France’s magical Languedoc region combines unspoilt Mediterranean beaches with vine-carpeted landscapes, all against a backdrop of the snowcapped Pyrenees. Property is affordable there too! Here expat Brian Clays reveals why he and wife Sarah wouldn’t live anywhere else…

Article written by The Overseas Guides Company

What made you decide to buy a home in France?
In the early 1990s, I started spending a week or two each year in a little town called Roquefort des Corbières. The weather there was invariably good and the evenings especially so. Sitting around at the Café du Marche until the early hours was a pleasure I often dreamt about when back home in England in the cold and dark. There no other countries I have visited that I would rather live in for any length of time. France has culture, infrastructure, weather and the French – impossible to replicate elsewhere. When Sarah and I got together we spent some time touring around France and she too appreciated many of these qualities.

What areas did you consider and how did you end up choosing the Languedoc?
We initially considered buying a house in Aquitaine and became quite excited when a property came up that looked ideal. That region was appealing to Sarah because it was verdant with an undulating landscape, with quaint towns and villages, and I was happy to compromise on anywhere south of Bordeaux.
One potential house turned out to be a potential nightmare – it was built in a region prone to devastating flooding and had neighbouring houses, barns and sheds that the photos had skilfully excluded. We went off the idea of foreign property ownership and decided instead to look at the idea of buying a canal boat and tour around France in that.
When then decided to buy a boat in need of some refurbishment and also get a canal side property to live in while the boat was being ‘updated’. We found our house on 3 different agents’ websites, so there were plenty of photos and the descriptions, which helped us confirm it must be between Trèbes and Capestang. We came over and Sarah, who had been under the impression that the Aude – part of the Languedoc – is dry and barren, was suddenly enthused by the beauty of the surrounding countryside. The house was a tad larger than we had really wanted but it was in a great location, right on the canal side.

Did you do any research beforehand?
We already knew Narbonne quite well but apart from a quick drive around Homps, Olonzac and Lezignan, our non-web research was minimal. So a lot was done on the internet in the initial stages.

How long did it take you to find the property?
The entire process, from having the idea of living in France to the reality, probably took about three years.

Did you both speak French beforehand? How are you finding it now?
It is always good to know one’s limitations in life. Despite plenty of time and effort, I cannot ever see myself confidently having a casual conversation in French. Sarah, on the other hand, seems to pick up an awful lot very quickly and without much effort.

Looking back on your purchase, is there anything you would have done differently?
Hindsight? I’m sure we didn’t do everything right but it is difficult to think of anything that we would have done differently.

What tips would you have for anyone wanting to buy in France?
Spend some time in the area you think that you like. Be aware that rural life can be very lonely. Make sure that the figures stack up well and that a couple of percentage points change in the currency rate won’t leave you destitute. Remember that the winters can be as cold and miserable as in the UK, though normally a little shorter.

If you are on the verge of buying property in France or moving there, a simple way to save money is to use a currency exchange specialist when transferring your pounds into euros. For more information on this, download Smart Currency Exchange’s free report or visit the Currency Zone.

For more information on buying property successfully in France download the Overseas Guides Company’s free France Buying Guide – and start receiving free news updates by email. Or to see property for sale all over France visit Rightmove’s France listings.