Comment from Jean-Mic
Time: February 20, 2010, 11:46 pm

I can only tell you about Breizh (Brittany) and Normandie, in these regions prices are stable with a modest 4 – 5 bedroom manor house set in 80.000 square metres of land , or call it what you will, setting you back 1,425,000 Euros (approx. £1,271,456 or $2.043.760). But that is only the start of your expenditure, next there are the dreaded fees, usually around 7,5% so that would add around 106,825 Euros (£95.263 or $153.156) to the purchase price. Then there is the Taxe d’Habitation and Taxe Foncière, something that cannot be avoided. The formula for the calculation is ponderously complex but, broadly speaking, it is based on the notional rent that the property might be expected to achieve in the open market, having regard to the condition, size and location of the property. What I have given you so far is the cheap end of the game.
Now for the other overheads:
If you desire a property in rural surroundings, that is when the problems really start. Firstly, the property may NOT have mains gas or mains drainage, therefore the gas is delivered by tanker and the sewage is collected in a septic tank. So you have to arrange contracts for the same. Some properties DO NOT have mains water: one has a well, which means one has to have a pump-house with all the paraphernalia which that entails.
Now, you say you are not a French citizen, something that may stand you at a disadvantage. In my part of Breizh, property has more than one value. I will give you a crude example:
The price, if selling to another Breton might be 1.000.000 Euros, but to a Frenchman the same property will cost 1.100.000 Euros, even worse to most other nationalities the cost could be 1.250.000 Euros and certain other nationalities being asked 1.500.000 Euros. Why, I hear you ask …………. Because we want to keep our properties for our own people and do not wish to be overrun by incomers, who neither respect nor wish to participate in our culture. We have a great dislike of incomers flashing their money around.
So that you may see what I am talking about take a look at this link, it is my home in Breizh Izel: http://breizh-poellrezh.eu/OurHome.html. It is a seven bedroom, detached house with and indoor infinity pool and a conservatory set in 800.000 square metres of land with a value of around 4.500.000 Euros (£4.000.000 or $6.450.000). I pay 26.000 Euros a year in local taxes, plus I have to pay for my septic tanks to be emptied. Then I have utility accounts that total another 14.000 Euros a year.
Please contact me by private message if you are serious about buying a property in France, my wife and I are indigenous Bretons who speak perfect English and would be only too pleased to assist you to buy a property without all the pitfalls. We have contacts across France who are Estate Agents and Notaires.

Comment from french-p
Time: February 21, 2010, 6:28 am

Paris: quite expensive.
Hauts de Seine: 1 hour away, less expensive but some dangerous cities are not far.
Loire Valley: Castle area and quite nice landscapes, prices are okay. 3 hours away.
Normandy/Brittany: Beautiful area, prices aren’t too expensive but the weather is pretty bad (rain) 4/5 hours away.
Provence and Alpes Côte d’Azur: same area: sunniest place in France, nicest landscapes (beach,etc) but VERY expensive, this is where the jet set people go… 11 hours away.
Burgandy: Naaaaaah =/ 2 hours away.
Chamonix: Mountain area, snow all year long, great if you like skying. 6 hous away.