We moved to La Creuse ( department) in the Limousin.
Not sure where to start so PM if you have any questions. We wanted to be within 50 mins of an airport served by low cost flights and had good occupancy to ensure long term use. Limoges fits that. Family visit often and we can get back quickly if needed by kids.
The are is VERY rural and we chose the hilly part ( over a 1000 feet). Good soil used for grazing cattle with lots of lakes.
Our "fermette" is a 2 bedroom house but we have converted the loft into a large bedroom - so the house is on 3 levels and attached to a massive barn. The chickens have a house in the barn and door to the outside world. The pigs live at the other end of the barn with their door to a paddock area. We have another barn with a cellar below and a bit of a garden we don't use across the lane. We have a very large hanger to keep a massive log store ( wood central heating) , the car and garden tools etc. Oh -
Buying was easy via an Estate Agent with English staff - they sorted out all the legal stuff and there are no such things as surveyors here. It was cheap - so we did not need a mortgage. There are lots of tips we can give you if you want but do look at Angloinfo.com for info on banking,running a car,health and other aspects of a new life. It can't be bad as the English free newspaper tells us that there are 8000 brits who live in the massive Limousin. Check out the local climate !! We have very cold but short winters, the sun is generally warmer when it comes out and it is too hot to work in August.
This area is a smallholders heaven !!!
Rennovation can be expensive but we know some good websites that will demonstrate what you can get for your money. Several rennovated old farms pop up as Brits sel up due to death, health or lack of work..There are several Just remember to stick to the criteria you have set for the smallholding and not to be swept away by cheap price of homes that are more than you need. PM if you want.,
Oh - working in France is a little complicated but otherwise it is all simples even if you don't speak great French. Lots to share about banking, health care, driving, insurrances but then we got most info off the web or estate agent to help us.
Cheers Martin and Christine