26 French Property News August 2019 http://www.completefrance.com
Moi,
myself
and I
Buying a French property
on your own? Let’s work
on this together, says
Ruth Wood
W
hen Annette Morris moved to France
on her own a decade ago, she had
visions of bonding with fellow dog
walkers and befriending neighbours in the
boulangerie queue.
And that’s what happened, only it took more
time and effort than she had imagined.
“There are so many things I wish I’d known at
the time, especially as a single woman,” admits
the marketing consultant, who moved from the
Cotswolds to a quaint Languedoc village near the
Canal du Midi in 2008. “What I hadn’t anticipated
is that the average local population was probably
twice my age and any people of my age would be
families unlikely to share the same pastimes as a
single woman – and her dog.”
If you live alone, you are not alone. Households
in France, as in the UK, have been getting smaller
for decades, due to changing lifestyles and ageing
populations, and today more than one in three
French homes has a sole occupant.
EXPERT ADVICE
€210,000: A charming apartment in the heart of
colourful Menton’s old town with views of the sea and
mountains from both its bedroom and living room;
comprising 26m^2 with a small separate kitchen and
bathroom with shower, it is one of just three apartments in
the building and close to the beaches, pedestrianised high
street, restaurants, bars and shops (leggettfrance.com).
€229,500: In Condrieu, a little Rhône valley town
famous for its wine appellation and architectural
heritage, a three-bedroom apartment with garage and
private garden located in a beautiful old building; as
well as amenities, there’s a train station within walking
distance connecting you to Lyon in 25 minutes or the
airport is 45 minutes away (my-french-house.com)€62,100: Sold furnished in “as new” condition, a two-
bedroom apartment with stunning views from its living
room and balcony over the town of St-Paul-de-Fenouillet
towards the mountains of the Pyrénées-Orientales; the
third-floor home is within a few minutes’ walk of all
amenities, including a pool, and 45 minutes from the city
and airport of Perpignan(leggettfrance.com).Apartments
In Dordogne towns such as Sarlat you are bound to bump into Brits and other English speakers