Help anyone - we are thinking of buying a property in France next year costing around £100000.00. Have been in touch with various solicitors who all advise we need their services. We do not have a vast amount of pension, savings etc what are peoples ideas on paying out £800+ for advice on tax, inheritance, pensions etc.
Many thanks

roy & Anne

Where abouts are you looking to settle? Many Notaires speak English , should you need it, and offer initial advice with out charge. I would not recommend using a UK Solicitor or 'financial specialist'. Happy to answer further question - we have been living in Provence 18 months. Have bought property, sorted Wills etc

I agree with the previous comments. Would you use a French solicitor to buy a house in UK???
We have been in France since 2001, bought and sold a property using the local notaire. We are lucky in that he does speak some English, but we did do our homework first. You will also find many of the local estate agents also have someone working for them who speaks English and will help you with the paper work regarding offers etc. Again, look online and see which immobiliers are near where you want to buy. You can also check the notaires online (in English). at www.notaires.fr
Another informative website is
http://www.french-property.com/refer..._in_france.htm
They outline quite nicely the proceedure regarding buying a property in France and might be of some help.
Val

Many thanks for reply - thinking of midi pyrenees area. dont know your age ours are 58 & 59, did you take advice from a financial advisor before you bought the property regarding income tax, health tax and inheritance, bearing in mind we do not have a vast amount of money.

Thanks for the info

Hello - we have lived in France since 2000, and have bought 3 properties over here.

We have only used an advisor once, after careful research, to get a mortgage for one property. He is English and lives in France, and I will gladly pass his name on if you like.

Otherwise you do not need to spend money on advice; financial advisors are no more capable of telling the future than you are.

Buy a book such as "Buying a Home in France" by David Hampshire, and get "Living in France" from Blevin Franks (they are advisors, but you don't need to use them to get their book!!!) These give practical advice, and while it seems complicated because they cover so many different eventualities, they are invaluable for reference.

As for health issues, this is quite straightforward.

The UK covers you for up to two years, depending on your National Insurance contributions; but you are entitled to join the French system after a few months living permanently here. This can be a frustrating process, involving visits to the local CPAM (health service) office, but the French health system is superb, and I speak from a lot of experience of it!!

The French system pays for 60-70 per cent of costs for normal treatments; 100 per cent for many dangerous or long term conditions. You pay through your French taxes and Social Charges.

Use a UK based company such as Exeter Insurance to provide you with cover for the "missing" 40 or 30 per cent (incidentally Exeter offer good advice on the French system) until you can switch to a French top-up insurer such as MAAF.

When any one of you are of UK pensionable age, once again the UK assumes responsibility for paying for both your basic health needs, and you pay no further Social Charges.

Sorry to be so long winded - feel free to ask for any further clarification.

Enjoy France, wherever you end up; it is a wonderful country!!!!

Thank you so much for your advice its good to hear your experiences. It does not sound so daunting when you hear about personal situations.

We used a UK solicitor, recommended by the book "Buying a House in France", called Fox Hayes web: www.foxhayes.co.uk . Graham Platt handled all our French legal documents for purchasing our house last year. Initial fee was £350 to see initial documents then a further £350 to see us through to the final document where you sign up at the Notaires. It gave us considerable peace of mind. If we had chosen to ask for more advice on inheritance etc he would have charged extra. They gave us a speedy and accurate service. Good luck with your french adventure and don't be put off by the moaning wingers who say that its all too bureaucratic etc - yes they are bureaucratic but be patient and attempt to learn the language which pays dividends.