Anyone considering investing in France should most certainly consider investing in northern French property.
Traditionally, Brittany and Normandy have been incredibly popular with British holidaymakers and investors, largely down to their accessibility for short breaks or for those who do not wish to fly.
Despite the close proximity to Great Britain, northern France has a genuinely 'French' feel and has an impressive range of traditional fishing ports, as well as historic sites of notable interest.
One thing that does affect northern France, however, is the climate, and the regions of Brittany and Normandy are largely similar to Britain in terms of both temperature and rainfall. This doesn't stop the tourists though and the popularity of these regions has continued to soar over the last five years.
Investing in property in northern France is ideal for those looking to take on a renovation project. Although there are plenty of new developments to choose from, in particular along the spectacular coastline, there are still some truly hidden gems if you move a little further inland.
In some parts of inland Normandy, ramshackle property can be found for as little as £17,000 and given that most of these areas are within an hour's drive of the popular beach resorts, it is easy to envisage investors picking up a bargain!
In a similar way to rural England, Normandy is reliant largely on its agricultural trade and more recently the tourist trade. Therefore, those looking to invest in the area should be prepared to embrace the rural outlook in terms of the property they purchase and the way in which they renovate the property.
A recent trend that has swept the northern France property market is the British commuter. Many individuals who work in London have realised that they can commute within a reasonable time frame from most parts of northern France.
As such, a whole new rental market has been established and Brits abroad, either as commuters or holidaymakers are largely responsible for fuelling this demand.
Prices are hugely variable, across the region, with average prices ranging between £70,000 and £130,000. As a general rule, prices are more expensive the closer the property gets to Paris or to some of the more popular coastal resorts such as the Gulf of Morbihan.
In Normandy and Brittany, the most popular areas are Saint-Malo, Rennes, Brest, Quimper, Dinard and Dinan and although the prices are generally higher in these well-established locations, there is the potential of an excellent rental return, due to the high number of tourists that travel to this region.
The best thing about investing in property in northern France is its timeless appeal. Tourists have flocked to this area for decades and the appeal of packing up the car and simply driving, without the hassle of flying, is certain to keep the holiday rental market in this region booming for years to come.
Although northern France may not have the potential for explosive capital growth that some under-developed countries have, there is certainly the opportunity for budding entrepreneurs to pick up a renovation bargain and make a very comfortable profit.
Investors who want a secure return and a property that they can easily enjoy themselves would do well to look at northern France for their property investment business.
