of Languedoc's newest and best property developments - from property journalist Louise Hurren.

Journalist Mary Novakovich says: “With its wealth of historic towns, varied natural beauty, and great food and wine, this region in south-west France is a real delight....

France still holds a special place in home buyers’ and holiday makers’ hearts – it’s official....

France is the favourite European destination for Britons looking to move abroad, according to results of a survey announced in June 2007....

According for foreign currency exchange firm Moneycorp, 14 per cent of their customers looking to buy abroad chose to look for a place in France....

The Sunday Times recently published a French property buying supplement for Ireland, and asked Crème de Languedoc for our input....

We've compiled the very latest property figures for France and the Languedoc region - to give you a quick snapshot of how the French property market is faring.

According to recent reports in French magazine Le Nouvel Observateur (March 22-28, 2007) and figures released by French estate agents’ federation FNAIM, great things are on the horizon for the Languedoc town of Béziers.

Ever wondered where property journalists get their figures from? As someone who writes French property features for a living, I’m used to getting info sent to me, mostly by email. Every day, press releases drop into my mailbox from PRs, property developers, promoters and estate agents....

Investors in property in Languedoc, south France, have something to smile about since the beginning of 2007: a new law now effectively boosts the value of leaseback properties for owners who decide to sell....

A report just published by Mintel has confirmed the current trend of overseas home ownership by Brits. In the two years since 2004, the number of people who own a second home overseas has grown by 250,000 to 800,000 – an increase of 45 per cent – and the trend shows no sign of fading.

10 per cent of all second homes in the Languedoc belong to owners who reside permanently outside of France, as revealed in a survey published by the DRE (la Direction Régionale de l’Equipement)

New rules governing the sale of French homes came into effect on November 1, 2006, stipulating that a report on a property's eco-friendly rating has to be produced.

Three property stories that suggest British investment in French property will continue to grow.

Price rises in Languedoc are still strong - but slowing. Perpignan represents a particularly good investment opportunity at the moment.

With Ryanair launching a new route from Shannon to Carcassonne on October 12, 2006, the Languedoc region looks set to see an influx of Irish house hunters.

French property is topping Google's search lists - which is good news for French property owners looking to sell their property.

French survey votes Hérault department one of the very best places to live - helping to explain recent property price rises.

Detailed research from Assetz, the UK’s leading property investment specialist, shows French property is still on the up.

Alex Charles, co-founder of Crème de Languedoc, makes the case for why overseas investors should not miss out on this strong investment opportunity. 

Official figures from FNAIM suggest that property prices in Languedoc are still far lower, and rising faster, than those in Provence.

If you have an overseas holiday home or second property that you rent out, the taxman could soon be turning his attention to your affairs....  

Renting a gite - or running a B&B? A recent report claims that visitor numbers to and spending in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France are so far strong for the 2006 season...

Want the latest news on the French property scene? Wondering what house prices are doing in the Languedoc? You’ve come to the right place. We’ve got hold of figures just released by the French National Estate Agents’ Association (FNAIM).