Foreign Buyers and Sellers of French Property
Wednesday 07 January 2015
British buyers continue to target the Dordogne, although neighbouring departments are also popular.
According to a recent market report from the Notaires de France, the Dordogne continues to be the hot-spot for British buyers, with the departments of Charente, Lot and Creuse also all attracting strong international buyer interest.
Interestingly, none of these departments are located in the sunniest regions of France, in Languedoc-Roussillon, or Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
Only one department in Languedoc-Rousillon has similar appeal as those above, being the department of Aude, which has historically attracted many British buyers.
The Hautes-Alpes continues to be popular with international buyers seeking a second home for winter holidays, and the Alpes Maritimes, on the border with Italy, has always been popular with Italian buyers.
The following graphic shows the percentage level of international buyers of existing older property in each department of France. No figures are available for the Ile-de-France.
But, of course, buyers generally later become sellers, so it is not surprising to see that in many of these same areas international property owners account for a large proporation of the sales.
The graphic shows the percentage level of international sellers of existing older property in each department of France, excluding the Ile-de-France.
As can be seen, most sales from international owners occurred in Dordogne, Lot, Alpes Maritimes and Hautes-Alpes.
Unfortunately, on this occasion the notaires do not provide hard figures on the actual number of purchases or sales.
However, the notaires state that, across the whole country, 3.8% of sales were by international owners and 4.3% of purchases were by international buyers.
Interestingly, none of these departments are located in the sunniest regions of France, in Languedoc-Roussillon, or Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
Only one department in Languedoc-Rousillon has similar appeal as those above, being the department of Aude, which has historically attracted many British buyers.
The Hautes-Alpes continues to be popular with international buyers seeking a second home for winter holidays, and the Alpes Maritimes, on the border with Italy, has always been popular with Italian buyers.
The following graphic shows the percentage level of international buyers of existing older property in each department of France. No figures are available for the Ile-de-France.
But, of course, buyers generally later become sellers, so it is not surprising to see that in many of these same areas international property owners account for a large proporation of the sales.
The graphic shows the percentage level of international sellers of existing older property in each department of France, excluding the Ile-de-France.
As can be seen, most sales from international owners occurred in Dordogne, Lot, Alpes Maritimes and Hautes-Alpes.
Unfortunately, on this occasion the notaires do not provide hard figures on the actual number of purchases or sales.
However, the notaires state that, across the whole country, 3.8% of sales were by international owners and 4.3% of purchases were by international buyers.
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