We all love France, its lifestyle, culture cuisine and natural beauty. It is only a short trip for us Brits and we love its wines, of course! Increasingly, too, we have come to love buying property in France - whether it's that little Gite in Normandy, a well-appointed farmhouse in the Dordogne or some difficult-to-resist French leaseback investment property on the ski slopes of Les Trois Vallees.
Unaffordable with the Euro so high?
There is no doubt that the recent strengthening of the Euro against the pound in recent months has made any property in Euroland appear that much more expensive. However, imagine that you had bought a year ago - all that appreciation in the Euro's value would have pushed up the value of your investment and the same will hold true into the future. As the Euro increases in value and the property you own goes up in Euro terms so the value of your investment benefits in both ways.
Only if you believe the Euro is poised for a dramatic plunge should you worry about the exchange rate when considering where to invest - the fundamentals of France remain healthy and the Euro looks likely to stay where it is for some while yet.
Leaseback - one of France's greatest exports
The leaseback scheme in France has been a major innovation in its property market and has been the model for many other markets around the world. The rental yields are not always as high as offered elsewhere but in France you can be sure they are robustly calculated and the resale value of your property can be far more reliable.
Take a look at some of the variety available within the French leaseback scheme.
The stars are coming
Hollywood star couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have recognised the joys France has to offer and have recently purchased a property in south of France, with Jolie giving birth to her newest children in a hospital in the glamourous city of Nice. Surely, if France is good enough for LA's most glittering and loved-up couple - it's good enough for us rain-drenched Brits.
Following the rich and famous can prove a lucrative way of investing in overseas property - they frequently have excellent advisors and they also provide a draw factor for holiday-makers, making the prospects for renting out your property suddenly that little bit better. A paparazzi pad, anyone?
