The French property market saw a year-on-year rise in prices of 3.2 per cent up to the end of the second quarter of 2008, the latest Knight Frank Global House Price Survey has revealed.

While this is less than the level of a year before, it means the country’s property market has held up better than many other markets, including the UK which has seen falls in price.

At the same time, those who are buying there can purchase property for a much lower price than in the UK, according to French property specialist firm VEF.

The firm stated that the average French property is only priced at 60 per cent of a similar home in the UK.

It also noted that the French market tends to be more stable than others because of the larger fees and stricter lending criteria that apply there, preventing speculative lending and negative equity.

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