There are many ways to invest in property nowadays, and of course, an investment in property does not have to be within your own country. Many other European countries offer the property investor good opportunities for long term returns, and France is amongst them.

French leaseback is an interesting and potentially lucrative way to invest in property of all types in France. Unlike timeshare, you will actually own the property under a leaseback scheme; in addition, there is a nice VAT loophole!

Basically, a property leaseback works like this. You purchase the property and then lease it back to a management company for contract lengths of ten years. The management company will guarantee a fixed income for you from the property, regardless of whether they have managed to find tenants for the entire ten year period or not. (more...)

If you are thinking of buying a property, it never seems to be the right time. First you have to save enough for the deposit which has been harder as the banks are demanding higher deposits due to the recent economy news.

Although it is in theory a great time to buy now as interest rates are so low, it is made very difficult by the banks who are loathe to lend in this economic climate, so even through rates are low, mortgages are hard to find, especially for first time buyers with no proven track record of repaying their mortgage loan.

Now is also a good time to buy as property prices have dropped slightly than they were previously and as many people are keen to sell you can end up getting a bargain. On the downside, it seems that nobody’s job is safe from redundancy at the moment and many people are reluctant to commit to a mortgage. (more...)

The current state of the banks and their unwillingness to lend people money has started to have a dramatic effect on those people looking to buy their first home. Some lenders now want up to 40% of the house price as a deposit before they will grant a mortgage, and for some first time buyers, this is simply impossible.

This has now led to a growing group of people choosing to rent a property as opposed to buying one outright. Whilst renting is certainly not cheap, it does give first time buyers more time to either save the money needed, or, as is more likely, wait until the banks wake up to their bad policies, and realise that they will have fewer and fewer borrowers at those sorts of rates.

Renting a property is relatively easy, and there are literally tens of thousands of houses and flats to rent on the market. There are a few things to consider when renting, which includes having adequate insurance, as although there will be landlord insurance , this will not cover contents. (more...)

The list of advantages of investing in a second home in France is long. From several points of view, this makes sense. But a second home, no matter where it is, should not be taken lightly. It needs to be looked after and cared for and that should be considered before taking the plunge.

The French countryside with its glorious views and scenery is the perfect location to invest in a holiday home. It can serve as a place the entire family can use. The French property market is, like other property markets, a buyers' market, which means negotiating power lies with the buyer, a good time to make the investment!

France's proximity to home makes it an attractive proposal as it is easy to get to, yet has its own personality and charm. Proximity is an important factor, as what can at first seem exotic can, after a couple of maintenance trips, seem too far and a burden. (more...)

Independent surveys have found that the quality of life in France may be the highest in all of Europe. Thanks to this and the fact that is so close to home, many UK nationals are choosing to move to France. Many are also investing in a second home with a view to rent the property. Is buying a property in France a wise move?

The pitfalls of buying property in France are the same as buying property anywhere. There are risks associated with any investment, and this should not be a deterrent to investing in a property in France. However, buying property in any foreign country should be done with caution and the processes must be understood thoroughly.

Moving to France has its own pros and cons, and most families that move have very solid reasons to do so. For those who buy to rent, there are plenty of resources to help them understand the process of renting out their property and some people may even choose particulier à particulier immobilier. (more...)

Moving house can be a difficult and stressful business. It requires considerable powers of organisation, and more than a little perseverance and patience.

Perhaps the most trying part of vacating a property is the process of packing your house into boxes. This long exercise can be extremely frustrating and limits the extent to which it is possible to use your house during the weeks before you plan to leave it.

It is always a good idea to get on with the business of packing in advance. Because you will, more than likely, be preoccupied with the stress of dealing with estate agents and the lengthy business of securing conveyancing in Worcestershire, you may neglect the boxing up of your possessions. (more...)

If you are looking to buy a property abroad then check very carefully both the credentials of any property company that you are dealing with, as well as their fees, to avoid any nasty surprises at any stage of the deal.

Whether it is a Sicily property company or one in the Cote D'Azur, most countries will have their own legislation on what is needed to set up shop as a property agent, so check what accreditation is needed in the country that you are looking to buy in.

In some countries they have to be a registered estate agent so make sure that the company is a legitimate one before you sign up with them – after all they may be processing large sums of your money so you have to trust them one hundred per cent. (more...)

Many people find themselves struggling to make ends meet and this is especially the case in light of the current economic crisis. Pensioners also find themselves literally living on the bread-line, as the pittance doled-out through the Government can hardly be enough to support a mouse.

The good news here is that if you own your own property and there is plenty of equity in it, you may wish to consider some type of equity release plan. Before taking out such a plan, however, it is important that you undertake a lot of research.

There are many different types of equity release plans available on the market today. The amount of money you can receive as a lump sum can vary considerably, as can the amount of money you have to pay back. (more...)

The London hotel we'd decided on was beautiful, almost palatial. The only issue was the bedbugs Howevere, we were treated like Royalty, and the property itself was perfect, in a great location and our every need was catered for. I had a really lovely time and already booking for next year.

My stay at the London hotel was everything I'd expected, the property was beautifully decorated and my room was fit for a Queen. The location for me was perfect, and I thoroughly enjoyed my stay there.

My break at the London hotel lived up to my expectations, from the decor of the property to the sight-seeing of the historical city of London, a lively and bustling place with something different around every corner. The hotel was just the icing on the cake, it felt tailor made for my needs. (more...)