Living in France - Where to Start? What Houses Do People Live in France?

About a fourth of France's population live in rural areas. Many Parisians prefer living in old apartment buildings because of their appreciation for antique furniture and ceiling beams. Most French people and their families live in single-family houses when not living in major cities.

Property in France is generally cheaper, if not far cheaper, than in other countries in Europe, and there is also a great asset that draws so many people to France – wide open countryside and much room to move in.

So, if you think that living in France is for you, where do you start? Buying a property in France just like in any country other than your own is a major undertaking and you should never underestimate the amount of work that it will involve. A good thing to start with is to rent a property for at least a month in an area that you do not already know, and start looking for local properties, just to see how you get by.

The best advice for finding a suitable property in France is checking the place over very thoroughly, surveying it yourself, and if possible getting a second opinion from people who have lived there for some time. If old rural properties is something you are looking for, upon your thorough survey of some rural places you might discover that they are full of defects, from cracked walls, to sagging floors, damp, dry rot - and even termites in southwest France. It shouldn’t be a problem – especially if you are planning on having the building fully renovated, however more than ever, buying with the help of someone who is very experienced on the subject will help you avoid nightmares.

If you want to introduce substantial alterations to a property you are looking into buying (such as changing doors or windows), you have to get a building permit. If you just plan to make changes inside the building then no building permit is needed.

Another thing to remember if you think that moving to France is really for you: there are a lot of people out there who are just after your money. They'll paint all kinds of rosy pictures of moving to France, just to get you to buy a place at a price considerably above the market price. So make sure you take advice from people who have no financial interest in your move. Don't forget that the property price you negotiate does not include taxes and notary fees, which can add up to 5% to 10%.

After you sum up all the pros and the cons and make a measured decision about coming to live in France, just let yourself flow along with the French way of life, and you will have a marvelous experience in France.