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90 and thinking of moving to France

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Leonorasamuelsonsandvid
  1/23/2018 03:01 EST

I live in the Far North of Scotland and am really sick of the long winters. I intend to purchase a heap of bricks or a static caravan and live on my income of 946euro, All pension so safe.
Any France-based estate agents or such who will not keep recommending villas in Nice or Alpine ski chalets?
I love nearly all areas of France so any tips will be welcome!
Lorna

Leonorasamuelsonsandvid
  1/28/2018 04:19 EST

Wot! No comments, warnings,encouragement? Is France too tame then? ;-)

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majgroves
  1/29/2018 15:44 EST

OK, I'll take a shot at it.
Warning! We don't live there yet

The reason you are not getting any response from any real estate agents is that they do things differently in France. Real estate agents there don't respond unless you are there walking in the door - and then you will probably need to wait.

I will be 81 when we move. Fortunately, we can afford more than a "heap of bricks or a static caravan". But we can't afford Nice either and am not interested in a place on the sea (been there, done that).

So, we used several criteria and personal preferences to come up the choice of living in or around Nîmes.

1. First, of course, is it's convenient location to all places in the south of France with reasonably good weather.

2. Then the convenience of the prefecture located there - expecting several trips there in the beginning.

3. Then there is the CHU hospital and plenty of medical services - a priority at my age.

4. Transportation is a factor. Nîmes has the train station and a tram-bus system that looks convenient. The small airport also might come in handy.

5. Finally, it has a great Golf Course with convenient bus service. (Love to play golf)

6. One additional benefit is the BritsNimes organization being there. Sounds like a lot of fun, Look them up.

Hopefully, with the bus routes, we can get by without a car.

OK! So, there you have it. I understand I am looking for a place not in your affordability. But, I don't expect to get a response from a real estate agent either - unless we go there and walk in the door.

So, that is exactly what we are doing. First, we nail down a location. Then travel there (several times) - look around. Walk in the door of a real estate place and keep looking. Even when we move, we will rent short-time and keep looking around.

You just have to do your own research, pick a place, and go there - perhaps several times.

Hope this helps. If not, I at least vented out the work we've been doing we're looking forward to moving there.

Ron

RubyTooz
  1/29/2018 16:14 EST

Bonjour Lorna!
First of all, what a courageous person you are to even consider pulling up stakes and moving to a foreign country at 90. I say, BRAVO!! :-D
There are some inexpensive places to live in the South of France, but they will be rural, so you need to be careful about isolation, especially if you don't speak French. In the Aude (11) and PO (66) departments, there are very active English-speaking communities, and you might even find a young gun of 80 who's selling a heap of bricks to move back to the UK. ;-) I assume you have some savings and would pay cash for your home...?
Also, there is help available for you. At Renestance, we help people maximize their time on the ground during scouting trips to visit only places that match their criteria. We can also help with property searches and a complete settling in package (including social connections, learning French, getting healthcare sorted, etc.). Ron is right that classic estate agents in France don't expend much effort on your behalf. But you don't need to be as proactive and energetic as Ron is to move to France...it is possible for mere mortals. :-)
Best of luck to you, and don't hesitate to come back with more questions, Lorna.
Kind regards,
Dennelle
www.renestance.com

Leonorasamuelsonsandvid
  1/30/2018 04:20 EST

Thank you Denelle ,
I'm hoping to be coming to France in a couple of months, when the days get a bit longer. Your letter is very useful and I hope to be able to benefit from your help when I make the trip. About April I expect. I should have about E30,000 plus or minus!
Regards, Leonora

FlowerFairy
  1/30/2018 17:14 EST

BRAVO! You make me feel quite timid (never been called that in my life!) as here was I thinking that late 60s, early 70s was too old to relocate! We currently live in Australia; travelled to Ireland in 2015/2016 seeking our retirement home but unfortunately the dysfunctional real estate system and the RAIN did us in and we returned to Australia but finding it difficult to settle back. We are travelling to France (Dordogne) in May and are mulling over "perhaps France?" Italy was Plan B but France has appeared as a possibility. GOOD LUCK! Interesting comment from another contributor re French Real Estate Agents; I sent an email the other day enquiring how complicated it was to buy property if one had an Irish passport (we are dual British/Australian with both passports but thought post Brexit it might be handy to have an Irish one to which we are entitled). As yet, no response.

