When picking my next home base after visiting 40 countries (since 1990), what helped me decide was visualizing my ideal post-retirement day...shopping at the morning market, eating the local food, meeting people, learning the language, going for long walks, exploring neighborhoods, taking classes, getting around on public transport, etc...After you do all the touristy things, in the end, you're living there so adjusting your mindset (and your budget) is important.
@@deborahokner500 I would suggest you to go to the place you're interested to live in. Take a trip for few weeks the best is a month. There's some aparthotels that are very affordable with kitchenette, roomy and with a reduced price for long term rent with all the service of a hotel. Stay for awhile as you're living there, and to see how you feel and handle it. Google around and contact some local rental companies to have information on renting that varie differently than in the states. Do some research on your part. Asking RU-vidr doesn't help
@@MelissaHobbs-qm8wi That's where experts like Katherine C Boone come in. Her insights and guidance have been instrumental for many investors during these turbulent times.
I never understand people moving to a foreign country & making no effort to learn the language. I see so many in the UK who’ve moved here & can’t speak any English & make no effort to do so! Very useful video, I’m hoping to move to France next year so very interested to hear from others about their experience 👍😊
I have absolutely no interest in moving to France but I have come to love your channel. You’ve lit a fire within me to move forward to reach my dream…buying a summer place in Maine. It makes me so happy to see people take risks to go for it and pursue their dreams. I have enjoyed the ride and will continue to watch you both. I am rooting for you 100 💯 percent. God bless you both!
The feeling of being home is one to which you should pay attention . Paris is undeniably cosmopolitan which is important if you have lived near a metropolitan area for most of your life being used to all a city has to offer. May your dream become your reality.
I am a woman and love history! It's the reason I travel anywhere. France has superior...just about everything! Totally understand wanting to move there, my husband and I are planning on purchasing there in the next two years. It is very hard to articulate how wonderful France and its people are.
I love to see people like you who go out into the world and seek what truly makes you happy. It's very inspiring. So glad you're sharing your insights on youtube. Thank you!
On cost of living in the US vs. France: I helped the daughter of some French friends find an apartment in Boston in the fall of 2023. She was looking for a furnished studio for an 18 month work assignment there. She was shocked at the rents. She could find a much nicer apartment in Paris for much less than the one she finally rented in Boston. She was also shocked at food prices. Food was much less expensive in Paris. On the whole, cost of living looks to be much more reasonable in France than in many parts of the US, particularly Metro USA.
Prices in Paris are very high for us french. So, we can imagine in Boston... French Countryside is much more interesting, calm and cheaper than big cities. It's only "my two cents".
My grandparents immigrated from Italy to the USA in the 20’s. They never spoke English. I could not communicate with them. My father did not teach us their Italian dialect either. So, what a loss I feel of never having an opportunity to learn from them. I’m now 67 & hope to visit Italy in 2024 so I’m teaching myself some very basic Italian! I would love to see Paris but Italy has my first calling due to my heritage ❤️🇮🇹
Thanks for this - should help those thinking about making the move. I have a slightly different take on the ‘chateau experience’ that you discussed. Not all chateaux are derelict or more than a million euros. We moved to the Dordogne from the US in December 2021 on long stay visiteur visas (renewable, no work allowed). We rented a house in the countryside and fell in love with the area - the landscape, the tranquility, the beautiful medieval architecture etc. We bought a small château about 4 months later in the same area. It needs work but it is by no means derelict. We do not spend all of our time renovating. We balance our work with day trips to historical locations in France or longer trips to other Européenne destinations. Balance is the key.
France recently set higher standards of energy criteria for all properties up for residential rental. Owners must do the work to meet the standards to rent. This has significantly reduced the number of properties to rent. Agencies are just not getting the numbers of properties onto their books that they used to. Many owners are seeking these older properties. Things are changing at the moment and in Paris, for next year, the Olympics is adding pressure. Long-term rental requires a good dossier and guarantors to support your application. You have probably heard about this. On the matter of having two properties, bear in mind that it may affect tax liabilities.
