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Realistic prices drive buyers to the Charente

What we are seeing so far this year in the Charente is not that house-hunters are being put off purchasing a property in France, as in fact more properties have been sold in this area over the past 6 months than in the entire 2007 calendar year...

With the news of economic meltdown in the UK and the well reported decrease in the exchange rate during the end of 2007 and beginning of 2008, many newspaper articles are reporting a knock-on effect in the French housing market as many British would-be purchasers are now apparently putting off their dream move to France.

In fact, what we are seeing so far this year in the Charente is not that house-hunters are being put off purchasing a property in France, as in fact more properties have been sold in this area over the past 6 months than in the entire 2007 calendar year. Instead, clients are being much more realistic about the price of the property they can afford. The average price of property in the Charente sold through VEF in 2007 was €220,000. This year, however, this average price of properties sold has fallen to €160,000.

This is not driven by falling house prices as they have actually increased in the area over the past year. Rather it is a clear indication that the majority of buyers are getting to grips with the lower exchange rate and now focussing their property hunt on those properties under the €200,000 mark. The good news for those of you in this boat is that in the Charente, there is a great depth of fantastic properties that already fall within this mark – perhaps why it is proving to be such a popular area for house-hunters this year.

With great properties such as these available at such fantastic prices, it’s no wonder the Charente is bucking the trend in 2008.

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