Buying property in France near the ports
That old Gallic magic just keeps on working; according to the Office of National Statistics, France remains the second most popular holiday home destination for Brits buying abroad (Spain is number one), with more than 51,000 homes worth around £5.6 billion owned by UK residents.
Our enduring love affair with French property may well have something to do with its proximity: a short sea crossing or a trip through the Channel Tunnel and voilà, you’re in the land of camembert, calvados and croissants. Admittedly the weather is wetter in northern France – sun seekers should head south to the Med – but for many buyers, the aesthetics, easy access and well-priced property more than make up for a little rain.
And when it comes to car-friendly routes, we are spoilt for choice: at the time of writing there were eight companies offering crossings to nine different destinations along France’s northern coastline, from Dunkirk in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region all the way west to Roscoff in Brittany. Travellers can choose from a multitude of ferry and high-speed catamaran crossings, or Eurotunnel’s shuttle train service from Folkestone to Calais – fast (35 minutes), smooth and reliable, whatever the weather.
No doubt our enthusiasm for French bricks and mortar is also influenced by the fact that prices are so reasonable, compared to the UK market, and the north-coast regions of Normandy, Brittany, Picardy and Nord-Pas-de-Calais offer some of the very best value. The most highly prized homes are within an hour’s drive of a port and command a price premium, but they are nevertheless affordable by British standards,
and motoring to this area from the UK is relatively inexpensive – and certainly more eco-friendly than taking the plane.
Latitudes founder Penny Zoldan elaborates: ‘Buying near France’s northern ports has remained popular over many years because getting there is simple, and comparatively cheap. In many cases the ferry fare includes the car and all the passengers, so travelling this way is popular with families. It cuts out long airport queues which can be difficult with children, and it’s fun: you can stretch your legs and enjoy the air on deck, or have a meal together.
An added bonus is that you don’t have to hire a car – you simply take your own – and the French road system travelling east to west has really improved over the last ten years, so a Channel crossing combined with a drive down to Normandy or Brittany is a pretty straightforward option.’
And what about the weather? ‘Nowadays, we’re finding that clients aren’t so set on buying somewhere hot; they want a more temperate climate where they can comfortably enjoy fishing, horse riding, or country or seafront walks. The joy of properties in northern France is that they’re built with the cooler climate in mind, and often feature fireplaces and good central heating,’ says Zoldan.
So where exactly should one buy? How does a Breton bolt hole differ from a Norman nest? What sort of property can be found where, and for how much? Zoldan observes: ‘All areas feature brand new homes, which in some cases are built in the local style, but property types can vary considerably from one region to another. Within the regions themselves, each department has its own character and architecture, so it’s really down to personal preference. Prices rise as you get closer to the coast and the larger, more sophisticated towns like Deauville, St-Malo, Dinan
and Dinard.’
Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy
France’s two most northerly regions are the easiest to reach by car from British soil; this is the destination for Francophiles who want to keep their crossing short. Hop across the Channel to Dunkirk, Calais or Boulogne and discover the turn-of-the-century charm of coastal resorts like Wimereux and Le Touquet, the expansive, sandy beaches of which are ideal for long walks. The architecture of the towns has a distinctly Flemish feel, and the cosmopolitan city of Lille offers great shopping and hosts Europe’s largest street market, La Grande Braderie, every September. Fishing villages and sand dunes characterise the Picardy coast; inland, the flat countryside is punctuated by waterways and lakes, and is particularly popular with anglers.
House prices are slightly higher because of UK proximity, and there are fewer renovation projects on the market. In the Somme department €85,000 (£59,341) will buy a small, renovated, one-bed stone-built house in a village, but for €94,000 (£65,624), you can buy a brand-new, one-bed apartment near the seaside resort of Le Crotoy. A budget of €65,000 (£45,378) secures a one-bed house in habitable condition 50 kilometres from Calais; double your money and buy a three-bedroom house with large garden and outbuilding in Pas-de-Calais, an hour’s drive from the port.
Normandy
Two-thirds of foreign homeowners here are British, attracted perhaps by the region’s chocolate-box prettiness and a choice of crossings to Dieppe, Le Havre, Caen or Cherbourg. The lush countryside is a bucolic dream: fields full of creamy-coloured cows are interspersed with characterful, colombage (half-timbered) houses, ancient stone-built barns and small farms.
Easy to reach, easy to afford: Normandy property ticks both boxes. According to Tony Hamon of Cabinet Faudais, in Lower Normandy, renovation projects within an hour of Caen start from around €45,000 (£31,416) but buyers should budget at least the same again for the makeover. The price range for an older, two-bed holiday home in habitable condition, within an hour of the ports of Cherbourg, Le Havre, Caen or St-Malo, is roughly €120,000 to €150,000 (£83,775 to £104,719); for more recent construction, allow €150,000 to €180,000 (£104,719 to £125,663).
On the subject of off-plan purchases, Patricia Fevrier of A Place In France comments: ‘€150,000 (£104,719) will buy a one-bed apartment with parking, and €170,000 (£118,682) will bag two bedrooms; allow upwards of €200,000 (£139,626) as you get nearer coast.’ French developer Pierre & Vacances is selling apartments and houses on a leaseback or freehold basis in a residence built around a golf course at Port-en-Bessin, near the medieval town of Bayeux. Les Maisons du Green Beach is 57 kilometres from Caen, and the ports of Le Havre and Cherbourg are both within a short drive. Prices start from €148,000 (£103,323) including VAT for a two-bedroom apartment.
Brittany
The rocky inlets, sandy beaches and pretty fishing villages of Brittany make it a firm favourite with families, and with ferry crossings to St-Malo or Roscoff, this rugged region is well connected to the UK. Its many courses make it a golfer’s paradise, and for non-golfers, numerous health spas provide peaceful relaxation. Brittany’s craggy coastline is the longest in France, and its cliffs, coves and dramatic seascapes have timeless appeal; if you love the great outdoors and a laid-back lifestyle, this is the place for you.
Breton homes are often built of granite, topped off by a thatched or grey slate roof. Pretty cottages and traditional farmhouses are typical of the region, and older stone properties with land or gardens are easily found, and accessibly priced. Renovated two-bedroom cottages can be bought for around €175,000 (£122,173); traditional detached houses with three or four bedrooms and a garden are selling for €220,000 to €240,000 (£153,588 to £167,551).
Ready to renovate? Brittany has a good selection of character homes that have seen better days. For €120,000 to €130,000 (£83,775 to £90,757), you can pick up a project with potential an hour from St-Malo, or secure a slate-roof farmstead with land, garden and outbuildings half an hour from the port at Roscoff.
Traditional homes on Brittany’s south coast have a higher price tag, but their appeal is well-established. Chris Slade of A House in Brittany says: ‘Studio apartments in a typical Breton resort start from about €130,000 (£90,757). Recently built coastal apartments are a safe bet for buy-to-let investors – French holidaymakers flock to the Morbihan seafront – or a good, no-hassle second home option.’
Off-plan converts can buy a brand new apartment in a Breton resort for €130,000 (£90,757), and there are plenty of developments to choose from. Near St-Malo, in lively Dinan, one-bed apartments with private parking are selling from around €125,000 (£87,266), through A Place In France. The same agent is marketing one-bed apartments in a centrally located residence near the Bay of Kernic and the market town of Plouescat, a short drive from Roscoff, from €105,200 (£73,443).
So whether you’re hunting for a holiday home or planning a permanent move to France, it might be worth checking out what’s available closer to home before you look further afield. You might find something within easy reach of the ports that you’d have been sorry to miss.