About France

A country for which the word chic was invented, seductive and aloof, old-fashioned yet forward thinking, but always characterised by a certain je ne sais quoi.

Assuming the position of the second most popular destination for Britons purchasing abroad over the last 5 years was no chance matter. Reason such as, fine cuisine, rich culture, diverse landscapes and vibrant cities have led to the popularity of the holiday home market within this multi cultural society. Over 2006 the holiday home market gave way to a more investment driven market, with over 20,000 Brits taking the plunge. Benefiting from a predominantly temperate climate, with mild winters, except in mountain areas and the northeast. The southern coastal plains are subject to a pleasant Mediterranean climate.

KEY FACTS

• Very strong tourist industry
• Stable economy
• Political democracy
• Strong opportunity for rental/re-sale
• Close to UK with sea, air and rail links

RENTAL RETURNS AND TOURISM

Fantastic opportunity as France remains the world’s number one tourist destination and has maintained its leading position for several years. Tourism accounts for 6.5% of GDP. Over 75m tourists visited France last year, 22m more than the second placed Spain. Industry is strong and unemployment is down, so there are plenty of opportunities for investors to participate in the buy to let market.

CAPITAL APPRECIATION AND THE PROPERTY MARKET

Property prices have grown by 87% between 1997 and 2006. Despite increasing competition from lower cost destinations it is predicted that the French property market will stay strong. In essence France is a first world country with a strong economic base and a well established property market which has delivered and continues to deliver a consistent track record of solid gains for the Investor.