We live in a great small city in the Vendee. We love our home of 5 bedrooms, 2 kitchens and a separate apartment. Our mortgage and taxes are just under 1k€ per month at 1.2 percent. Our total monthly expenses including 1k for mortgage is about 4k€ which includes restaurant meals 5 times a week. We are going to the Canary Islands next week and Morocco next month. We are spending January in Seville and February in Valencia. We like to have our travel budget allow all of the EU.please be careful of fractional ownership. Pleeeeeze be careful. HOA costs can be frightful.
I want to express why France is so attractive to me, I've made two visits over time. There's an undeniable good quality of life that is hard to explain. One thing is that many of the small towns are lively, and often somewhat prosperous seeming. I'm a fan of rural bike riding and it's much better to visit a thriving, small, probably agricultural town, than a dying one like so many are in the US. You can get an idea just from viewing coverage of the Tour de France... which is predominantly going thru small towns. Also there seems to be a great reverence for simple cultural participation... we were surprised by how many groups of singing or dancing students were performing on the streets of the eastern town of Annecy when we went. Of course, there is the incredible amount of old architecture there that is lived in and used daily. I assume having an apartment in a three hundred year old building has drawbacks, but the ambience of the streets is amazing. Also, obviously, the French take their time while dining, and the streets are full of outside opportunities to linger, eat or drink a bit, and watch the human parade go by. In addition, there are many other public spaces, gardens and squares where folks dog walk, read, play instruments. There is just a pleasure in each other's company that is sadly disappearing in the US. It all adds up to a striking impression for most of us modern Americans.
I think you have summed it up beautifully. The pleasure of enjoying each other's company is definitely something that is lacking in the US, at lease from our experience.
Wow did not check this out for while You guys look amazing love the pony tail...You guys look so happy and young...this info you are giving now is perfect..gracias
My offer on a house near Limoux was accepted by the seller this morning. My plan to move started right before covid then picked back up last year with freedom to travel and search. I'm opting for the tiny village life. Transport to Toulouse is only a few euros. Costs are remarkably cheaper and French life shares my values. It will be next year before I get moved but just seeing the wheels finally turning is fantastic. Thank you for your insight.
You must've misunderstood. We were talking about having been to France several times before we ever went to Paris. We first went to St Tropez and Marseille before we ever went to Paris. We've now been to Paris at least 6 times.
You nailed it, KJ -- "feeling I'm home." I lived in Paris for close to seven years, speak French fluently, and I always questioned my decision to leave -- now, we're making plans to go back. It's "home!"
I have always been more interested in European history than American history. In Junior High we were shown a documentary on the history of the Louvre and I have been hooked ever since. My home here in Colorado is finally under contract, if all goes well and Visa process goes smoothly, I hope to be in France in roughly three months. Yes, I am commiting to a year and will rent. Personally, I have no desire to be tied down by owning a home again. May do six months in the south of France and the other six months in or near Paris. Your videos so helpful. Thank you for all you do!
La chanson de josephine baker ... J'ai deux amours ... Mon pays et paris ... Et la citation de benjamin franklin "tout homme a 2 pays, le sien, et la france" .... 😄😄 ... Personnellement, j'ai posé mes bagages en france il y a 40 ans ... J'ai voyagé dans plusieurs pays ... Amerique, europe, afrique ... Etc ... Et je ne voudrais être nulle part ailleurs dans le monde !! .... La france est le plus beau pays du monde !! .... Ça vient de sa position geographique ... Entre 2 océans ... Et avec des chaines de montagnes, ce qui crée des micros climats ... Un peu partout ... C'est le seul pays au monde ou en quelques kilomètres, tout change, l'architecture, la nourriture, les coutumes, les accents ... Etc .... Il n'y a rien de comparable ... Imaginez le style et le climat mediterranéen, le climat de la côte atlantique, celui de la bretagne, les pyrénées, les alpes, l'alsace, le massif central, etc, etc ....
