Can Less Be More When Buying a French Property?

There are those who subscribe to the theory that less is less and more is more, whatever the case, but let me ask you, is there an argument for “less is more” when it comes to buying a property in France?

Many French home hunters have properties in countries with very different housing markets, economic and social factors and simply, size of available building land. Often, this means they have restricted buying power and their properties are smaller in scale, with limited size of gardens, if they have a garden at all.

This can – and frequently does – lead to the temptation to ‘go large’ when considering properties to purchase here in France. A country with a similar size population to the UK for example, but a land mass of approximately twice the size, offers many larger properties, with large gardens, or acres of land, in the greater part of rural areas.

But is it really wise to buy that 7 bedroom property, with acres or hectares of land? Sometimes, yes, if you are, for example, planning a chamber d’hôte and small holding, where you are self sufficient and your plan is to commit to a hands-on, outdoor lifestyle. If this is really going to work for you, then of course, a larger property with land is your ideal purchase.

But often the decision to make such a purchase is made simply because buyers can, without serious consideration of how the property is going to be used in the long term, or how the property will impact on current and future lifestyle needs.

The key to making a suitable purchase is analysing your real needs from a property before committing to a purchase and it can be hard not to get carried away by the possibility of being able to buy so much space and land, when it contrasts so much with your previous home buying experience in your home country.

So, how can buying less sometimes mean more when it comes to life in France?

Unless you have serious, long term plans, carefully thought out, with timescales to put them into action, about how you are going to use a large property with land, then ask yourself these questions:

- Will the upkeep of unused space, constant garden/land maintenance become a burden in the long term, when the novelty has worn off and a routine of grass cutting 3 times a week starts to limit the possibility of enjoying other activities, or taking trips away?

- Will the holiday home offering so much space for family visits be full week in week out, or will it be empty most of the time and leaving you grumbling about spending all of your holiday time maintaining a garden you never seem to have time to enjoy and not being able to explore the area during your holiday, because you are tied to getting the property and land in shape before you leave again?

- Will the tranquil, but remote property with sweeping landscapes continue to give you the peace and quiet you crave, or ultimately leave you feeling unable to enjoy frequent trips to the theatre, unable to spontaneously enjoy the buzz of a vibrant town and missing more human contact?

The only solution is to take a long hard look at what you really want from your long term life in France, be it a permanent move, or a holiday escape.

A sensible conversation with family about how much time they intend to spend with you each year can lead to a reduction in the number of bedrooms you really need to buy….families change as time marches on and often, over time, your family will want to holiday in a variety of places, not just with you in France. Elderly relatives prefer to stay close to home as age takes its toll and won’t want to travel to stay with you.

Ask yourself if you are really an outdoor land loving person/couple? Seriously? Will planting rows of cabbages, carrots and green beans bring you years of unbridled joy, or will the novelty wear off once you have a freezer full of veg and nowhere to store this year’s excess?

Unless money is no object and you are at liberty to employ gardeners and housekeepers, then make your buying decision based on how you need/want to use your property and how you want your life to unfold.

If your ideal is to use your holiday home to relax from the hectic everyday life you have as the norm, make sure it provides that for you, by being of manageable size in every aspect. A small garden with a lovely view can give you that feeling of country space without having to be responsible for it.

If you feel you want to use your home in France as an ideal base from which to explore the country and other neighbouring countries, make sure your purchase is on a lock up and leave scale, so you can enjoy your travels without worrying about returning to a jungle of a garden.

A smaller property, closer to a town or city may well cost the same as the country mansion with land, but would it be ideal to allow you to enjoy the varied and satisfying social life you really need, in the future, if not immediately?

In short, be of a mind to really analyse your true needs of a property purchase. Consider discussing your property purchase requirements with a professional, to help you really highlight your key needs and to help you make the right purchase decision.

Less really can be more if buying a smaller scale property will give you the all the best aspects of the lifestyle you seek from your home in France.