Home Hunts Aquitaine France Luxury property search specialist

Aquitaine Property France?

aquitaine-france — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 08:13:00 +0000

Aquitaine Property France?

French Property is still the most popular in Europe. Information gathered from the currency exchange, french property agents, and google enquiries show Brits continuing to buy properties in France. As a property agent in the south of france we have noticed increasing interest in Aquitaine Property. It is no surprise as the standard of living, education and healthcare coupled with a stress-free way of life made easier still by local airport connections, fast trains and new motorways means its no wonder that Brits continue to want to buy Aquitaine property. Market stability offering steadily rising prices and an attractive range of off-plan leaseback schemes keep property investors interested in the Aquitaine property market. We look at why houses and apartments in the Aquitaine area are becoming so appealing to the British buyer.

Aquitaine is becoming one of the most desirable places to live in Europe, and variety seems to be its secret. Aquitaine is in the bottom right-hand corner of France with Bordeaux property n the north, Pau property in the east and the Pyrenees and Spain in the South. Within this huge area you will find the largest pine forest and the highest sand dune in Western Europe. You will even find a people who have their own language. This interesting and diverse part of the world which stretches South along the Atlantic Ocean is one of France’s most popular coastlines.

In Bordeaux not only will you be graced with some of France’s highest yearly averages of sunshine but you will find a vibrant and cosmopolitan atmosphere with people who value the finer things in life, thus a culture that makes time for them. From 250 000 euros you could be living in 4 bedroom luxury Bordeaux property near the vineyards that are responsible for producing arguably the best red wines in the world, like Pomerol, Saint-Emilion, Graves and the Médoc. According to the US State Department, 7 million hectolitres of wine are produced in Bordeaux every year, so top quality wine over the dinner table is the norm. Bordeaux is also just a half hour drive from Bassin d’Arcachon which will give you the best seafood from a huge natural saltwater lagoon, set back from the roaring Atlantic ocean this lagoon also provides ideal sailing conditions. Property in Arcachon has been favourite to the British buyer since the 1980s.

As you travel down the coast along 250 km’s of uninterrupted golden sandy beach, flanked by the majesty of the pine forest you will arrive at Hossegor and Capbreton; one of the busier areas along this stretch of the coast. Hossegor Property, and Capbreton Property are worth a look. There you will see the waves regarded as some of the best in the world, waves demanding such respect that they are one of just two spots chosen for the European leg of surfings much coveted World Championship Tour. The exposure this gives means it is never difficult to rent out a property over the summer leading up to the event in autumn, and if you are here over that time you will be treated to some of the best parties around. Despite the fame of the ‘Les Landes’ coastline house prices remain a bit lower than Biarritz property to the south, a luxurious 4 bedroom house in Les Landes being 200 000 euros.

The Aquitaine is a region that holds sport dear to its culture. It is the most passionate area of Europe for rugby union, takes great pride in its own regional sports and with all its breathtaking natural beauty golf has been a natural sport to become one of the most popular. Golf in continental Europe started in the Aquitaine. Pau Golf Club was founded in 1856 and was the first course built in Europe outside of the British Isles and Biarritz Le Phare (founded 1889) was the second. So golf has a long tradition in the area and many of the courses are first class. Property in Pau has increased by 12% in the 4th quarter of 2007.

Further towards Spain you will find the glamorous city of Biarritz that together with Bayonne is the start of the Pays Basque. The Basque country is an area that covers some of North Western Spain and South west France, the Basques are a distinct ethnic group in their native region, culturally and especially linguistically distinct from their surrounding neighbours. Basque contrasts with other European languages, almost all of which belong to the large Indo-European language family. Through the Basque culture you will enjoy incredible food and fast-paced regional Sports such as pelota. Biarritz's became more renowned in 1854 when Empress Eugenie (the wife of Napoleon III) built a palace on the beach (now the Hôtel du Palais) and European royalty such as Queen Victoria, Edward VII, and Alfonso XIII of Spain were frequent visitors. Although not quite as exclusive nowadays, the house prices are still impressive with a Biarittz property apartment costing about 200 000 euros a Biartittz property 4 bedroom house/apartment costing 450 000 euros plus and something very grand costing in excess of 1 000 000 euros. Further south from Biarritz through towns like St Jean de Luz and villages like Guethary, the scenic rugged coastline and beautiful Basque architecture leads you towards Spain and into the foothills of the Pyrenees, home to vultures, brown bears and eagles. Property for sale in St Jean de Luz are hard to come by.

The coastline of the Aquitaine provides more than enough inspiration to move here and as you turn east along the Pyrenees there is even more to discover and enjoy. If you are looking for a property in Aquitaine, whether it is Biarittz Property, Bordeaux Property, or Pau Property, please let the Home Hunts team know as they offer a free property search service.