France was the 1st country I thought about moving to, and in particular, somewhere in the south. In college, I met many people who were from the area, and they told me it was much more relaxed and friendlier than Paris. I get along fine in Paris. I’d been to Paris and Dijon several times, but I wanted a year round warmer climate. I put that aside, but on my trip to Portugal last June, I went to France to visit my French nephews. 1 needed to go back to his university, so I finally made it to Marseille. I loved Marseille! It has beauty and grit. I loved the diversity, and I found all the people to be very warm, and happy to practice their English with me. So, in a perfect world, I’d go between Lisbon and Marseille. 😄 By the way, Dijon is lovely! I like it more than Lyon.
Thank you for sharing your experience. We also love Marseille, but have read that it has the highest crime rate of any city in France, which kind of turned us off living there. We hope to get to Lisbon one day and will also keep Dijon in mind. Thanks again!
@@kjandtonylovefrance from my nephew, who is a law student in Marseille, the crime is pickpocketing, and the more violent crime is among people selling drugs in particular areas, so crime is easy to avoid.
Thank you for the video. Question regarding income qualification: does one need to earn 2k a month or have availability of 2k a month? For example, making up numbers here, if someone was netting 1800 per month from Social Security but had a savings account with 300k in it- is it all taken into consideration to show that you have enough funds to meet the financial requirements for Visa?
My SS will be just under that 'required' amount UGH!!! Even with a paid off home and no debt I cannot afford to live here in the US only on my SS. I will have to continue to work. I just want a place to go. I guess I will have to be a perpetual tourist. Numbeo only works if there has been a large amount of people that have contributed to it, and are current contributions. Small towns are less likely to have accurate numbers due to extremely low contributions..
Do you follow the Janice in France RU-vid channel? She might be a good source of information about living in a smaller location. She moved to France when she turned 70.
I'm finding that decent health coverage is almost impossible and financially prohibitive for those of us in our 70's. Mexico is out now. Europe now requires marrying a citizen of the country...darn near. Too bad medicare isn't portable. Glad you're whittling down the barriers and problems of international relocation. Fall is in the air slightly here in the north. Love it
Time share...Great idea! I don't get the impression you are ready to move permanently or know where! It is definitely a good idea to live wherever for a year...What we did! We then scouted out different areas and really figured out where we didn't want to live. Then stumbled on an area just north of Lisbon and south of the silver coast that everyone talks about. It takes time and travel to figure it all out. I think a lot of Americans have this fantasy, but reality is it's not the same travel vs. living in another country....Very different, but you're doing your research so good luck!
I’ve lived in France for 47 years and for me they are overthinking this move and making it more and more complicated for them. It’s as if the title of their RU-vid is the antithesis of what they will really do. Since they love France so much and they obviously have enough money. Get the foot in the door, learn the language correctly and move on. Too much cognitive dissonance going on here. Attitude too American to survive in France
Right now I am in Spain and if I didn’t have a company in France I would definitely request a residency visa for Spain in spite of having permanent French residency. Never took the nationality
@@rivierarocket I totally agree! You cannot understand it until you live it!!! It can be great, but you must learn and accept cultural differences in order to adapt!!!
@@rivierarocket I could've gotten my French citizenship, but NEVER felt French or wanted it!!! I am an American living as an immigrant in Europe! I love it here!! You must adapt though!!
