Buy land son – they’re not making it anymore

One of the first things you’ll notice when you start looking for a house in our part of France is space – lots of it.  In a country three times the size of the UK but with a similar population, you might have expected a bit more elbow room . But as most jobs are in the big metropolitan areas - and that’s where folk go – there’s even bigger lumps of unspoilt countyside left behind. And after a couple of generations of flight from traditional agricultural employment, there’s now more woodland in the Dordogne than in the Middle Ages.

Get away from the coastal hotspots and you’ll find that big gardens aren’t just the preserve of the wealthy - an acre or more is not unusual for fully restored houses under € 300000. And if you really need it, there’s a lot of inexpensive (by UK standards) land around. We have several properties with  50 to 100 acres or more – and when you strip out the value of the houses themselves, the land is extremely reasonable  – varying between €2000 - €4000 per acre. This isn’t to be confused with the €3000/Ha often quoted for agricultural land and the price sometimes paid between farmers. They aren’t going to offer you the same deal, or indeed sell to you full stop – so don’t buy a property assuming that they will. It’s not that they wouldn’t like the cash (as with farmers the world over), but their pension will be dictated in part by their acreage. And they hate selling it too.

So work out what you need and remember that with our climate, there’s not much of a dormant season. Your manicured acres will need care and a big garden can turn into a jungle fast. If it’s just a holiday home, make sure you have reliable local help – and recommendation on the right outfit to use is crucial.  But best of all you’ll have an excuse to buy a sit on mower – go for a six speed one with a cup holder. Nice.