New Mortgage with variable rate available

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The French banks usually index their rates to Euribor 3-month currently at 0.827%. But if you are currently looking for a mortgage to finance your project, a new financial product with variable rate might be suitable for you. Read the rest of this entry »

Which French Leaseback should I choose?

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Nowadays, if you want to finance your French leaseback property, it is better to select one which has a yield lower than 5%; otherwise, banks might decline your mortgage because they will be afraid that the management company of your leaseback will not fulfil all the financial requirements. Read the rest of this entry »

French Mortgage Success Story with Sextant

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On the 15th February 2010, the office received a call from a new client called James D., requesting additional information on certain properties in France that were for sale on the Sextant Properties website. Read the rest of this entry »

Leaseback Resales: Why are they attractive investments?

There are a number of reasons for buyers to invest in France through leaseback property resales as opposed to buying off-plan. Before we list those reasons, we shall remind you what a leaseback is. Read the rest of this entry »

10% Reduction for All Sextant Customers!

This new development has been delivered this month and we are pleased to let you know that four villas are still available with 10% reduction.

Le Clos Savornin – located in Luberon in the heart of Provence
(a hidden French gem that’s now available to international buyers)

It is an exclusive and well-designed new build hamlet consisting off 22 top of the range villas with private swimming pools and high quality individual services such as a concierge.

The development has elegant outdoor spaces with Provencal decor and enjoys an exceptional location close to a typical Luberon village. The architect recreates a Provencal spirit with typical lanes, colorful houses, small paved squares, refreshing fountains, shady petanque pitches and an old fashioned washhouse. Read the rest of this entry »

French Rural Property Index updated!

Sextant French Properties helps people to find their dream house in France, whether it be a holiday home or a permanent residence. In order to guide their customers during their search they created the French Rural Property Index which is updated regularly.

A few months ago, Sextant French Properties created its own property index, the “French Rural Property Index”. Read the rest of this entry »

What you need to know about remortgage in France

The operation consists of buying back your current mortgage by a bank with early termination fees (ERC) and other fees. During last 14 months, yields of home loans have known an important decline. They went from the average of 5.15% during November 2008 to 3.45% in April 2010 (source: Observatoire credit lodgement/CSA). Read the rest of this entry »

Three days on the Cote d’Azur

The prospect of a long week-end on the French Riviera can only enchant. I was however, left worrying that a certain Icelandic volcano might spoil the party. Luckily the skies were clear and a short flight later, we were greeted with the breath taking view of Nice- the low Alpine mountains, the sea and the town itself nestled neatly in between. Read the rest of this entry »

Les Joutes de Sete

Every summer, a unique sporting event takes place in the city of Sete, in the Languedoc Roussillon region, called Joutes Nautiques (nautical jousting). Les Joutes Nautiques is a typical sport of Languedoc Roussillon and has existed in Sete since the creation of the city, in 1666.

The Rules

The tournament starts with a parade of the jousting “knights” with traditional music: oboe and drums are the two main instruments. There is a blue and a red rowboat guided by steersmen and powered by 8 to 10 rowers. In the front of the boat, 2 musicians accompany the tournament with a traditional music. The jousting members are armed with a spear and protected by a “pavois” (a shield).They stand on the “tintaine”, a plank set at the back of the boat about 2 meters above the water. The aim of the game is to make the opponent fall in the water with the spear when the boats pass each other. Numerous rules regulate the fight and if they are not respected, competitors are disqualified; rules include: when the player falls in the water, when he touches the “tintaine” with his hands or knee, he drops the spear or the shield or doesn’t hold the spear properly under his arm…

Jousts during Saint Louis’ Day

Saint Louis is the Patron Saint of Sete and a festival is organised every year around August 20th. It is the greatest event of the year for the Setois and 2010’s festival will be the 268th since the emergence of the city. More than 70 shows take place, bodegas stay open late into the night and of course, jousts are organised along the Canal Royal. It is the final tournament of the year for jousting knights, a kind of world championship. The winner of these jousts will have his name written on a “pavois” which will then be exhibited in the Paul Valery museum. It is the tradition since 1666… In Sete, it is said that a real Setois has fought on the “tintaine” at least once in his life!

Sete, also called the Little Venice of Languedoc, is a truly charming city with typical districts crossed by canals, the colourful front of its houses, its fishing harbour and its 12km of sandy beaches. The Jousts of Sete are the occasion to go and visit this lively town and maybe it will make you want to stay there for a while… or forever!

Have a look at our properties in Sete and in the Languedoc Roussillon region!

Expat lifestyle “sunnier in more ways than one”

Nine out of ten British expatriates say moving overseas has given them a better quality of life.
According to research by NatWest International, a good life/work balance under-girds the sentiment, with 87% of respondents rating their personal balance in these areas as excellent or good.

The annual survey, which is undertaken with the Centre for Future Studies, asks expats to assess 16 “life experience” factors in order of importance and to indicate levels of satisfaction with each one.

For Britons abroad, financial security and financial wellbeing occupied sixth and eighth place respectively, with the natural environment, climate, culture and leisure, healthcare and education taking priority.

In addition, the number of respondents who said they would return to the UK fell to 19% in 2009, from 26% a year earlier, despite the financial pressures of the global economic downturn.

Natwest International’s head of personal banking, Dave Isley, comments: “The fact fewer expats say they will return to the UK in the future, compared to three years ago, proves that the pace of life, work life balance and earning potential abroad means life as an expat is sunnier in more ways than one – and that they are weathering the financial storm.”

The study also revealed that professional expats typically earn over £20,000 more than their peers in the UK, with 92% reporting a salary increase over the past three years.

At Sextant properties, we offer you the opportunity to buy an idyllic spot under the sun: in the South of France, you will enjoy the sunny weather, a better quality of life, and a peaceful environment.

Source: www.homemove.co.uk