OWNING A HOME IN THE LANGUEDOC - AND WHAT YOU CAN LEARN

Overseas visitors tend to buy homes in France for one of three main purposes: as a holiday home (either purely for their own use, or to rent out to others on a casual basis), as an investment, or as a permanent base. Louise Taylor talks to John Farmer, who bought a small, inexpensive property in the Languedoc to use as a bolt hole; John passes on some lessons you can learn from his experience.

Four years ago, John was footloose and fancy free. A single Londoner in his early thirties, he bought a converted barn in the Aude département to use as a holiday home. Since his purchase, his life has changed dramatically - he is now married and is the father of a seven-month old baby - but fortunately his holiday home is still right for his needs. Getting there from London is quick and easy (he bought mindful of the low-priced flights into Carcassonne, Perpignan and Montpellier). John put in an efficient heating system and new plumbing when he first bought to ensure that his place would be comfortable year round, making it easier to rent out to friends, family and work colleagues, even out of season. Now he and his wife use it as a much-needed hideaway for short breaks, with baby in tow. The income they continue to make from letting out their French home comes in very useful, now that they have the added expense of a new baby, and they have no plans to sell.

What you can learn

John says: "When I bought my French property, I never imagined I'd be visiting it as a husband and father. It's funny how life changes when you're least expecting it! I'm pleased I purchased in a fairly accessible spot, too - driving for hours with a grumpy baby and all the kit would be a nightmare now. Obviously I didn't plan getting married and starting a family when I bought my holiday home four years ago, but being a fairly practical sort, I knew it made sense to locate myself within easy reach of an airport or two. As it is, we can get cheap flights from London Stansted to a variety of airports in the Languedoc thanks to Ryanair, and by booking well in advance, and checking out which route offers the best deal, we really keep our costs down; the money we save goes towards paying for our car hire when we arrive in France. With hindsight, I'm glad I spent a bit of money making the place comfortable; I put in some comfy furniture, and although it seemed like a hefty cost at the time, the insulation and efficient heating system mean we can come here quite happily year-round, which maximizes the use we get out of our place. We've rented it out successfully for Christmas and New Year, and although it's not a huge money spinner by any means, the income goes towards our next trip. My advice to anyone thinking of buying a place in France would be to look carefully at access; being able to fly direct into at least two different airports is a boon. If a route closes down, you need to know you'll still be able to get to your French home quickly, easily, and preferably, cheaply."

About the Author

Louise has lived in France, in the city of Montpellier in the Languedoc-Roussillon for the past 5 years.

Louise writes for a number of French life magazines and was asked to write a number of articles on life and experiences in France by French real estate agents Vibo Immobilier (http://www.viboimmobilier.com), based in the wine village of Fitou.