Is it wise to buy a house in France now?

Is buying a French house now a good idea?

Ugh, French house… good idea now? Honestly? Tricky.

The market’s been steady, yeah? Lots of buyers, French and not. But, man, getting a mortgage? Nightmare. Interest rates are killer.

Remember trying to buy that little place near the Loire Valley in June last year? The asking price was €280,000. We were pre-approved…then the bank choked. Interest rates jumped, poof, went our dream.

So, for cash buyers? Maybe. But for anyone needing a loan? It’s tough. Really tough. Think twice.

Is France a good place to invest in property?

Okay, so, France for property? Yeah, definitely, I reckon. It’s, like, pretty safe, you know? Real estate there is generally a sound investment, super safe actually.

You could, get this, buy a place and, like, just rent it out. Rake in the cash while you’re chillin’ back home. Talk about passive income, am I right? It’s not as expensive like you think, too.

Now, my mate Con, he’s Europe Insider, he knows all about this. He even did a video explaining how to buy properties there and stuff.

Basically, France is good because:

• Stable market: It’s pretty solid, not likely to crash hard, hopefully.
• Rental income: Someone else pays your mortgage, haha!
• Relatively affordable: Compared to, say, London, it’s a steal!
• Lifestyle: You get a place in France! Win-win!

Thing is, I was thinking about buying a place in Nice, maybe someday. My aunt lives near Lyon. It’s a good, nice place! But I gotta save up first, ugh.

Are house prices in France dropping?

Paris dips. 13 quarters down. Five point fifty-six percent. Averages nine five two zero euros. Per meter. So?

• Paris sees price slides. Thirteen straight.
• Annual decrease: 5.56%. Q3 2024.
• Euro 9,520/sq meter. (Roughly $10,462).
• Market wobbles. Like life.
• Property? Overrated.

Beyond Paris, national trends shift. Some regions defy gravity. Others follow. Investment trickles, stalls, flows. Rinse. Repeat. It’s not simple black and white; a color palette.

Is it a bubble burst? Nah. More like air leak. Big difference. My grandma always said: “Buy land. They ain’t making more.” Dumb, but true.

Is now a good time to buy property in France?

Limited permits. Prices up. Buy now. Good investment. Less supply. My friend Pierre just bought a chateau in the Loire Valley. Crazy expensive, but beautiful vineyards. Should I invest in wine? Hm. Bordeaux is supposed to be great this year. Back to property. Fewer houses being built. Definitely drives up value. Like my bitcoin investment in 2021. Smart move. Buy French property now. My aunt in Paris just sold her apartment for a fortune. Paris is always expensive. Maybe look outside the city. Normandy? Beaches are nice. Remember that trip to Nice in 2023? Beautiful. Scarcity equals value. Real estate is always good. Tangible asset. Unlike crypto. Lost a bit there. Ugh. Still… property in France. Hot market. Invest now.Need to call my broker. He has some leads in Provence. Lavender fields. Beautiful place to retire someday. Retiring at 45? Possible if I play my cards right. This property thing could be big. Maybe a villa in the south of France.

What are the problems with buying property in France?

Buying French property? Hold onto your baguette, it’s a wild ride! Expect headaches the size of a Bordeaux wine barrel.

Paperwork Purgatory: Think navigating a swamp filled with French bureaucracy. You’ll need more paperwork than a government agency. Seriously, it’s like trying to assemble IKEA furniture blindfolded.

• Missing papers? Prepare for a bureaucratic meltdown. It’s like trying to find a single sock in a dryer full of laundry.
• Surveys? Expect the unexpected. They’ll find things you didn’t even know existed. Like a secret underground gnome village, maybe.

Renovation Nightmares: Budget? What budget? Renovations in France are like wrestling a greased octopus. Expect triple the estimated cost, minimum. My cousin spent a fortune on his chateau, ended up sleeping on the floor for six months.

• Hidden problems? They’re everywhere, lurking like mischievous gremlins. My friend found an entire family of rats living in his chimney. Rats. In. His. Chimney.
• Extra fees? They’ll pop up like French pastries at a boulangerie. Get ready for a financial hangover.

Legal Labyrinth: French law is like a twisted game of Clue. You’ll need a lawyer who speaks fluent French and speaks fluent “avoiding disaster.” Don’t even think about skipping this step. You’ll regret it more than that time I accidentally wore mismatched socks to a wedding.

• Contracts? Read them like your life depends on it. Because it kinda does.
• Hidden clauses? Prepare to be surprised, potentially unpleasantly. They’re like those tiny print warnings on medicine bottles. But, worse. Much worse. Think about that time I won a goldfish at the fair only to discover it died three days later.

Remember: Buying property in France is like dating a gorgeous, complicated artist. It’s exhilarating, but emotionally exhausting. You could end up with a masterpiece, or a total disaster. Good luck! (You’ll need it.)

Is it a good investment to buy property in France?

Ugh, France. Remember that trip to Nice? 2023, right after my divorce. Needed to get away. Sun on my face, rosé in hand, totally trying to forget about…everything. Anyway. Saw these amazing little apartments overlooking the sea. Crazy expensive, I thought. Talked to this local guy, Pierre, at this tiny cafe near the Cours Saleya market. He’s like, “Nah, you could get a studio, no problem. Good investment.” Planted a seed, you know? Back in Chicago, freezing my butt off, started looking online. Seriously considered it. Euro not great against the dollar but still…Nice. French Riviera. Sun. Ugh.

• Location is key: Paris? Forget it. Too expensive. Focus on smaller towns, like where I was in Nice, or maybe the Dordogne. Friend bought a place there last year. Loves it.
• Do your homework: Hire a local lawyer. Essential. Pierre put me in touch with his cousin. Super helpful.
• Think long term: Not a get-rich-quick scheme. More like a lifestyle choice. Rent it out some, use it yourself some. Eventually retire there? Who knows.

Still kinda thinking about it. Sun. Rosé. Ugh. Gotta go, meeting.

What is the real estate forecast for France?

France real estate… hmm. 2.96% growth annually, huh? Until 2029.

• CAGR – what even is that again? Compounded… annual something something rate. Right.

• US$29.41tn by then. That’s… a lot. Is that good? Compared to what?

United States is supposed to be way bigger.

• US$136.6tn in 2025. That seems insane. Why is the US so much more? Is it just the size?

Wonder if my aunt’s house in Nice will go up in value. Should ask her.

• Listing stuff:

  • Growth Rate (France): 2.96% annually (2025-2029)
  • France market size by 2029: US$29.41tn
  • US Market in 2025: US$136.6tn. Big difference!
  • My Aunt lives in Nice

I should really learn more about real estate, I always just trust agents.

#France #Invest #Realestate