No to the hilltop villages. I definitely do not want to carry groceries in August up a steep cobblestone path. I'll visit them for an afternoon and that'll be fine. I hope you have a breezy lavender filled weekend ahead. Wonderful as always Rich!
We were fortunate to find our place in France during an unhurried stay in the country. The real estate agent was interesting… not pushy at all, a stand out for her seemingly disinterest, expressing surprise when we recontacted , wanting to make an offer… “oh, I didn’t expect to hear from you again!”. Overall, a good property choice for us. Still, lots of learnings buying in a small 3 story 18th C mid terrace stone house …. How do we actually get furniture up that tight staircase? French Neighbour 1 asking us to rebuild our rear fallen-down dry stone wall property fence (that has probably been fallen down for over 100years). French neighbour 2 complaining about the water coming from our rear roof in a storm is running into shared roof gutter, and causing damp in his hovel of a back store room … and what are we going to do about it? Etc etc. all questions we probably should have asked prior to purchase, but not even considering.
I feel you. I’m glad you too found a special place. We love ours and found it on the first scouting trip which is rare of course. We too didn’t know all the questions to ask. Those terrible air bnb owners. The neighbors on the third floor owning a large debt to the coprop. The owners who want to do nothing to clean the building. The good news is we are both here in our homes and will get through it all. :) 🇫🇷❤️🙏🏼 Hopefulky making friends with these crazy neighbors at some point.
Seriously. Remember the pandemic? Like that, but unending. Always. There. If you don’t possess a degree of independence from one another now, I strongly suggest you cultivate one!
It depends on the situation. I've worked with clients that followed their spouse abroad and don't ever see them bc they're spending all their time at the office. But I totally get it - no matter what, the unfamiliar surroundings and new routines have a way of shaking up relationships!
Yes I can’t imagine what’s happening in real time in these area. Between people, homes, land, animals. It’s so sad. Carcassonne smells of the smoke quite strong today. Some rain would be highly welcomed right now.
Hi Heather. Sorry for the not so fun week you’re having. Hopefully the weekend is better. I appreciate you taking the time to read and engage. If I can be of help in any move abroad way, let me know. ❤️🙏🏼🇫🇷
I just forwarded this to a dear friend who’s moving back to France (Paris) on Aug 2nd. She is loosing her mind about now… this will help her , if not relax, exhale!
Boy, talk about reading about your own life experiences along with many friend’s too. There is so much truth here, thank you for summing it up for folks who are thinking about making the move overseas. Despite the cautionary tales, it’s all worth it.
Yes absolutely worth it. France will change us all. For the better even when there are days where you want to go to the Troc, buy dishes, and throw them out the window. Maybe at fight club neighbors. lol
We've used relocation consultants twice and both were worth their weight in gold. Rarely have I held such fondness in my heart as I have for those complete strangers who carried us through two very batty days, jet lagged, missing our kids, heart blown wide open with equal doses of excitement and apprehension, making sure we asked all the right questions and considered all the right things. I have an overly long post waiting in drafts extolling my enthusiasm and appreciation for them. An investment I wouldn't hesitate to make again if required.
Hi Lex. Like American Realtors, they do work on commission. My concern isn’t that. It’s the lack of actual proactive work. I can only speak from my own experience and that of my friends here, but while they’ll absolutely show you properties, I found they rarely find the properties for you. You end up doing the searching, sending them the listings, coming up with the questions, and following up for answers. It isn’t nearly as hands-on as many Americans expect, so I think it’s helpful to go into the process knowing you may be doing a lot of the heavy lifting and occasionally wondering what exactly you’re paying for. The notaire fees, on the other hand, are standard and are much more comparable to title and closing costs in the U.S.
As for French, absolutely learn as much as you can. Watch movies, read books, listen to podcasts, and immerse yourself however you enjoy learning. If you’re moving here retired, business French can come later. I actually think everyday life French is far more valuable in the beginning. Learning how to chat with the cashier at the grocery store, order at a restaurant, explain a medical or dental issue, ask questions at the pharmacy, or tell your Amazon driver where to leave a package will make your daily life so much easier. Home renovation vocabulary comes in handy too.
The truth is, you’ll learn far more once your feet are on the ground than you ever will from an app. And you’ll learn even faster with a tutor who can tailor lessons to your real life. Very few of us urgently need to know that “the dog hears a bird in the tree.” lol
Agreed Rich! The whole system is set up with completely different reward structures than what we all knew in the States - very few exclusives, multiple agencies on the same property, and the owners can sell directly themselves in most situations - ie. no motivation to be proactive. I help buyers for a living now and used to run a traditional agency in the Aude, south of you, and boy did I learn the hard way - collaborate? What's that? Thank you for giving us all a good laugh and a lot to think about each week!
France has a long tradition of songs where the words are as important as the music. If you look up the lyrics of a song by Françoise Hardy or Yves Montand, for example, the language is everyday, good-quality French. Do a translation for yourself, writing it longhand is best, then listen to it. You’ll be surprised at how well you follow it, and there is so much in there that is useful in normal conversation.