Hi ! Iam from Lyon. Born and raised. Lived in Paris too for years. Don’t hesitate if you want more Infos. You should also check Bordeau and the area too… and welcome home 🇫🇷
The cost of living in France is NOT cheaper than in California (known as one of most expensive states). I researched the past several months to consider a retirement life in France. The answer is it's not cheaper. Say that if I want to change a lifestyle and a place for fun and adventure then it makes more sense. But to move to France, not Paris, somewhere suburban or country side, there's a lot of trading from downgrading the living space to a much smaller housing, electricity in France is ways more expensive than in California, you don't need a car but to travel and commute it cost more than having a car. Retire doesn't mean you stay home cooking all day or walking everyday around town. You need to spend time to explore different places and that may cost public transportation up to thousand euros for trains, flight and bus (Google to see that I am correct). I experienced going to France and other European countries often. Public transportation is very convenient but not cheap at the point to travel a few times a month or every weekend as I do. Cost me 25 bucks gasoline from SF to Carmel by the Sea in one day on a Camry. Can't definitely same price as in Paris to get out of a city for a day......this is to mention a few differences. If you can afford a living in France and for a change, to explore a new world then you make a good choice. But definitely your standard of living is not the same. Or you're wealthy like George Looney, Tom Cruise there's no change in your living. You still live in a mansion wherever you go. But for average Americans, moving out to abroad is a bit of sacrifice. Myself I wanted to move to France as I speak write and read French and I love french people and the culture that all are lovely, also at the same time i love the comfort at my home and the convenience of commute owning a car, safe when a pandemic happens instead of using a crowded public transportation. This is only what I find out in my research. Better save money and travel a couple times here and there in the year and come home happy
I lived in Paris for 3 months. Apartment in the center. Travelled all around France. No budget, but expected to spend USD10k. That's exactly what I spent. I could have spent much less. In NYC, everything is more expensive - groceries would easily be 25% more. Haircut, 100% more, etc. I studied C18th French history at school, but French history goes back tens of thousands of years. If you're a white American, you're probably a Celt - and the Celts lived where modern France now stands. I agree that there's an emotional resonance with France. The people are wonderful if you make any effort at all. You can live anywhere in France and visit anywhere else by fast train in a few hours (at most).
How wonderful that you got to spend 3 months in Paris. I would agree that you're likely to spend at least 10K or much more. Everything you mentioned has definitely been true in our experience. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Hi Kate and Tony, good informative video. NANTES, have you tried to look at NANTES city in France? I am an Aussie and I am picky when it comes to quality of life but I love Nantes. Nantes has been praised for its high quality of life, and it received the European Green Capital Award in 2013. It is the third ranking city after Paris and Lyon (Gamma city and national surveys) and it is only 2 hours by fast speed train from Paris, 45 mn from the Ocean and great beaches. It has one of the largest Arts Museums and Natural History Museums in France. It is famous for its rich history (Capital of the Dukes of Brittany for 600 years) and cultural life (one of my most active cultural scenes in Europe) but also its fresh seafood, white wines and crepes. Lots and lots of Parisians have moved to Nantes for the past 10 years. One can fly direct from Nantes airport to London, Paris, Geneva, Copenhagen, Canary Islands, Montreal, NYC, Brussels etc.very easily. La Roche-Posay (the famous Thermal Spa Town with its healing waters) is just an 1 hour away or you can also enjoy sea water therapy (Thalasso Therapy) 45 mn away from Nantes on the beach. Why don't you give it a try? Summers, autumns and spring are gorgeous in Nantes. Take care, Seb 🙂
I’m going to visit Nantes for sure, sounds like a great place to consider! Have you been to Limoges or Poitiers? I know they’re not as big, but are they interesting to live in (or near) as well? I’m interested in history, art, literature and I’m a writer. I do not care about living in a huge cosmopolitan city but I’d like to be able to get to one easily.😊
Bonjour KJ et Tony! Bianca ici… Super contenu aujourd'hui un grand merci; il précise et confirme les infos pour mon prochain déménagement à Paris. Je vous admire et je vous aime tous les deux! Plus tard…
We currently live in Vero Beach, Florida. We moved to France, moved back to the US and now traveling back and forth this year to determine where we will choose to live in France.
@@kjandtonylovefrance Looking very nice being able to travel to Paris. Maybe to again get an apartment there but lease it out when of the months that you are not there. Staying at hotels can add up unless the two of you are using your hotel program points for now. But I feel that you two will retire there still.
As an older couple to live comfortably you need substantial cash otherwise you're going to schlep around feeling fustrated and depressed. Here's an interesting video about another American couple who just bought a home in the French countryside.
@@markeilers207 I think they may be referring to another RU-vid channel called Beneath The Surface, it's the experiences of a mid-life American couple who moved to France and their search for their forever home.
