The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: r+lchick on October 23, 2009, 01:20:21 pm
-
Looking on the members map, there are few members in France. How did you guy get on with buying a property over there. Any better web site to look for? Ros :cat: :chook:
-
Property in France used to be very cheap compared to here but it has crept up considerably. John (2nd husband) and I often thought of moving there as I have French dogs, but we couldn't agree on where - he wanted the Pyrenees as he was a Mountain Leader, I wanted the North coast near a ferry port or the rail link so I could still do the shows and trials over here. We never did actually do it. We were advised at that time - about 10 years ago - you need to put down a 10% deposit as soon as you offer (non returnable) and that you should allow at least 10% above the offer price for fees/costs etc. Does that still apply?
-
New Beginnings - I did mean to plant a seed - there's always other ways to live.
I left the UK after a lot of problems and stress - 15 years ago
Never looked back since
Love it here in Ireland - my daughter has a wonderful life
compared to my childhood.
A seed planted - its worth a look around, but France to me would
be hard because I cannot speak french and am useless at Languages
There are a lot of English speaking countries too, Ireland, Wales,
England, America, Malta, New Zealand and Australia if you really want
distance from the past ;D ;D ;D but r+lchick - keep all your options
open, but listen to you heart girl all the best, and talk to that boyfriend
of yours about how you feel too, cause you are important part of his life.
-
we bought in Bulgaria & love it here its much cheaper than France ,its a lovely climate warm in spring & autumn, hot in summer & real snow in winter, the language is hard but the people are realy friendly & a lot of them speak some english, most houses have 2000m2 gardens & the grazing land is free for all residents to use, & there arnt many EU rules yet.
-
Its very easy, prices vary enormously from road to road, region to region. A good starter site is Anglo Info - they have regional sites. Its not unusual for a house to be on the agents books for a couple of years (so I am told) and I read that it is the norm to offer around 20% less than the asking price and as dogandjo says allow around 10% for the fees.
-
One of our options is that he sells is house, leaving him without a mortgage to pay. We then pay off my house as quick as possible. We could then buy a place outright with his proffit and mine. (Sounds good on paper) He is a teacher by trade (tertiary education special needs) and so very patient (honest). I already come from Australia (been here 24 years, lost the accent you see that's why you can't tell) and we have so many tapes on learning to speak French, German and every language under the sun. This guy is 52 and the first time he has been outside this country is when I took him to Paris for a day (Euroshuttle). Never had the time or the money (ex kept him broke). I really think he would love to work in a different country and speak a new language. This is an option. Will need to think about this one. Will keep you all posted. If we do, I expect holiday visitors. Ros :cat: :chook: Roxy - I could have my goats then.
-
Its worth looking into Bulgaria if you want to move abroad a few people I know have moved here from Spain & France ,& prices are really low at the moment, theres a big house 12 rooms 2000Msq garden for sale accross the road from ours for 7000lev thats about 3500pounds it needs work but all easy enough to do,
-
My dad and stepmother live in France - they used to drive about until and ask people until they arrived somewhere that just felt right and the owner of the place they were staying told them about a semi derelict cottage that could possibly be for sale. They were introduced to the landowner and the mayor and it all just fell into place.
-
First step in French rural life - know the mayor after which anything (well almost) is possible
-
Well guys if you have seen my other post, we are going for it. But we have to wait and get some money behind us as we don't want to go over with a mortgage. So my French Accidental Smallholders, may I contact you with a list full of questions as long as your arm? I don't think the forum could take the amout of questions I have. At the end I could summarise it all and post it separately, if anyone wishes the information. As we are both catholics (very sliped) we thought going to church would be a good way of getting our face noticed. (First time a religion has done some good - but we won't get into that discussion) Ros :cat: :chook:
-
Well done Ros - so pleased that you have considered all the options
and plan to get out of the life thats not working for you both - Well done
and good luck and lotsa love - Julie
-
Hi ask away.
-
Guys, may have hit a snag. Inheritence Law in France. Got it from the site Mr Ree sent me. www.angloinfo.com (http://www.angloinfo.com). By law, the kids are entitled to a 1/3 of his estate no matter what he puts in his will and if I wanted to sell, it could get messy. Will have to look into this a lot more. Ros
-
My brother and I looked into this for our folks. We encouraged them to have the house deeds just in my step mothers name. So my dad doesn't own it but then she has security. He doesn't care about ownership anyway and we are not interested in inheritance.
