What Did We Buy for $100,000 in the Center of France?

013 This week we revisit the question, what did it cost us to buy this stone house in the center of France?

Thanks again for watching,

Michael and April

Description of Us:
We are a couple of American Francophiles who have come to truly appreciate so many things about French culture. We love the food, wine, art, and history of France, but especially the people we have met along the way. Join us as we make our dream of living in France a reality. Follow us as we explore the French house-buying process – living, owning, and navigating a new life there with our beloved dog, Bernice. We enjoy learning about stone house renovation, wine, cooking, brocante shopping, and the French community we are now a part of.

[thierrysf]

I am French American. I was born and raised in France but also lived several decades in the US. I can confirm that it is VERY EASY to find such a well-built house in many regions of France, not only near Limoges where this home is located. In fact the French despise homes made of wood because they are so flimsy compared to this kind of abode which may last for centuries without structural repairs. As a matter of rule, almost any area that is more than 30 miles from a major city AND the sea (or a famous ski resort) will harbor countless houses for sale at very reasonable prices and very little competition. There are only a few exceptions to this rule: e.g; Provence/Luberon, parts of Normandy. That's why the countless channels featuring expats boasting about buying "cheap" real estate in third world countries always make me wonder: why go so far and take such huge risks??? In many cases, this kind of property in France is actually significantly cheaper to buy than in hot spots of so-called "low cost" countries like Thailand or Mexico. Of course it is not all rainbows and unicorns. Expats, especially, from North America, should be aware that these areas usually suffer from a drastic shortage of medical resourcces (GPs, specialists, hospitals) and are therefore given the unenviable epithet of "medical deserts'" by the French. Other than that, the cost of living in these rural areas is SHOKINGLY LOW for an American. Healthcare (when available :-( ) is dirt cheap. Internet, electricity, cell service etc are much more affordable than in the US. Property tax, which is horribly expensive in many areas of the US, is almost comically cheap (probably way less than $1000 a year for this kind of house). The only thing that is consistently much more expensive than in the US is gas for your car, but you can buy a small inexpensive new car (e.g. "Dacia) for less than $15, 000 that will sip gas. So if you are in good health and do not mind the isolation (maybe this is what you are after), France is an incredibly attractive option (and I am not even going to cover the excellent, affordable food/beverages because it is trite but still very true). For digital nomads, internet coverage has made incredible strides in the past 10 years, so many of these areas have very good cell/internet service for little money. An added benefit is usually a lower crime rate (except for burglaries so you absolutely need to install an alarm system) than in major French cities, where the police is incapable of keeping rampant crime in check. One last thing that is only common sense: you will need to speak French if you want to make any friends. On the other hand, people from rural areas of France may be friendlier to Americans/Canadians than Parisians, especially if you try to communicate in French. In certain areas of France liberated by the US army during WW2 (e.g. Normandy, eastern France where I am from) some locals will turn out to be uncannily friendly to anybody coming from the US/Canada with good intentions and a basic vocabulary. Something I forgot to mention: buying RE is extremely safe in France because you have to have a "notaire" record the sale. A "notaire" is a government-appointed property record keeper who is very unlikely to commit a fraud, which is a different situation from some other European countries where the intermediary may rip you off.

[ColinBarrett]

This week I agreed a purchase price of e166, 000 ($179, 000 USD) for my 200 year old house with all contents and large attached barn with a big new-ish swimming pool on a fully enclosed parkland plot of 3.5 acres in a tiny, pretty hamlet in Vienne, about 50km northwest of Limoges. Also included is a tractor and mowing equipment, sit-on lawnmower, chainsaw, pool robot etc and lots of very nice, restorable furniture. I'm beyond thrilled with my new home and wish you every happiness in yours. Thanks very much for sharing! 🙂

[stephencharlton]

Welcome to France.. "Each person has two countries, his own and France" -- Benjamin Franklin. I have 3. Ireland, UK but my heart, home and life are here in France. Enjoy your adventure.