History is what attracted me here. I suppose you have been to the Musée de Cluny near St Michel. For big towns, can I recommend Tours, Rouen, Rennes, Dijon, Nancy and Strasbourg?
How do you acquire year-round residency? Or 12 months? I’ve lived in France twice, a year in La Rochelle as. a student; three months in Paris as an art history lecturer universities made my residency visas. Though rusty, I minored in French. Required my students to have basic French in order to travel with me.
That feeling of “home” is exactly how I felt when I visited Switzerland for the first time last year. My heart is tugging me back there so strongly. I just don’t see any practical way to do it! It’s very hard for a US citizen from what I understand.
You will be joining Adrian for her apres-midi (there's an accent on the e in apres, but I have not been able to set up my international keyboard on this older computer yet). You may recognize it as the French word for afternoon. I think there are talking dictionaries online so you can check the pronunciation of that word. You are correct that one must approach with the mindset of being a resident instead of a tourist. Tourists are usually on vacation. What seems like a great place to live may not be better than where one left if one has to work or even if trying to function there all the time. In the world including the U.S., there are some places that are nice to visit but one wouldn't want to live there, places such as those that are mainly touristy. As you said, Parisians and maybe city folk or the French in general shop every day and their refrigerators are very small. There is no buying in bulk to stock up on perishables or other items unless you have a large refrigerator and/or a large space/property from what I understand.
I've moved to Norway, but I experienced that I needed some savings because you must pay for much more than you think of in the first couple of mounth. And at first you can rent a car if needed.
Question regarding moving to France do you plan to continue your counseling career either remotely or in person,can an American with a visa continue to work? My understanding is absolutely not but just asking . Fractional ownership or ownership of property for Americans my have some inheritance issues that will require sorting out with an attorney.
Unfortunately, France doesn't care where your clients or your payments are. It only matters where you are and all residents who are working in France have to get the visa that allows them to that. @@kjandtonylovefrance
I just found out your channel today when I search info about live in france, you guys are doing great with 9.59k suscriber. May I ask do you edit all the videos by yourselves or pay someone to do it? Thank you for sharing. I have subscribed your channel today. Thank you for the useful videos.
HI Thanks for sharing your journey. I have a home in Italy and am a dual citizen and now want a little home in France. Question you mentioned that in France you have to have an income of 2000k month. Is that whether you are a citizen or not a citizen of the EU? Also great info on France not taxing retirement...Def a good reason to buy there. Keep posting!
On fractional ownership, what happens when one or more of the fractional owners are complete slobs and trash the place. There a huge bill and they won't pay, so you are stuck. There is an agreement of some type, but you end up in court because they fight back. Etc... It always sounds good on new or rehabed property, but when the shine wears off, its usually trouble. Not enough history on fractional ownership to say you always make a profit on resale. Let think about the time-share example and the nightmares people are still living. Point being, you might want to avoid the pit falls of this type of ownership.
Regarding the minimum salary required to live in France (roughly 1700 Euros?), how does this work when you are retired and not working? Thank you in advance. 2:19
Hello, I cannot find the interview with the lady from France (was her name Adrian Leeds), the French expert. Can you point me in the right direction? 😀 Thanks in advance.
I'm trying to learn Spanish, as a gringo living in Mexico now... and I find Rocket Languages is a great interface and range of tools for the price. I will look into Lingoda however
Hello, thank you for this interesting video. I live in France and it's a very beautiful country with a lot of positive things, with it's problems though (like everywhere). For example homeschooling has recently been virtually banned, while I think it's a great educational alternative.
Just fyi, one of the big reasons the French government is so against home schooling because they believe that everyone should get an equal access to education and that each person needs to be included in certain parts of the society to shape their integration. They also don't blur the lines between religion and government nor so much allow the use of government funds for religious education - which is rife in US homeschooling. Set that against multiculturalism in the US, where every little group is set against each other and you start to understand why the French do not want a society where certain people opt out of socially integrating things like public education. Check out universalism in France - et profitez-vous bien!
