Buying Property in the Dordogne
If youýre considering buying property in France you would be well advised to check out what the Dordogne has to offer.
Situated in the Aquitaine region of the hilly south-west of France, the Dordogne is home to famous French wines (including Bergerac), ancient ýbastideý towns, mouth-watering cuisine (including the famous Pýtý de foie gras), incredible historic monuments and castles (it has 4000 chateaux, 10 per cent of all in France), and a wide variety of cultural attractions
The region takes its name from the river that runs through it, although locally it is known as the Perigord, a name derived from Gaulish word ýPetrecoreý the collective name of four tribes who used to inhabit this diverse and beautiful region.
These tribes, who once formed part of a resistance against the Romans, give their colourful names to the four parts of the region.
"Pýrigord Vert" (Green Pýrigord) a region of lush and verdant valleys with Nontron as its principal town.
"Pýrigord Blanc" (White Pýrigord) situated around the capital of Pýrigueux and named after the white limestone that characterizes this area and gives it its landscape of plateaux, wide valleys and meadows.
"Pýrigord Pourpre" (Purple Pýrigord) a wine growing region whose capital is the renowned Bergerac.
"Pýrigord Noir" (Black Pýrigord) situated around its capital of Sarlat and named after the Oak and Pine woods that comprise much of the region.
Weather
Despite the lushness of its beautiful landscapes, the region enjoys wonderful weather. Summers tend to be hot with average temperatures ranging between 25 and 35 degrees centigrade, while spring and autumn are only slightly milder with the range between 22 and 28 degrees. Although the region is prone to some rainfall the skies are rarely grey with sunshine averaging over 2000 hours of sunshine per year (thatýs 5 ý hours a day).
Getting There
The best way to travel to the Dordogne is by flying and continuing your journey by hire car. The regionýs principal airport is situated in Bergerac and is served by Ryanair and flybe who also serve nearby Limoges. Bordeaux (British Airways, flybe, bmibaby, Aer Lingus and easyJet ) and Toulouse (British Airways, flybe, bmibaby, easyJet and bmi) are also close.
Property Prices
The Dordogne has traditionally been a popular destination for those people choosing to relocate to France. It has been particularly popular with the Dutch, the Germans, and above all the British, with young families and retirees making up the greater part of the demographic. As a consequently prices have traditionally remained high.
However due to the rising popularity of other destinations in France, prices in the Dordogne have recently stabilised, making it an increasingly affordable choice.
Although the cheapest properties tend to be those in need of renovation, potential buyers should be wary that these properties often require a major investment (in time as well as money) in order to make them habitable.
The most popular properties tend to be those that are located within their own grounds within easy access of local shops. Naturally, however, these tend to be the highest priced properties.
Those on a tighter budget should consider properties in more remote locations (attractive to more self-sufficient people) and properties within towns and villages (the best bet for those who want to get to know the locals).
The Buying Process
Once you have made the decision to buy a property in the Dordogne, the process is fairly straightforward.
1. Both parties will sign the Compromis de Vente, this is a legally binding document. As the buyer you will be required to provide various documents including birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce or death certificates, passports as well as information regarding the financing of the purchase.
2. This will be followed by a seven day ýcooling off periodý during which both parties have the right to pull out of the deal. After this period the contract will be binding to both parties and you will be expected to pay the deposit (usually 10%) to the notaire.
3. All property in France is registered and it is the obligation of the notaire to carry out all relevant searches including legal ownership of the property, and the land boundaries and the rights of way. He must also ensure that any essential planning permissions have been obtained for works carried out.
4. In France the form of contract that you use to purchase your property determines what happens to your property in the event of your death. As such you should seek legal advice on this point.
5. You must organise (or have someone organise for you) the reconnection of services (gas/water/electricity) to your property.
6. You must acquire full building insurance for your property from the date of completion.
7. The signing of the final contract generally comes 3 months after your initial offer. Once signed the deeds will be sent away to be registered. This will take 3 to 6 months but in the meantime you are free to move into your new property.
8. Enjoy your new home!!!
Luxury French Property specialist HOMEHUNTS have a portfolio of luxury french property and properties in France.
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