The benefits of using an affiliated property finder .......

As clients will know being part of the FrenchEntrée Property Finders network allows me to be a member of the FNCI - the National Fédération of Chasseurs Immobiliers, literally "house hunters".

Having a federation like this is the same concept as traditional agents who belong to the FNAIM which is their national body and well respected throughout France.

The FNCI  lobbies Government on behalf of its members and has a quality charter that all members agree to abide by.  Membership comes in handy when describing the role of a buying agent to vendors and local immobiliers as it's a new concept to many of them.

The FNCI have just launched a new website which features the first of a series of videos about looking for a flat or house without the help of a buying agent (above).  It's in French of course but even if you're not fluent you will probably get the gist and see the humour.

http://youtu.be/C11u9QXdKkU

Most bodies like this are quite stuffy and staffed by bureaucrats.....I'm happy to say that the FNCI are just the opposite and they are a friendly, professional and forward thinking bunch.  Paying our dues is one of the few cheques each year that we don't begrudge.

They must be good!

Even macarons get better in France on St Valentines Day......

Even macarons get better in France on St Valentines Day......

It’s a relatively simple confection made with ground almonds, sugar and egg whites but the macaron has over the years become the cookie of choice throughout France.  

They are delicious and come in as many colours and flavours as your imagination can muster. 

But today, St Valentines day, here in St Malo they take on a romantic twist with the usual round varieties being replaced by heart shaped and raspberry filled deliciousness.

We might not have had roses this morning but we will most definitely enjoy one of these which is sitting quite temptingly in our fridge as we write this ......

Happy St Valentines Day ......

Sellers told to cut prices by up to 15%

A leading French estate agency group has recently written to its vendors telling them to cut their asking prices by 5-15% if they want to sell in a reasonable timescale.

How’s that for proof that we are definitely in a ‘buyers’ market’ here in France.

Bernard Cadeau, President of Orpi Immobilier  which has agencies across France, particularly here in Brittany,  was speaking  as banks moved yet again to boost the market by dropping mortgage rates to their lowest since ‘the Liberation’ meaning that a 20 year fixed loan of €200,000 costs you €20,000 less now than it did at the beginning of December last year.

Mr Cadeau said, that in a recent test, cutting prices by 3% had seen the delay in getting a sale fall by 17% and increase their sales across the test by 20%.  He also highlighted the movement between asking prices and final selling prices for properties which grew from 7% at the start of 2012 to 15% by the end of the year.

It’s time to grab a bargain ….. and as on average our property finding network saved between 16-18% on advertised asking prices last year we can save you even more money just because we are here on the ground and understand the market on a local basis……….

….. and having recently negotiated a massive 36% off asking price for a recent client, sometimes we even surprise ourselves.

Spare a thought for Dominique……

With everything crossed we are planning to move house ……..  I know we are very used to it, having bought and sold 12 times in our 13 years together but this is the first time we have bought and sold at the same time in France so much to consider ……

We have been thinking about it for some time as what was the perfect size for a holiday home has become a bit small as a permanent home for 2 strapping chaps and an excitable springer spaniel!

Some compromises have had to be made of course and size required vs. available budget (if we are to achieve the nirvana of ‘mortgage free’) with the premium prices commanded here in St Malo does not allow a move Intra Muros.  

Of course the business we are in allows us to see the best of what is available on the open market and we are delighted with the property we have found …..

A townhouse in a great village with lots going on, 3 bedrooms, 3 reception rooms , a big garden to keep Alfie occupied and to allow us to commune with nature and grow our own fruit and vegetables, a great price well under what we are selling our apartment for and its 3 times the size!

The process is well underway and for our regular readers, expect much of the blogging over the next few months to involve our move and our initial settling in experiences …..

But at this stage we wanted to spare a thought for Dominique …….. a 50 year old Parisian who according to the housing charity ‘Fondation Abbé Pierre’  has been living for 15 years in the worst example of illegal housing in Paris seen in modern times …….. a 1.56m² flat under the eaves of a property with room only for a tiny mattress, sink and single cooking hotplate – all for €330 per month. 

Now at this point Alfie is looking slightly concerned we have promised him at least 2m² for the luxurious new bed he had been hoping for to keep him comfortable on the patio in his

new garden ………

Lucky - we think we are …………..