If you go to Lyon I suggest you visit the old Lyon ( St Jean) and go up to the wonderful Roman city on the Fourvière hill ( there is a Roman theater ) with its amazing panorama . Lyon is geographically similar to Pittsburg ( confluence of two rivers and a hill) but of course much older.
My first visit to France was in the 80's and what I loved about France was the transportation, specifically the train from Paris to Nice. I had a Eurail pass, I don't think they have those anymore. But my point is - You can get on a train at night in Paris and be in Nice in the morning. Get an overnight car and you can get them private, it's a wonderful trip and you save money on a hotel room for one night - normally you would be sleeping anyway so it's a win-win. I completely agree on the feeling of HOME! I feel the same way too❤
All the best to you guys. I have a simple comment, I think the white balance is off in the camera you use at home. You and the scene looks quite blue and cold.
Thanks for the feedback! The sun was shifting and changing throughout the shoot that day. It went from overcast to sunny and back again, making for a lot of shifting of the light.
Yes, we have heard of this as well. There is one that is about 50 miles outside of Paris that we heard about but it is too far outside of Paris for us. We would much rather be in the city.
Thank you , that is more affordable than Italian residency requirements . I'm surprised . I've always wanted to Live without a Car . Jump on a Bus and explore . Voila`
🍎 Hi KJ and Tony Gorgeous cloudy day! About the beautiful fabulous Chateaus of France. Tony, you said you love history. The fabulous Chateaus of France are one of the gemstones and history of mansions in France. Some of them were even owned by famous and popular people in the early centuries by very wealthy and aristocratic people of that time. Even go back as far as being relatives of the famous Queen Marie Antoinette. Just imagine when they had state banquets in the early centuries with their grand ballroom, dancing with the aristocrats. These chateaus that people are sought after to renovate and run a business in like the popular Chateau De Lalande that has over 3,000 Patron members and they all donate big bucks to her Chateau. Right now she's renovating the chapel and got an architect and the bill is over $100,000 to get the job done of the chapel. So my point is, these chateaus are not just a chateau to the owners if they didn't think the stake is high if they should own one and run it as a business. We know as you mentioned, you guys love to walk around and sight see ancient buildings and there's nothing wrong with that because that's what you like and it is full of history, but the aristocrats of France are very interested in helping the people that buy these chateaus to bring it back to life to make France a richer country the way it was centuries ago. They're so right because people are flocking to them to experience what it was like to live in one of these fabulous chateaus. You also said if you were younger, maybe you would buy a chateau. Don't label yourself with numbers because if you do, you put your body in gear and now you feel older, you think older, and you look older. That goes for everyone that labels themselves saying if I was younger. Just don't want you guys to label yourselves with numbers, because even children are having diseases that doctors never dreamed of that they would have. So it's not a certain number that will make us go to heaven. Cheers to France! Bye for now.🌴🇺🇲
Adrian Leeds Interview ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-bbUxQRKW5S0.html This channel is dedicated to documenting our journey to ultimately live in France. Subscribe to this channel by clicking this link👉 bit.ly/KTfrance
You also have way cheaper and very Nice areas in france than main big cities … just Check What regions you may prefer ( north west brittany normandy…) north Lille … north east alsace etc center , west or east or south … there are différent south in france south West and south east not comparable. You have south east from marseille to Monaco the riviera or south west near biarritz basque area and south center Occitanie … Nice living cities like Nîmes , Montpellier , Avignon, aix en Provence , many areas also inland country way cheaper if you like nature Space and villages . Also if you are américan you can Check for help ideas contacts at the French american centers . Also france by train , car or plane is very easy and fast .
Merci pour les mises à jour continues, je préfère négocier en bourse car c'est plus rentable. Je gagne en moyenne 34 500 $ par semaine même si je négocie à peine.
I think not speaking the language of the country you live in is disrespectful. I have been learning French for almost two years in preparation for moving there. To me it is necessary to be able to fully integrate in a community in France. I am leaning toward the south of France because as a Floridian, I don't like cold and dark all day winter. Sunshine and being near the ocean is a thing for me.
