Category Archives: Moving to France

If You Are Thinking of Buying Property in Languedoc

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In most of France, sales of property have been slow, but Languedoc is bucking the trend and continues to attract a lot of people to come to live here. However, although Languedoc is the most popular area, prices in Languedoc have only risen slightly as a lot more land has been released for new building.

According to the up-coming exhibitions like “A Place in the Sun” and “Vive la France”, the numbers of people now thinking of moving from Northern Europe to sunnier places, like here in Languedoc in the South of France, has increased steadily in recent years and is still very strong, although in many other regions of France the oposite seems to be happening – I fully understand, we left the UK over 20 years ago to find a better life (and we found it here by the Mediterranean).

If you are coming to Languedoc to look for property, stay with us in Villa Roquette and take advantage of my free service. With over 20 years of experience in France, buying, selling and renovating properties. I know which agents to trust and those to avoid, I know the region well and I can show you round and save you a lot of time.

My aim is to offer you accommodation in our home. I am not hasseling for sales commission, or pushing “bargains”. I give straightforward help and advice as a free service, no strings attached.

Make your base Villa Roquette in the heart of Languedoc, it will save you time and could save you a lot of money.

 

Buying a Property in Languedoc

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As the summer season comes to an end, the wine harvest begins and new visitors come to Languedoc to look for a new home. Many are seeking a holiday retreat, but many are now coming to Languedoc with the plan to make it a more permanent home.

We made the decision to come and live in France over 20 years ago; I criss-crossed France many times in the first four years before decisding that languedoc was the palce we would set down roots – our children all grew up here and we don’t regret our decision for a second.

When they were younger the kids wondered why we chose this place – now they have travelled and lived in other countries, worked in Paris London and new york – they all come home, and understand now our reasons.

In Villa Roquette we offer you the perfect base from which to discover the region of Languedoc, plus, I have over 20 years experience of buying, selling, renovating and building houses here. I have worked as an estate agent and know the “tricks of the trade” and the “trickery” sometimes performed on buyers.I am totally impartail and I am always happy to spend time with our guests, driging to meetings, translating, recommending the “good guys” Lawyers, arranging mortgages and banks, phones and the hundreds of little thing that take time.

If you are thinking of buying property in the South of France (I have good honest friends selling in Provence and Paris as well) come and stay at Villa Roquette, or Contact me

Living With History in Villa Roquette

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Our family has lived in this region of the South of France for nearly 20 years since we moved from the UK.

Six years ago, we bought a very large house, bit enough for a commercial guest house, but also, importantly, large enough for my mother to come and live with us and have her own private and e-secluded apartment and garden.

My Mum will be 90 next year and, thanks to the climate and wonderful services here, as well as her active mind, she is a valuable member of our family – her Sunday roast lunches are a highlight of the week and the kids always seem to be around for them, so we have traditional family lunch – perhaps this year with five generations around the same table.

Recently Mum has been writing about her life – she kept diaries and has edited these into an auto-biography for us – I only know the story since around 1951 when I was taken to the Festival of Britain – so reading about her schooldays – the land army – joining the navy – the war in Egypt and Palestine – is fascinating – she was a communications officer in the WRENS and took the signal as it came in about the sinking of the Bismark, evacuated from Tobruk, many fascinating scenes

She met and married my Father in Palestine and along I came 9 months later – but that is another story.

My Mum is keen for me to make a blog about her memoirs from the writing she is doing and publish these online – it is a real living snapshot of history and I am part of it in a small way.