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We are the best possible negotiator to help our expatriate clients to safely, efficiently and effectively find the right property in the right place in the French Riviera. Whether buying or renting, French Riviera House Hunting's objective is to find the best place for you, making sure that there are no hidden problems in the acquisition or renting process!

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We are the best possible negotiator to help our expatriate clients to safely, efficiently and effectively find the right property in the right place in the French Riviera. Whether buying or renting, French Riviera House Hunting's objective is to find the best place for you, making sure that there are no hidden problems in the acquisition or renting process!
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FlowerFairy
  1/30/2018 17:19 EST

PS I realise with an EU passport one can buy property no problem but was interested to know if there were any other complications. I guessed as an EU Passport holder one can arrive, buy a property and immediately take up residence (just like Ireland - we came into Ireland on our British Passport). The only complication was health as we do not have an EIHC card.

RubyTooz
  1/31/2018 03:45 EST

Hi FlowerFairy :-)
You can buy property in France regardless of your nationality. If you plan to live in it longer than 90 days (or whatever your passport allows), you'll need some sort of residency permit. An EU passport provides an automatic residency permit, so you would not have to worry.
You will be eligible to apply to the national healthcare system after 3 months of residency, but as it may take several months (longer for EU nationals than for non-EU), you'd be wise to have some private coverage for the first 6-12 months or so. Travel medical is the cheapest and will cover you for accidents and illnesses that occur in France, but no preventative care, medicines, etc.

Kind regards,
Dennelle
www.renestance.com

FlowerFairy
  2/1/2018 01:15 EST

Thank you RubyTooz. The health info is most helpful. We assumed we would ok on our British Passports now, we will wait and see post-Brexit. Thanks again; most helpful.

antifreeze
  2/1/2018 01:42 EST

My wife and I are 72 and 66 years old respectively. We moved to Nice four months ago. But we spent a year and a half planning for it. We checked out not only Nice but other places. And we eventually hired a relocator to help is make the transition. So, if you want to make the move, do some homework. Check out your potential new home. And remember, regardless of what happens, it’s an adventure. So enjoy the process.

FlowerFairy
  2/1/2018 01:48 EST

Majgroves. I emailed Leggetts two days ago and received a very helpful and informative email from them which I was pleased to receive.

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We are the best possible negotiator to help our expatriate clients to safely, efficiently and effectively find the right property in the right place in the French Riviera. Whether buying or renting, French Riviera House Hunting's objective is to find the best place for you, making sure that there are no hidden problems in the acquisition or renting process!

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French Riviera House Hunting - FRHFrench Riviera House Hunting - FRH

We are the best possible negotiator to help our expatriate clients to safely, efficiently and effectively find the right property in the right place in the French Riviera. Whether buying or renting, French Riviera House Hunting's objective is to find the best place for you, making sure that there are no hidden problems in the acquisition or renting process!
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ellenycparis
  2/1/2018 06:35 EST

I'm 70+ and have been spending months at a time in France since 2012. As I wrote in a previous post, the Consulate in NYC encouraged me to apply for a titre de sejour. I muddled through the process on my own and made some time-consuming but not fatal mistakes. Re health insurance, I found out (just in time) that without proof of health insurance, I couldn't qualify for residence and without proof of residence.... nope, no FRENCH NATIONAL health insurance possible! So I had to find private, AFFORDABLE insurance. I surfed and surfed and finally landed on the right ad. I had to hustle because my birthday was coming up fast and that was the deadline -- once the day past, I would not be eligible for the private insurance I'd found. The sequel?
Yes, I'm insured and I am an official, card-carrying French resident. PS, I live in Paris on my social security and modest investments. Is it a piece of cake? Well, I do need to watch my expenses -- but this is where I want to live! Bon courage....

Leonorasamuelsonsandvid
  2/1/2018 06:51 EST

Hi, thanks for your reply. I intend to live in the countryside though, to see a bit of Springtime now and then! Don't know Paris very well, it's out of my budget anyway I imagine. I'm starting to realise I can't just hop over la Manche and take up residence, there seem to be hoops to be jumped through first. Better start studying the red tape. Lorna

Leonorasamuelsonsandvid
  2/1/2018 06:54 EST

Hi. Forgot to add--many thanks for your reply Ellen.

antifreeze
  2/1/2018 12:26 EST

My wife and I have been living in Nice for the past four months. We are 66 and 72 years old respectively, each a year younger when we uprooted our lives in the San Francisco bay area to move here.