Yes, we agree that learning the language is a huge priority. Good luck with your move. South of France is beautiful and not a big adjustment for Floridians.
These days Paris is where you get off the plane at CDG and the train station is in terminal 2. You will be confused in the airport, thinking you may have landed in Mogadishu. Don't panic. Get on the train and get out of Paris. Avoid Marseilles, Nice and Lyon. Many cities in France are quite dsngerous and dirty now. Things have really changed in 40 yesrs. It is hard to watch.
I think if you move to Paris to retire you are going to run out of money! You better have millions and or good income producing investments. It’s not just rents it is the lifestyle you are funding! You will be eating out at more expensive restaurants and shopping more than you might in other places!
I don't know that I agree. Retiring is all about planning to have income to sustain your retirement; which is relative. Also, I believe one can live in France very comfortably on a fixed income. Again, it depends on what you're looking for and your lifestyle.
@@kjandtonylovefrance True I am talking Paris, not France. I lived in NYC Manhattan and was shopping on Madison Ave and having drinks at The Carlyle and St Regis a glass of wine was $19 each 20 years ago! but all the shopping temptation in Paris could be costly on a fixed income.
Anyway it depends on you and your budget! I just think it will be a cash burner. I am thinking of moving more rural or a place I can take a train to Paris. But you two live birds gave more money than I do I am sure LOL! 😂 Live your channel it is very informative!
Fractional ownership is just generally a bad idea. Think about it. It's very attractive to buyers who could not otherwise be able to afford a whole property. Your now part of a crowd that in many cases may not have a lot of substance behind them when it comes to putting on a new roof, etc. Look everybody's living with different circumstances and I'm not making any judgements, but do you really want to be depended on a group of people you don't even know, perhaps speaking multiple languages, with different cultural practices and unknown financial means? Up to you, but perhaps not good advise to promote to other.
Yes, agreed. We are not really interested in any type of fractional ownership. We will either rent or buy. Initially we plan to rent to make sure of the area we want to live in before we buy.
The French are not open to outsiders,as Adrienne stressed and been told by many travelers being long or short stay. Why live in a place where you are not welcome.Please elaborate...
Its interesting, many Americans come to France for the gov. Subsidized health care and inexpensive housing. Both of those things can become a reality. That said, after you buy your iPhone and iPad, one’s expenses simply go up! It depends on your lifestyle and how you want to live in France. You can exist in France, not speak the language etc. There are those just like that who are living in my town. I ask myself why are they here? My reason for being in France started when I was young and I speak French. As an American, from NYC and Newport,RI I can tell you it is very easy to spend money here. 100 euros are spent quickly at the marche twice a week. Because our food is fresh and livestock and poultry have no chemicals, food goes “off” very quickly. That goes for fish too! You will have your extensive phone bill. Electricity, water, gas, rent. I live à ‘walking’ town so no car. Safe deposit box, insurance for health and apartment (contents and potential leaks!) dentist, doctor, etc. I travel to doctors to the much larger city of Lyon as Lyon has great doctors and hospitals. Buying furniture, having curtains made, upholstery etc. It all goes on here just the same as in the US. The huge difference is you are getting all of this done in French! And the time frames are far longer. Not to mention if one of your appliances breaks down! When you rent an unfurnished apartment in France (by law ) the kitchen only has to have a sink and chaudiere (hot water heater). You buy all if your own appliances, then you take them with you when you leave. There is much to learn and deal with. I am now a resident but will always be a guest. Oh and the expenses of entertaining . I have spent years here. Focus on the culture it will be most beneficial.
Good 😊 information, however before anyone moves to a different country please reaearch their politics. Whether your a political person or not. Politics in a country dictate your life. France as beautiful as it is, is a socialist country. Good luck.
Appart from Paris way way cheaper, I did the exercise the other way around to move from Bayonne to Las Vegas. Conclusion, I stay. Stay away from big metros full of african n arab immigrants.