Living in the Languedcoc:   Things to Know about living in France:   Moving There

If you are planning to move to the Languedoc, or anywhere in the South of France, you should bear in mind that between a third and half of people who move here to live, go back within two years. Most of them simply never grasped the difference between a holiday and a way of life until it was too late. Here are some of the recurring factors:

• No plan for a new lifestyle
• Cannot or will not learn the language / Cannot or will not make new friends
• Children, generally 12+, are not happy at French school
• House is in the wrong place (too remote, too cold in winter, ...) or bought using the wrong legal structure
• Renovation budget is too small, renovation too traumatic or difficult
• Can't get Social Security/Health Insurance
• Money making ideas turn out to be illegal, have no market, or involve massive Bureaucracy.

To increase your probability of success you should:

• Have a clear realistic vision of you want to do, and why you want to do it
• Start learning/improving your French now - nightschool, tapes, DVDs, books, TV, Radio, Films, whatever...
• Talk to other people who have done it before
• Rent before you buy and make sure you know the area in all seasons
• Make sure you have enough money (at least double your best estimates)
• Pay great attention to children and their schooling
• Live like the French - don't try to take the UK/US/Ireland with you, and avoid those who do
• Have an Exit strategy ready, just in case, so you can't get trapped

Click here for International Removal Companies serving the Languedoc.
Click below for various practicalities, or on this link for Buying Property in the Languedoc.