[virginiacarry]

We bought a house in a hamlet in the Ardeche in 1985. Many of our friends thought we were nuts. It's in a medieval hamlet with a 14th century eglise Romane called Naves, 2km from LesVans. It cost $63, 000 including some of the furniture. Half of the village was falling down at the time and we were the only etrangeres. Over the years the village has been transformed. We bought the ruin next door to make a guest house and a garden. Our children and grandchildren learned French in the summers. Now Naves is what they call a Village de Caractere. The Ardeche is the new Luberon. Sometimes I miss the days when we had only one street light and it was a big event when a car came up to the village. Then Grandmere Labalme led her troupeau of goats up the hill to graze at dawn, all the while knitting with the ball of wool under her arm. Now we have tourists. Having a house in France has changed our lives. I wish you all of you the happiness and friendships we have found there.

[tomatito]

A Nice little authentic house with a more than good enough garden..
Lots to see in the surroundings…!
Good buy👍👍

[FluffyFace-mjro]

What a lovely house and garden! And all the contents included! Wow!

[thyagofurtado]

PSA: Please don't remove all dead trees from the wooded area, fungi need them to live in the ecosystem and make it a healthy habitat for trees and plants too. Leave a bunch and you might even be able to forage some fruiting bodies, maybe even truffle if they grow there.

Great video by the way, congratulations on your purchase of this beautiful property!

[rusty]

Wow that would be the oldest house in Australia if it was here. And 20 miles from a sizeable city like Limoge it would be at least $750, 000 maybe more because of it's historic value. All that furniture thrown in and the 1 acre wood. Just amazing. Enjoy renovating and living in it.

[patrickmulligan]

Thanks for the video.
This was really good and just the right length not boring.
What a wonderful house!!!😊

[PaulaActeson]

Awesome...we purchased a home close to Limoges, about 10 KM away. We're renovating (barn conversion), so won't be able to move in for about a year, but we can't wait to live there permanently. So happy for you. France is amazing but honestly I feel the area around Limoges is so beautiful! All the best from Canada (soon to be France LOL).

[JohnnyMotel]

I lived in a solid stone house, near Bergerac, for almost two years.
The only low cost heating was a wood stove, the rest were electric. I can tell you the winter months were 'baltic'.
Cheapest and most effective solution is to line the interior with insulation. Plus make sure all the windows are fully draughtproof.

[andywhitlock]

Hi, Im Andy...I did the same as new during a barn...about 30 miles north of you thing I ever bought, I get over from the UK ever 2 months. Back over during May having just done 2 great weeks during March....enjoy your French living.

[lavrentichudakoff]

Wow, I'm jealous that's one helluva find. Good luck with the renovations.

[rossclay]

Absolutely wonderful ❗️ Thank you so much for sharing your great adventure!❗️We all look to more discoveries with y’all ‼️👏👏👏🇫🇷

[ashtontechhelp]

When using a metal detector in the woods you need to be aware that you may be unearthing unexploded ordnance. Those trees look to be quite young, by normal tree standards, the trunks are all close together, suggesting they all grew up at the same time after the original woodland was shattered in the second world war. i have seen woodlands like this when doing a tour of the Commenwealth graves in Northern France & Belgium, around Ypres etc.

[laurenglass]

Wonderful purchase and it is great you are doing this. Really enjoyed your tour

[eliseereclus]

There are tens and tens of thousands such deals in France now... And yes, our houses are real houses. Not matchboxes ready to fly at the merest gust of wind.

[valerielawe]

In 1999, I found a 4-room, 2-story 400-yo house in the Vienne. I love Limoges, too. The center is underrated but don't tell anyone!

[anaclark]

Thank you. Cant wait to see what you guys do with it. Lucky you. Greetings from Australia

[keithvincent]

What a fabulous find. Will look forward to seeing how it comes along, but the place is already quite charming.