| As the stabilisation of the UK property market | | | | UK's older generation. Retirement specialists Saga |
| continues, many people are beginning to look overseas. | | | | explain that retirees are favouring France due to |
| Overseas property investment in Europe is a popular | | | | reasons like health, better weather and relatively low |
| choice. The culture, economy and proximity of western | | | | property prices. Data from a 2006 study from the |
| and southern Europe all combine to make it appealing. | | | | Institute for Public Policy Research revealed that over |
| For many British people who are interested in investing | | | | 3.3 million British pensioners will be residing abroad by |
| in property abroad, France remains a popular option. | | | | 2050. |
| Being the world's most popular tourist destination, | | | | Industry experts say that the number of people with |
| France has a high demand for rented accommodation | | | | overseas property has been growing over the last |
| in tourist locations. Aside from this international estate | | | | two decades but it has grown a lot sharper in the last |
| agent BBC says that the French mortgage market is | | | | five years. Datamonitor reckons that the overseas |
| becoming more liberal as more French lenders are | | | | property market - which was worth £44.4 billion in |
| offering 100% mortgages for the first time. Experts | | | | 2006 - will double in value between now and 2012. The |
| say that many investors who look to France are | | | | company says British and Irish investors presently own |
| interested in mixing financial investment with lifestyle. | | | | 3.81 million properties abroad. |
| For British people, the desire for a French way of life | | | | But despite the fact that these British investors have |
| remains as strong as ever. | | | | chosen to invest abroad, 54% of those surveyed at |
| A survey of delegates at the recent Jet-to-Let Annual | | | | the Jet-to-Let Annual Conference are still keen on |
| Conference in London showed that 13.3% of | | | | making investments at home saying that the UK |
| professional investors were planning to make | | | | market will get better. According to experts, the results |
| investments in France in the coming year. A foremost | | | | show that these educated investors are able to |
| international property investment website reports that | | | | comprehend the long-term disposition of property |
| some parts of the Côte d'Azur have seen price | | | | investment by taking advantage of better market |
| increases of as much as 22% in 2005. | | | | conditions overseas, but still having medium to |
| One group of people who see France as a top | | | | long-term belief in the UK property. |
| overseas property destination of their choice is the | | | | |