Testimonial from Valerie (chartered accountant retired) & Geoffrey H. (writer)
buyers off plan of a pool villa with Propriétés & Co at Domaine des Pins, Durban-Corbières.
Why did you choose to buy in the South of France with Propriétés & Co?
With children finishing university we found we had more flexibility in our lives to embark on an ‘adventure’. We were in search of better weather but with easy access to the UK. We had spent a number of holidays in the area. This area of the South of France is an easy car journey from the South Coast of England using either ferries or Eurotunnel. There are several options by plane and also the TGV. In December 2002 we saw an advert in a magazine for the development of Domaine des Pins in Durban Corbières, which we followed up with a visit to the site in January 2003. We were impressed by the location, specifications and the developer. We were ‘hooked’ and never considered anywhere else.
What do you like about the location?
Our families were keen walkers and regular visitors to the Lake District and Scotland. My father, a widower, wanted an area where he could walk the hills from the property, and, if he were to spend time on his own, he needed a village with facilities such as a supermarket and doctor. Durban Corbières ticked all the boxes. Conscious that, initially, there would be periods when we would not be in France, we did not want a remote property. We are very happy at having neighbours close by in the development.
What type of user of your home in France are you?
For the first 5 years we spent about 6 months of the year at the property. Since 2010 we have been resident in France and this is our only home. We have not rented the property but several of our neighbours do so successfully.
How did you find the purchasing process of your villa off plan with Propriétés & Co?
This was a new experience for us, having previously lived in older properties, which we had renovated. At all times an English speaker was available and the process was well explained.
We had a close working relationship with the developer and opportunities to incorporate our own requirements.
What were your fears about buying a new residence off plan? What reassured you?
The greatest concern was unfamiliarity with the French law and the lack of language skills. A former colleague who had built a property in France assured us the French system was very regulated, far more so than in the UK. We always had a point of contact with Propriétés & Co from whom we had regular updates and responses to queries.
How would you describe your experience having a notary explaining the whole acquisition process?
The notary who acted on the purchase spoke English and was very patient in spending a lot of time going through the documents and responding to questions. She went out of her way to ensure we fully understood the stages of the transaction.
Did you feel safe about the French Notary handling all the financial transactions before signing the deed of sale?
The French Notary’s role in handling clients’ money is similar to that of a UK solicitor, so familiar and safe.
After a few years, how would you rate the building quality & the service provided by Propriétés & Co?
After 18 years we remain very happy with the quality of the property and the service provided by Propriétés & Co. We even developed a real friendship with Miguel Espada and his family.
What would be your advice for overseas buyers in France?
One of the areas that foreigners do not investigate properly is in whose names and how they should buy a property in France because of the impact of the french forced heirship rules and the application of different rates of succession tax to different parties. This applies equally to non resident owners of french property as well as to residents. For example the use of a community property agreement, a tontine clause. Buying in the wrong names can ultimately be very costly particularly where there are children from different marriages.
Discussing tax implications of property ownership with the notaire and/or a tax adviser would be helpful - covering not only the above, but also rental income and capital gains.