Oh my gosh, yes. We bought the first and only home we saw, and had stalked it in the listings beforehand. It was a leap of faith, and I am just now falling in love with it again after going through some renovations, complicated furniture and appliance deliveries, learning how to use all of those new appliances, and figuring out to prevent our electricity going out several times every evening! It definitely took a toll. Now that life has settled down somewhat, it's possible for me to calm down also and look upon my new home and my new life with newly appreciative eyes. Love my town and my new social circle, and looking forward to seeing how life unfolds here.
My “what was I thinking” decision … bringing my beloved 2001 red Mercedes 230 SLK hard top convertible with us to France. Doubled our shipment cost. Took nearly 2 years to get it “immatriculé”. 6 months on the waiting list for the central city underground car park. The kicker: I couldn’t drive it or park it in the city - too wide.
I loved it but realized I had outgrown it and didn’t even need it living in the city. It now lives happily with my grandson.
My husband supported me all the way - he knew how much it meant to me - and he knew when it was time to move on. Lesson learned - be careful of decisions based strictly on emotion!
Being ‘stuck’ at home with each other during the p@ndemic helped us realize that we would be able to make an international move together. It wasn’t easy and we definitely hired helpers to get us through an apartment search (rental) and getting things set up administratively which made things ever so slightly easier. But those first months were an emotional and physical slog and I’m so glad we can laugh about them now.
Also, the only way to fold your towels is so they fit in the cabinet where they are stored.
No to the hilltop villages. I definitely do not want to carry groceries in August up a steep cobblestone path. I'll visit them for an afternoon and that'll be fine. I hope you have a breezy lavender filled weekend ahead. Wonderful as always Rich!
Thank you, friend. 🙏🏼❤️🇫🇷
Rings even more true than I ever imagined it could.
HOW WERE YOU UP SO EARLY?!?
We were fortunate to find our place in France during an unhurried stay in the country. The real estate agent was interesting… not pushy at all, a stand out for her seemingly disinterest, expressing surprise when we recontacted , wanting to make an offer… “oh, I didn’t expect to hear from you again!”. Overall, a good property choice for us. Still, lots of learnings buying in a small 3 story 18th C mid terrace stone house …. How do we actually get furniture up that tight staircase? French Neighbour 1 asking us to rebuild our rear fallen-down dry stone wall property fence (that has probably been fallen down for over 100years). French neighbour 2 complaining about the water coming from our rear roof in a storm is running into shared roof gutter, and causing damp in his hovel of a back store room … and what are we going to do about it? Etc etc. all questions we probably should have asked prior to purchase, but not even considering.
I feel you. I’m glad you too found a special place. We love ours and found it on the first scouting trip which is rare of course. We too didn’t know all the questions to ask. Those terrible air bnb owners. The neighbors on the third floor owning a large debt to the coprop. The owners who want to do nothing to clean the building. The good news is we are both here in our homes and will get through it all. :) 🇫🇷❤️🙏🏼 Hopefulky making friends with these crazy neighbors at some point.
Real talk. THIS is what people need to hear before making the leap! 👏👏👏
The hardest part I think people don’t consider is how much time you’re going to be seeing your other half. lol.
Seriously. Remember the pandemic? Like that, but unending. Always. There. If you don’t possess a degree of independence from one another now, I strongly suggest you cultivate one!
It depends on the situation. I've worked with clients that followed their spouse abroad and don't ever see them bc they're spending all their time at the office. But I totally get it - no matter what, the unfamiliar surroundings and new routines have a way of shaking up relationships!
Yuri would love to go back to some sort of job. I’d happily say, “see you tonight. Au revoir!”
Just wanted to say that I really enjoyed this. Thank you for making me laugh out loud several times during a not so fun week. 🙏
Oh, I have lived here for 25+ years. 😉 Just wanted to say I appreciate your writing. And I'm just worried about the fires...like everyone!
Yes I can’t imagine what’s happening in real time in these area. Between people, homes, land, animals. It’s so sad. Carcassonne smells of the smoke quite strong today. Some rain would be highly welcomed right now.
Hi Heather. Sorry for the not so fun week you’re having. Hopefully the weekend is better. I appreciate you taking the time to read and engage. If I can be of help in any move abroad way, let me know. ❤️🙏🏼🇫🇷
👍
I just forwarded this to a dear friend who’s moving back to France (Paris) on Aug 2nd. She is loosing her mind about now… this will help her , if not relax, exhale!
Boy, talk about reading about your own life experiences along with many friend’s too. There is so much truth here, thank you for summing it up for folks who are thinking about making the move overseas. Despite the cautionary tales, it’s all worth it.
Yes absolutely worth it. France will change us all. For the better even when there are days where you want to go to the Troc, buy dishes, and throw them out the window. Maybe at fight club neighbors. lol
Excellent, Rich. These considerations are not just applicable to France, or to Americans. 😉
Great read, as always! Thanks for helping Ricki and I find the perfect place for us after we whiffed from abroad. 😅
We've used relocation consultants twice and both were worth their weight in gold. Rarely have I held such fondness in my heart as I have for those complete strangers who carried us through two very batty days, jet lagged, missing our kids, heart blown wide open with equal doses of excitement and apprehension, making sure we asked all the right questions and considered all the right things. I have an overly long post waiting in drafts extolling my enthusiasm and appreciation for them. An investment I wouldn't hesitate to make again if required.