I don't know if it's ever to late to do something like this, but it certainly wasn't for us. Of course we spent a goodly amount of time doing the research, which began two years this coming April. Also, to aid us in the process, we hired a relocator who turned out to be indispensible. I mighnt add that at our ages we are perfect pictures of health; however, we feel great and our ailments have not hindered us in the least.

My advice, do your research. This forum is great. Check out the cost of living pages, like Numbeo and Expatistan. Ask lots of questions. If you can afford a trip or two to prospective location, try to do that. I don't know how much travelling you have done in the past, so keep in mind that things will be different here, but not too different. If you need to brush up your French, or even learn it, do so now. You don't have to be fluent here, but a little knowledge of the language goes a long way. The French people are very nice and helpful. And keep in mind, it's an adventure. Even if you don't get here, it's the process that can be exciting.

Antifreeze

antifreeze
  2/1/2018 12:36 EST

My wife and I live in Nice. We like being ;by the sea and the weather. Plus, we are also city people and Nice, at least the center of Nice, seems just right. Having said that, let me also add that the Dordogne was sort of a Plan B. Maybe also Bordeaux.

I spent two summers living in the Dordogne many years ago. If you want to live in a relatively rural environment, you can't do much better. It's beautiful...especially the area around Sarlat. So, if you are not folks addicted to cities, like we are, give the place a try.

Antifreeze

majgroves
  2/1/2018 12:43 EST

FlowerFairy,

Yes, Legget is a good site and easy to navigate. Most of what I have seen so far is a bit more rural than I would be willing to go. I'm not saying it would be nice - perhaps if I were 30-40 years younger. I do not plan to be driving. I have some health issues - nothing debilitating, mind you. (I play 18 holes of golf twice a week). I just want to have easy access to some good health facilities to keep monitoring it.

Anyway, glad you received a good response and good luck to you. I am off to my French class now.

On se parle plus tard,
Ron

Leonorasamuelsonsandvid
  2/1/2018 12:43 EST

Thank you Antifreeze for your reply. I know France fairly well, and am pretty relaxed about the location, provided i find my heap of bricks within my budget -- and in the countryside. I do think Nice would be a bit expensive though, and too hot in summer, but maybe further inland among the Alpes Maritimes would be feasible. I see that I need to study the red tape situation in more depth though, i'm beginning to realise that I can't just hand over my minuscule wad of cash and wander in. Lorna xx

Leonorasamuelsonsandvid
  2/1/2018 12:49 EST

Thank you Ron. As you advise, it seems to be wisest to choose a location first. otherwise I'll be spending all my time dithering between this place and that. I'm learning a lot from this correspondence. Hope you find the ideal spot! Lorna

Leonorasamuelsonsandvid
  2/1/2018 13:03 EST

Well, I imagine the climate will prove to be a bit kinder than either Ireland or Australia, a happy medium really. I would like to be in the countryside, and it shouldn't be too expensive away from the resorts. Not interested in the sea at all, still less a swimming pool since I can hardly swim! I know France pretty well and will have a good time searching for the best location. At my age I think I need to be near some people: I'm 6 miles from my nearest neighbour here in Northern Scotland.
Thank you for your response, . . . . Lorna

antifreeze
  2/1/2018 13:15 EST

Good, since you know France fairly well, then you probably have a couple of places in mind.

When we were looking for a place to rent / buy, someone on this page recommended seLoger.com. Also a page called Leboncoin.
Ahat the latter has you will almost always see on seloger, but one thing that Leboncoin does provide that is different are listings (not many) by people who do not want to lease their place through an agent. And I think pap.fr does the same thing, although it has the least amount of listings.

Antifreeze

Leonorasamuelsonsandvid
  2/1/2018 13:18 EST

Thank you again Antifreeze I'll look at these . Lorna

smartcharlie
  3/29/2018 14:20 EST

Hello, I would advise if moving abroad to find a currency exchange expert when transferring your money into another currency. Yoyr bank will charge you lots in fees. I used First Rate FX and their exchange rates are great and they charge no fees. Good luck.

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