Testimonial - Simone M. & Steffen B. - living near Zurich in Switzerland
Buyer off plan of one Villa at Chateau des Roches Fleuries near Pézenas, south of France.
Why did you choose to buy in the South of France with Propriétés & Co ?
The project excited us right away when we looked at it. It seemed special and well thought through. It paid tribute to the surrounding landscape, to the village and the region but it also integrated our expectations of have something for our own but still be part of a community.
What do you like about the destination ?
The Occitanie Region (former Languedoc) kept its authenticity in contrast to some other tourist destinations like the Cote d’Azur or Palma de Mallorca. Locals are down to earth, unpretentious, and in terms of tourism it is not the typical party crowd that comes here. There are excellent restaurants, beautiful beaches, nice historical villages to visit - and not to forget, it is a great area for cycling. The Languedoc area is less a place you read about in magazines, but a region you need and want to discover yourself.
What type of user of your second home in France are you ?
We do not know yet because it is our “first" second home. Currently we still have a child that has to attend school in Switzerland. So, we will not be able to spend so much time in France as we would like to. But kids grow older and our plan is to build this house steadily up to a second home, not only for vacation, but in the original sense of the word “home“.
How did you find the purchasing process of your villa off plan with Propriétés & Co?
Everything went smoothly. It took a little bit longer as we Swiss (of German decent) would things like to go but the administrative pace in France is different.
What were your fears about buying a new residence off plan? What reassured you ?
There are cultural differences in terms handling projects. So, there is always a certain fear that things will not work out. What reassured us is that Propriétes & Co had finished already most of the other houses of the project and that we had the chance to speak to the other owners. There are also important differences with regard to the legal process of buying a house in France as compared with Switzerland.
How would you describe your experience having a bilingual notary explaining the whole acquisition process ? Did you feel safe about the French Notary handling all the financial transactions before signing the deed of sales ?
Cécile Sainte Cluque, the notary of the development, was excellent. It was a great help not only that she speaks English/German but also that she was able to explain the complex details of the sales contract. It was also worthwhile to come in person to sign the deed. She reserved quite a bit of time for us and we had the chance to ask questions we were not 100% sure about and she, on the other hand, addressed subjects we had not thought of yet. It was also reassuring that the notary kept our payments in escrow (as French law requires when buying a house within the chose legal framework called VEFA) until the contract was ironed out.