INTERVIEW
Yes, the St-Chinian area was elected the fifth best place in the world to retire in the US CNBC Overseas Retirement Index. The Pézenas area is also very much in demand and all the villages around Béziers would suit retirement or holiday homes.
What kind of properties can homehunters find? Winemakers’ houses are the most typical, then of course you have stone houses and new bungalows, or at higher prices, domaines with vineyards.
What would these budgets buy in your area? • Under €100,000: Village house, with no (or very small) outside space. • €100,000-€250,000: Village house with a terrace, garage, courtyard or new bungalow on a small plot of land. • €250,000-€500,000: The perfect budget to purchase a house in our area; you could get a larger house with a garden, pool, views, sometimes with gîtes as well. • €500,000-€750,000: All the above, but bigger. • €750,000-€1m: Sumptuous character property, small domaine, stone mas, private mansion in a historic town. • €1m+: Former farm or winemaking property, or a superb contemporary villa with indoor pool and sea views, or large domaines.
What’s the cheapest property you have on your books? €54,000 – a small house with four bedrooms located on a quiet square, for sale furnished (see listing below).
On the market
“Property prices are still competitive compared to Provence or other expensive areas”
In a village with grocery and tabac, five from a village with all amenities, 25 minutes from Béziers and 30 minutes from the beach. A real bargain!
What’s the most unusual property you have sold? A former church dating from the 16th century (neo-classical style) and built on a Gallo- Roman warehouse used in the 1st century before Christ. In the village of Hérepian and for sale at €110,000, it needed complete renovation but it was a really exceptional property!
What would be your dream home in the region? We have a gorgeous stone property for sale (see listing below) comprising a main four-bedroom house, a former bergerie that has been converted into a gîte, and several more stone annexes on a 2,564m2
plot with pool
and views. It’s quite unique and very reasonably priced at €421,000.
Why do Brits buy houses in Languedoc-Roussillon? Perfect climate, easy access and good property prices.
What advice would you give to anyone thinking of buying in your area? I would simply confirm
‘location, location, location’, as some clients see properties in an area that’s in high demand (so prices are a bit higher) and then compare them with areas where they can find cheaper properties but won’t have the same climate, access to the coast etc. Also, only use an established English- speaking estate agent with experience of dealing with international buyers; this way you’ll find that buying a house in France is easy. Look for recommendations on their Facebook page, ratings on Google etc.
What tips would you give to help people settle into life in the area? Try to meet French people, don’t just mix with international property owners speaking English all the time – half and half is a good point to have local friends and to benefit from the experience of expats who moved to France before you did. It will also help you learn French. People in our part of France are very friendly, they will say hello even if they don’t know you. Neighbours will always help you if you have a problem.
What are your predictions for your local property market? I think the first and second
LOCATION
half of 2024 will be different. I don’t think it will be busy until June 2024 when interest rates should start coming down. Many buyers needing a mortgage have stopped looking as interest rates are too high and, also for that reason, there aren’t as many approvals from banks as there used to be. We mainly had cash buyers at the end of 2023 and it will probably be the same for the first half of 2024. Then things should start improving. I don’t expect any reduction in prices over 5% in our very sought-after area. In France, there is still a lack of available properties compared to the population so this should protect the market against a real drop in prices. ■
Freddy Rueda runs Real Estate Languedoc Tel: 0033 (0)6 09 58 54 26 Email: frueda@
realestateoccitanie.com
realestateoccitanie.com
HOW MUCH WOULD YOU EXPECT TO PAY FOR:
A detached property with land in good condition? €350,000, and up for more bathrooms, more bedrooms, more garden. A three-bedroom village house? €90,000-€110,000 euros with no outside space. A renovation project? From €50,000 but with no outside space; €180,000 and up for a property with outside space such as a garden or a large courtyard.
FIND MORE PROPERTIES ON
FRENCHENTREE.COM
€54,000: The cheapest property on Freddy's books – a small four-bed house on a quiet square in a village half an hour from Béziers and the beach, for sale furnished
€421,200: Freddy's dream home – a gorgeous stone property with a four-bed house, gîtes and annexes on 2,564m2 with pool and stunning views, in the Languedoc Regional Park
€149,000: Pretty house with two/three bedrooms, 20m2 terrace with lovely views and a small garden, in a hamlet five minutes’ drive from Roquebrun, for sale fully furnished
Sold for €110,000: The most unusual property Freddy has sold was this renovation project, a former 16th-century church built on the site of a Gallo- Roman warehouse
FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: March/April 2024 55
© AS FLAMENT
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148
