EuroTrash

Maybe you should consider Brittany - it doesn't have the extremes of a Mediterranean climate, land away from the coast is pretty cheap and it's very agricultural.
Although where the wining, dining and socialising would happen if you buried yourself in a Breton village, is not obvious.
But do make sure you're not falling into the trap of having in your head an aspirational UK lifestyle, that you can't afford to lead in the UK, and thinking you can lead that same UK lifestyle in France because basically France is like the UK but with cheaper property and better weather. A lot of people come here thinking that, and unfortunately it rarely ends happily. It worries me a little that the only reasons visible in your posts for choosing France are its perceived affordability and its perceived better climate. France is a different country with a different culture, different customs, a different mindset, different politics, different expectations. (Unless you move to a Little Britain area, which would be another option.) The next elections might put Sarko back in as President or they might even put Le Penn in, either way and especially in the latter case, the government is unlikely to do much for immigrants who have never worked here.
Why not move to Corsica? Not that I know anything about it, but logically, if you like Corsica, why move to France?

dmu

From what I've always understood, Corsicans don't like the Continental French, let alone foreigners! They tolerate both for the tourism income, but I wonder whether a permanent expat would integrate and be happy there.

InVinoVeritas

Upset someone in Corsica and they burn your house down!

Tweedpipe

There is another Expat site with a number of links and posts about living - and particularly purchasing property in Corsica. I won't post a link to it as the Moderators here would (rightly so) see that as incorrect form. Needless to say I've just spent 5mins there, and the comments in general are not too encouraging. Suggest you Google it to find out more.
It's a country I've never visited, but have been tempted several times. Have a Brit ex-work colleague who spent at least 3 holidays there (summer months) and loved it. Winter however can be bleak in some areas, and I believe last year several of their snow resorts did good business.
I would guess that a Brit may have a slightly warmer welcome there from the locals due to historic events, but I stand to be corrected if unfounded.

Steviecops

I don't need posh wining and dining. Just a meal in a local cafe, or a few hours in a local bar would count as a night out. My partner and I both have horses and, even if we won the lottery, would choose to live somewhere quiet, in a cosy house where we could look out of the window in the morning and see our horses grazing in a field. That would be heaven, where ever it was. I'm broke now and working full time! When I retire and have to rely on my pension, I'll be even more broke! If things still look do-able when I've thoroughly reasearched everything, living in France would allow us to live the lifestyle we want to live. As for climate, we're well into the second week of May and it's still freezing cold here and the grass hasn't started to grow properly yet!

dmu

Sorry, but you hadn't mentioned a partner. Will she be working? or have a private income or in receipt of a Pension? If not, then your own Pension would correspond more or less to the Poverty Threshold for a couple (cf my link above) which, as stated, would only cover the basics for survival, without Mutuelle or treats, and certainly not all the expenses involved with keeping horses. And you should make sure in advance that your partner is covered for healthcare and won't have to take out private insurance.
Another aspect concerning couples without legal ties, is the Succession Tax that the surviving partner must pay (60% of the value of his/her inheritance). French Property and Inheritance Laws will prevail regarding this Tax on French property, whatever Europe will soon be ruling re Wills. As you have children, and maybe your partner, too, you should get advice from the Notaire dealing with your property purchase, as to the best way of protecting your heirs.
We must sound right Cassandras, but you should be aware of all the drawbacks/complications before you take the plunge. Fore-warned is fore-armed!

Novocastrian

I think that what the long-term ex-pats in France are saying is that living there is not quite the same as winning the lottery.

Nonetheless, I hope you can find what you're looking for.

Steviecops

Absolutely! That's why I joined this forum! I've been reading everything I can find on the realities of relocating to France. It seems that those who succeed are the ones who look at the harsh realities instead of romantic ideas.

My partner would not work if we made the move. We both enjoy the simple things in life and don't bat an eyelid if a horse throwing a show means we don't go out for a month. I just need to learn if we can, realistically, make a go of it. I will have a budget of around £70 - £80 to buy a property, (please don't all scoff at once!), and realise that for this money some modernisation will be needed. I am not daft enough to take in a full restoration project! I was a bricklayer before I became a fireman and can manage other building jobs, like plastering, rendering, etc. as I'm not planning to work for a living but still want to be active, spending a year or two getting a place as we want it won't be a problem....and, yes, I do appreciate the work involved having spent 10 years refurbishing Victorian houses in East London in my younger days

Steviecops

You're right! Corsicans hate being French. They are a fiercely proud race, as the bullet hole ridden French road signs are testament to! I always found them to be very friendly, helpful and welcoming as long as you were the same to them. But doesn't that apply the whole world over?

Novocastrian

Your budget seems more than a bit tight in this regard too.

Steviecops

Not according to what I've seen on a variety of websites.

Steviecops

And why did you edit my post in your quote?

babyposer

The main problem are the horses, with 70k you won't go far I'm afraid unless you go to a very remote place, with a high unemployment rate and so on.

Don't know if anyone mentioned that but the council tax can be horrendous even in some small villages.

So lots of things to consider.

Novocastrian

That's usually the best way to point out which part you're replying to.

EuroTrash

I think NC was pointing out that £80 is a little optimistic for a house, even in France
Have to agree that the appearance on the scene of a partner doesn't make things easier. One thing to say here is, are you in a position to get married? If not, planning to share a property in France with no safety net for either of you would be madness, as should anything happen to you then your partner, as a non relative, would be liable for 60 per cent succession tax. Or if you put the house in joint names, then the survivor would pay 60 per cent of the value of the half they inherit. That's assuming that the new inheritance laws do take effect as expected and the property, or share in the property, does not automatically pass to the owner's next of kin.

There's another thread on here where people are estimating that the average expat on a budget spends 150k on buying a property and another 150k on getting it up to standard. Of course it can be done for less, IF you're prepared to make compromises. Living in an area of low employment won't affect you in a way if you're not looking to work, but in a way it will, because of the local environment.

If you go ahead you should be aware that there is a farming organisation called SAFER that has the right to preempt any sale of agricultural land to a non-farmer, and take over the purchase at the agreed price. Obviously this is to stop France's agricultural surface area shrinking due to being sold off to second home owners and for private leisure use, as for instance has happened in the UK. But it makes getting a bargain hard because when a sale is agreed at an attractive price, that price tends to be attractive to SAFER as well.

As you'll have realised, there is more state control in France over what you can buy, what you can do with it once you've bought it, and who you can leave it to when you depart this life.

I think you need to visit a few areas, out of season, and try to get a feel for what it would be like living there. Going out is obviously important to you and quite honestly there isn't much of a 'going out' culture outside of big cities. The French are very family- and home-orientated and even for special celebrations they generally prefer to have a slap-up meal at someone's house. They don't see the point in spending money on a restaurant when they can eat better and be more comfortable at home. Though they do tend to eat out at midday, for convenience. Or that's how it is round here - come 8pm everybody is home from work, the lights are on and the shutters are closed, and you can walk through town and not see a soul and drive for miles and not see another car on the roads.