WEALTH TAX INFORMATION by Paula Hawkins of The Times

aquitaine-france — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 07:26:00 +0000

HOW TO NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM AND KEEP ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LAW

If you own property in south of France and have to pay an annual wealth tax, you may be partly responsible. Many French people blame the influx of UK buyers into the property market for the fact that prices have increased so much that many now fall into the tax bracket.

The wealth tax, or l’impôt de solidarité sur la fortune (ISF), which is paid in June, is imposed on assets worth more than €760,000 (£514,000). If you are resident in France the tax is levied on your worldwide assets. If you own property in south of France, but do not live there, then the tax applies to your French assets only. Note, however, that not only do you become classed as tax resident in France if you spend more than 183 days there in the calendar year, but also immediately on arrival if you are intending to set up home. Wealth tax is assessed by household, so includes the assets of both spouses and any dependent children.

Unmarried couples living in the same home can be taxed as one household. Almost all assets are subject to wealth tax, although exemptions are made for business assets, antiques and fine art. You are responsible for declaring the sale value of your own assets as at January 1 of the year in question, not the amount which you paid for them. The value of your principal residence is reduced by a 20 per cent exemption and by permitted costs, such as your mortgage. You are also entitled to deduct the amount of any tax bills to be paid, including the wealth tax bill itself.

There are several bands for wealth tax, starting at 0.55 per cent for assets worth between €760,000 and €1.22 million, 0.75 per cent for assets up to €2.42 million, 1 per cent up to €3.8 million, 1.3 per cent up to €7.27 million, 1.65 per cent up to €15.81 million and 1.8 per cent thereafter. A household with taxable assets of £700,000 will pay around £1,000 in wealth tax, while one with taxable assets of £1 million will pay an annual wealth tax bill of around £2,500.

“Above £1 million, the bill begins to rise relatively quickly, and even though avoiding wealth tax is not simple, planning is essential,” says Marjorie Mansfield, associate director at Siddalls, a firm which specialises in advising British people living in property in south of France. But there is hope for those faced with a large wealth tax bill — President Nicolas Sarkozy’s new Prime Minister, François Fillon, has prepared a tax and finance Bill that could cap overall individual taxation — including income tax, wealth tax and residential taxes — at 50 per cent. The proposed reduction of 10 per cent would mean significant savings for many asset-rich people, especially if their taxable income liabilities can be kept low.

South West France property

aquitaine-france — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 22:33:00 +0000

Are you interested in luxury property for sale in South West France? Looking for a vineyard or property in bordeaux? An investment property aquitaine? A luxury property in dordogne france? A villa in arcachon france? Or a luxury property in perigueux france?

Home Hunts specialise in helping clients buy property in south of france. We have a team of consultants and estate agents in south west france and more specifically estate agent aquitaine to help you find luxury property for sale in south west france, investment properties in aquitaine, or your dream slice of property aquitaine.

Contact Home Hunts for details on house sale south west france, property in south of france, and estate agent aquitaine, and estate agents in the south west.

Our luxury property finding service is FREE! Let us do the hard work for you!

HOME HUNTS NEW FRENCH PROPERTY SITE

aquitaine-france — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 21:28:00 +0000

Looking for a Luxury French property?

Have a look at Home Hunts new website which is focussed purely on luxury property in the South of France..........

The HH team specialise in finding property throughout Languedoc Roussillon, Provence, the French Riviera and South West France for international clients

www.luxury-french-property.com

WELCOME TO THE HOME HUNTS AQUITAINE BLOG

aquitaine-france — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 21:27:00 +0000

HOMEHUNTS specialise in finding luxury property for sale around the world .

We have a team of multi-lingual professionals based throughout the South of France. We work with ALL of the best selling estate agents in the south west and can find ANY property for sale in south of france, luxury property in france, or property aquitaine for our clients.

Our Luxury properties finding service is FREE! The HOMEHUNTS tailor-made search service is available to anyone looking to purchase a property aquitaine. Whether you are looking for luxury property aquitaine, investment properties aquitaine, property in bordeaux, property in perigueux france, property in pau, luxury property in arcachon france, or a villa in dordogne france, we have local consultants available to assist you in your search. Our FREE SERVICE provides you with all the legal and financial information you need to know regarding the french house buying process.

We are registered estate agents and sell a number of properties for sale in south of france directly but we also work with a huge network of partner estate agents in the south west who can search the whole marketplace on your behalf.

To take advantage of this exclusive service, please fill out the Enquiry form. Once we have received the information from you, we will contact you to find out more about your requirements.

You can do it all from here - visit our site - Home Hunts