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First steps to buying your Languedoc Property

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Take your time to get it right when buying property abroad.

As much as you may want to you can't just click your fingers and be the proud owner of a property in the South of France. Most buyers looking for real estate in the South are looking in the Languedoc Roussillon region now that Provence has become so expensive. Time and again property agents here report that while buyers may be serious about buying they have done little to no research on how to best go about the process and this can result in frustration for both agents and buyers alike. In this article we will look at some of the very first steps you should be taking to find your dream home in the Languedoc.

Step 1 - The Internet

Of course you should spend a good deal of time in your home country searching the internet for suitable properties. You should not however assume that you will actually end up buying any of the properties you see there. Use the internet to get a better sense of what's available and what property seems to cost in different areas. Enquire to agents about properties you like the look of and give them your detailed requirements in case they have anything else suitable. By the time you actually visit the actual properties available may have changed considerably. The point of online research is to define the type of property you want, its rough cost and to develop a clear relationship with some of the agents in the area you're looking so that you can be more productive with your time when you arrive.

Step 2 - Define your budget.

Don't be shy about defining the maximum amount of money you have available for the house purchase. Property prices vary wildly from area to area and even in one place you will have sellers setting completely unrealistic asking prices. It is the agents who really know what you can get for your money. Let them know how much you can afford and they will, if they are any good, show you the houses that can be bought for that money.

Step 3 - Define your location.

Nothing irritates an estate agent more than a buyer who is completely clueless about where they want to buy. The Languedoc Roussillon is a very large region with five very different departments. You cannot expect to be taken seriously if you have not even begun to narrow down your search to, say, a couple of areas. You wouldn't walk into UK estate agents and say you were looking for a house in England, so don't do the same thing here in France.
There are many more steps to take before you own your French house in the Languedoc Roussillon but follow the ones above to start off on the right foot.