Buying Property in the Languedoc

The days of astonishingly cheap Languedoc property are already gone.  Encouraged by television holiday programmes and newspaper articles, foreigners have been buying up property, and pushing up prices.  So if you're hoping for a fantastic bargain in the Languedoc-Roussillon, you're going to have to look hard. 

If you are still intersested in living in the languedoc, and have thought through all the implications, your first step is to think about what types of property you might be interested in.  Next you need to set about finding a property. 

Depending on the property and your financial position, you might need to think about planning permission  and Mortgages. 

You need to understand the purchasing process, including the formalities of purchasing property in France. 

If you are thinking of buying a historic building, you need to know about the theoretical benefits and practical realities of owning listed buildings.  You might also be interested in the realities of various grants that your agent immobilier will assure you (orally) are available for the asking. 

You should also read about mains services (water, drainage, electricity, gas and telephones) and insurance even if you think you don't need them, and about inheritance law in France, which is very different to that in the the English speaking world. 

You should read about selling property in France, since, like the inheritance laws, this may affect your decision about the appropriate legal vehicle for purchasing in the first place. 

Other considerations which sound more worrying than they are, include termite infestation and the possiblity of earthquakes. 

Cadastres

Cadastres are official maps showing the location and boundaries of parcels of land. Properties can cover anything from one to several hundred parcels, all uniquely numbered on a cadastre. You can now see them on-line on a fairly ropey government site (in beta testing at the time of writing), www.cadastre.gouv.fr