Property in France - the lowdown on Haute-Marne
What’s the cheapest property you have on your books right now?
We currently have a village house in need of renovation on the market for €16,900 (£13,311). It offers three rooms over three storeys and is in a medieval hilltop village that overlooks the Upper Meuse valley.
What’s the most unusual property you have sold?
We have a nineteenth-century chapel for sale in a small village in the Champagne region. It is surrounded by beautiful open countryside and this exceptional property boasts a magnificent mosaic floor and a superb vault! It’s on the market for €88,000 (£69,314)
What’s the most unusual request you’ve had from a client?
We haven’t had anything so far but maybe someone will come in looking for a chapel!
How much would you expect to pay for:
a detached property with land in good condition?
You would need to budget around €120,000 (£94,518) to €150,000 (£118,147) for a detached property in this area.
a three-bedroom town house?
For something of that size in a town, you’re looking at between €100,000 (£78,765) and €130,000 (£102,395).
a renovation opportunity?
You can still pick up some real bargains in this area. There are renovation projects on the market for as little as €5,000 (£3,938) or up to around €20,000 (£15,753).
Is there a typical architecture or style in your area?
Most houses in this area of France are built of stone and have lovely huge stone fireplaces; in Vosges it is sandstone and in Haute-Marne and Haute-Saône, it’s pierre de la Marne. They often have original stone sinks, exposed beams as well as exposed stone walls. A typical property in this area is a farmhouse comprising a kitchen, living room, dining room and bedroom; a barn and stable would be attached. We also have many châteaux, presbyteries and eighteenth-century manor houses.
Why do British people buy houses in Haute-Marne and its surrounds?
We are one of the last-remaining wild departments in France, with a great many trout rivers, a lot of hunting territory and bridleways. Our region is very vieille France with the butcher and the baker travelling from one village to another in their vans. People like the typical villages with their stone houses and there are many areas of historical interest. Joan of Arc was born in our region after all!
What advice would you give to somebody who is thinking of buying in your area?
I would advise any prospective purchaser to research the whole region. There is a great deal of difference between north, south, east and west so if you can narrow down your search beforehand, it will save wasting precious time on viewing trips.
What are your predictions for the property market in this area of France?
We are one of the cheapest regions in France and, despite rising house prices over the last few years, this area remains very accessible price wise. Trends have been down over the last few months, particularly for older properties. In the coming months however, prices will continue to decrease slightly since local property buyers are less interested in older buildings such as character farmhouses, village houses and manor houses. There will therefore be bargains to be had.
Is it easy to get to Haute-Marne and its neighbours?
We don’t have low-cost flights to the region at the moment. The nearest airport is Basle (2.5 hours) or Paris (3.5 hours) but we have the TGV (high-speed train) as well as two motorways that pass through the region.
What local attractions are there in your area?
There is a lot to see in the local area: nearby Nancy and in particular its UNESCO classified Place Stanislas; we have numerous trout rivers; there are lots of forests with bridleways, cycle paths and footpaths; the Lac du Der is one of the largest lakes in Europe and there are plenty of activities on offer here as well as an abundance of wildlife; we have several Gallo-Roman sites and places of archaeological interest, in the Forêt de Darney for example.
What’s your favourite corner of all the departments you cover?
The area around Langres in Haute-Marne. I love the medieval villages and there are numerous large lakes and a wonderful forest.
Contact details:
AZ Home-Partners
74 rue des Récollets
88140 Bulgnéville
France
Tel: 00 33 (0)3 29 07 79 09
rg@azhome-partners.fr
www.azhome-partners.fr