Simon and I formed a family trust to hold property for each other until we're both buried. So with a good lawyer you probably have a few options.
-
Hi, it can be complicated. There is a way to buy (tontine) where in the whole property reverts to the survivor when one partner dies. Its possible to "gift" the property to who so ever you want as long as you are alive at the time. The gifter has written into the agreement that they have the right to live in the property rent free for life.
You really need to get some proper legal advice. Wait until you have found your property. An awful lot can change in a year here, let alone 5. Dont be put off.
-
Marigold, does your stepmother have any children. I don't buy I would not like my money grabbing slug of a sister getting her hands on any of it. (Love her really). However, that would be one proposal. We will look have to look into this but there has got to be a way around it, otherwise all french parents would be stuffed. Thanks for all your help again. PS. We watched "The Day of the Jackal" in French last night. Trouble is, we fell asleep. Ros :cat: :chook:
-
Yep Step mother has a daughter and i fully expect her to make sure she gets everything. Still my brother and sister and I all agreed that the parents happiness now is more important than our pockets later on. Its probably not an ideal situation but the point I was trying to make was that with knowledgable help there might be various options. Will be interesting to hear what more you discover
-
but the point I was trying to make was that with knowledgable help there might be various options.
Marigold has made my point exactly, only more succinctly.
-
We are definitely making all the right moves to make it to France. However, we have come to the conclusion that if BF can't get a job teaching english, we may have to rethink the whole thing. He has been in the situation before where he has hated his job and does not want to take a step backwards. So next year he is doing the TESOL (Teaching english as a second language) and will try and persuade the college where he works now to do the course. We have a lot of foreigners around the college. If not he is going to get some part time work to gain the experience. Anyone interested, it is a year course affiliated to St Trinity College in London. There are weekend courses but we have steered clear of them and the qualification may not equate over in France (plus you can't learn it in a weekend). If we don't move to France, we will certainly move to somewhere else. To all our French friends out there, we haven't given up the dream but are being realistic. We have a fair few years before we can claim our pension, so have to be happy in our jobs. We have our French tapes out and spend an hour a night practicing. BF's reading of french is better than his speaking. But he is a bright boy. We will just have to see. Any further advice and suggestions as to what is a definite bring to France, would be appreciated. (Polytunnel? or you don't need them). Thanks. Ros :cat: :chook:
-
Northern France polytunnel definitely. My OH was a technical author in his other life. Came out here to an agency job. Almost as we got on the boat the agency collapsed. He works as a gardener for the local authority. No money, still happy. Wouldnt change.
-
What does he teach now? I did a TEFL qualification years ago and it took me around Asia for a few years. When I came back I taught students privately in Dundee to finance going to Uni. Self employment as an english coach might be a possibility? Quite a lot of people wanting to study English in Europe need to practice speaking for business purposes because they learn grammar etc at school and never get a chance to communicate and develop and accent that anyone can understand.
-
He majored in maths and minored in physis. He teaches everything from basic needs maths to A Level Maths at a disabled college. He also does private tuition for every age from 6 years to GCSE in every subject and also does A Level Maths private tuition. In an ideal world, the ideal job would be teaching english and maths at the local primary school. If he could teach at a special needs school, even better. (The classes are smaller and the language simpler.) He wants to do a job that he likes. If he does a job he hates , it would be a step backwards. He is joining up to do the TESOL course accredited by Trinity College. We did think of seeing if a local big company would want english lessons for their employees. Unfortunately, we have to be patient. We have seen a few houses on the internet that we like and I have had to hold him back to buying a house now and renting out with the view of taking possession in 5 years time. But first, we have to have a look around. Thanks for your help. Hope the above answers your question. If you have any further suggestions, we would appreciate it. Roslyn :cat: :chook:
-
Naturally it will change in 5 years, however there are jobs teaching English, whereby no french is spoken. Its all run by an association here, its a course, every professor in every school teaching exactly the same way, using songs, music, stories etc.
I know very little about it, it might be worth considering nearer the time. My friend got the job through the Employment office here.