Worth every penny! I agree... because I didn't have one when we moved over 10 years ago! LOL
100% good ones are invaluable.
So much great advice in here, and it was the hit of cautious optimism I absolutely needed right now.
Thanks, Alex. It’s definitely not easy moving abroad as you well know too. We need that optimism to keep pushing us forward. ❤️🙏🏼🇫🇷
I can’t believe there are people who buy properties abroad without seeing them in person first. It’s mind boggling.
A couple of off the top of head thoughts regarding moving to France:
Estate agents/realtors are mostly only paid on commission. They need that sale!
The commission usually runs to around 6% of the buying price.
The survey provided by the realtor covers electrics, plumbing, asbestos and many other things....theoretically. There will be surprises.
There are legal costs that cannot be avoided. A Notaire will cost you a similar amount to the realtor
The French market is geared to people living in a property, not "flipping" it for profit. Inflation moves at a similar pace to French bureaucracy.
Currently here in Brittany, we are experiencing summer weather that would once have been considered hot down south chez Rich .
32Celsius = 90 Fahrenheit. It's not going to get any cooler in the future.
Learn French! Learn more French! See French films, maybe more than once. Tune in to speech.
You may speak and understand French, but do you speak and understand business French .....on the telephone?
It's still worth it so long as you put in the effort😊
Lex
Hi Lex. Like American Realtors, they do work on commission. My concern isn’t that. It’s the lack of actual proactive work. I can only speak from my own experience and that of my friends here, but while they’ll absolutely show you properties, I found they rarely find the properties for you. You end up doing the searching, sending them the listings, coming up with the questions, and following up for answers. It isn’t nearly as hands-on as many Americans expect, so I think it’s helpful to go into the process knowing you may be doing a lot of the heavy lifting and occasionally wondering what exactly you’re paying for. The notaire fees, on the other hand, are standard and are much more comparable to title and closing costs in the U.S.
As for French, absolutely learn as much as you can. Watch movies, read books, listen to podcasts, and immerse yourself however you enjoy learning. If you’re moving here retired, business French can come later. I actually think everyday life French is far more valuable in the beginning. Learning how to chat with the cashier at the grocery store, order at a restaurant, explain a medical or dental issue, ask questions at the pharmacy, or tell your Amazon driver where to leave a package will make your daily life so much easier. Home renovation vocabulary comes in handy too.
The truth is, you’ll learn far more once your feet are on the ground than you ever will from an app. And you’ll learn even faster with a tutor who can tailor lessons to your real life. Very few of us urgently need to know that “the dog hears a bird in the tree.” lol
Agreed Rich! The whole system is set up with completely different reward structures than what we all knew in the States - very few exclusives, multiple agencies on the same property, and the owners can sell directly themselves in most situations - ie. no motivation to be proactive. I help buyers for a living now and used to run a traditional agency in the Aude, south of you, and boy did I learn the hard way - collaborate? What's that? Thank you for giving us all a good laugh and a lot to think about each week!
For what it’s worth
Regarding learning “real” French..
A suggestion
France has a long tradition of songs where the words are as important as the music. If you look up the lyrics of a song by Françoise Hardy or Yves Montand, for example, the language is everyday, good-quality French. Do a translation for yourself, writing it longhand is best, then listen to it. You’ll be surprised at how well you follow it, and there is so much in there that is useful in normal conversation.
Oh my gosh, yes. We bought the first and only home we saw, and had stalked it in the listings beforehand. It was a leap of faith, and I am just now falling in love with it again after going through some renovations, complicated furniture and appliance deliveries, learning how to use all of those new appliances, and figuring out to prevent our electricity going out several times every evening! It definitely took a toll. Now that life has settled down somewhat, it's possible for me to calm down also and look upon my new home and my new life with newly appreciative eyes. Love my town and my new social circle, and looking forward to seeing how life unfolds here.
My “what was I thinking” decision … bringing my beloved 2001 red Mercedes 230 SLK hard top convertible with us to France. Doubled our shipment cost. Took nearly 2 years to get it “immatriculé”. 6 months on the waiting list for the central city underground car park. The kicker: I couldn’t drive it or park it in the city - too wide.
I loved it but realized I had outgrown it and didn’t even need it living in the city. It now lives happily with my grandson.
My husband supported me all the way - he knew how much it meant to me - and he knew when it was time to move on. Lesson learned - be careful of decisions based strictly on emotion!
Being ‘stuck’ at home with each other during the p@ndemic helped us realize that we would be able to make an international move together. It wasn’t easy and we definitely hired helpers to get us through an apartment search (rental) and getting things set up administratively which made things ever so slightly easier. But those first months were an emotional and physical slog and I’m so glad we can laugh about them now.
Also, the only way to fold your towels is so they fit in the cabinet where they are stored.