The conception of an eco-friendly district is twice as long in France than in other countries, and a period of 4 to 5 years is needed between the planning of a city centre redevelopment and groundbreaking: our town planning rules make us waste a lot of time. Add to that unwelcome surcosts when today France lacks housing.

There has been a strong command from the President on urban planning reforms. He mentioned it again at Le Havre some days ago, highlighted Benoist Apparu.  His working parties have been working on it for several months.

And yesterday, the four working parties created for the occasion and composed of housing professionals and local councillors, announced their suggestions in front of Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, the Minister for the Environment, and Benoist Apparu.  The last arbitrations will be given late May so the rulings go to the council of Ministers before summer and are applied after the summer break.

First constituent of the reform: building permits. “Working parties advocate that the registration of a building permit only becomes obligatory from 40 sqm compared to 20 sqm currently.  Benoist Apparu added: “It is necessary for French people to be able to expand their home easily”. Also, the time frame for building permits may be reduced. Thus, in a conservation area, households may only wait 5 or 6 months instead of more than a year.

To boost the construction industry, the government also wants to play on tax reductions. At present it is in the interests of those owning a plot of land that hasn’t been built on to keep it for as long as possible. Indeed, in the course of time, prices keep increasing and taxes get lighter.

Capital gains tax should see a 10% reduction in five years, meaning tax exemption after 15 years. “For a plot of buildable land that hasn’t been built on yet -and only in this case- we want these reductions to be removed.

Benoist Apparu explains that the capital gains tax will be the same for a plot of land sold after a year or after 15 years in order to fight against the retention of ground rent.

An evolution which adds to the overhaul of building permit taxes which was voted late 2010 and reduces from 17 to 5 the number of taxes to pay for the issuing of building permits. This will make buyers lives easier without however reducing their bill (the amount of the 5 taxes being the same as that of the 17).

“We are also trying to change the way we calculate property surfaces so it becomes more in keeping with the Environment round table. Nowadays, in the administrative count, a household that installs insulation panels on the walls of their accommodation undergoes a surface decrease. This should not anymore,” details Benoist Apparu. A precaution that could increase prescribed surfaces of apartments and houses by 10%.

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Today, leisure extends into all sectors including real estate. During your French holidays, it is now very easy to take part in an activity even if you have never practised it before: it is an opportunity to discover France as you’ve never seen it before.

Whether indoor or outdoor, in summer or winter, here is a list of activities you could enjoy:

=> In the countryside:

Country leasebacks are also often close to the seaside. Hence, you can find many leasebacks on the French Riviera set at most 30 miles away from the sea. With good weather, you will find residences where you can find the following:

-          Football pitches

-          Badminton courts

-          Tennis courts

-          Dance floors

-          Swimming pool: either for swimming, diving or water polo…

-          Horse-riding: particularly when your apartment is located near a forest and part of a beautiful landscape, as local tourism is working well these days thanks to such small scale attractions.

Should you have a river or lake a stone’s throw from your residence, you could even practise canoe, kayak, rafting or pedalo boat…

=> In the ski resorts:

In the mountains whether in the summer or the winter, you’ll always be able to enjoy what nature has to offer.

Winter activities:

Of course, the first activity that comes directly to mind is skiing or snowboarding. Moreover, 99% of French ski resorts also offer sleigh rides! It is an opportunity to discover the mountainous landscape in an entirely new way  . And when it’s cold outside, luxury leasebacks often include well-being centres with fitness, spa, sauna and hammam.

Summer activities:

It is worth trying paragliding or hang-gliding in summer to take in the landscape as well as to literally get a breath of fresh air (in summer, temperatures in the mountains can reach up to 40 degrees in the shade). Another way to admire the landscape is by  helicopter ride, an experience you shouldn’t miss.

If you are used to teeing off like Lee Westwood or Ian Poulter, you will find a golf course in every ski resort in the French Alps. Unfortunately, on account of the huge amount of space needed for a golf course, it is still rare to find an 18-hole in a resort.

=> By the seaside:

By the seaside, apart from the pleasures of sunbathing, there are various clubs offering afternoons of deep-sea diving! Discover the ocean floor and observe marine animals in their natural environment (fishes, algae, coral reefs…).

If you are ready to show off your prowess, show off by windsurfing, water skiing or kite surfing along the beaches.

-> Don’t believe that these sports are reserved for a certain category of people who can afford them. You can actually take lessons at prices far lower than you’d think. You don’t have to go to every class if you don’t want to. Although the more you go the quicker you’ll pick up the sport.

You’re on holiday, so have fun!

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Our weekend started early, on Thursday in fact, with a morning flight from London to the compact airport in Beziers. We left the English capital under rain and arrived, as we had so fervently hoped, under a haze of glorious sunshine. There was no time to enjoy it yet though, as we had a busy schedule ahead of us.
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Our first stop was to the site of the future tourist residence in Juvignac- set in 445 acres of land it will offer furnished apartments and a swimming pool, close to Fontcaude golf course (ref 30871). Speaking of golf, we moved on to the leaseback development Domaine du Golf Fabregues (ref 14161), where we stayed the night. The residence offers a range of facilities, including of course the golf course (excellent for a novice like me as it is only 6 holes) and a pool, but it also includes a spa and a restaurant, perfect for a relaxing mini-break. Before our evening meal we met a new partner of Sextant’s, who showed us the location of a new leaseback project near Beziers.
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Our stomachs rumbling, we proceeded into Beziers itself in search of our evening meal. Strolling along the beach we found the answer to our prayers- a paillotte, or beach hut. These delightful structures pop up over the summer and serve the freshest seafood around, then like some fragile flower, they vanish for the winter only to reappear again the following year. I feasted on fresh prawns and bourride, the popular fish stew with chilli and garlic mayonnaise. Rosé was on tap to wash it all down, as the sun set, framing the local fairground in the background, a sort of Mediterranean Coney Island.
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Friday was another sunny day. We decided to breakfast in Montpellier, the capital of the Languedoc-Roussillon. It is a vibrant city with a beautiful old town, bursting with history. The architecture especially is interesting, and a real mix, including an 18^th century water tower, an aqueduct, the medieval Ancient Courrier and a host of delightful narrow streets. It’s also mainly pedestrian, making strolling along even more pleasant. Bakeries and cafes are a dime a dozen here, with enticing smells of freshly ground coffee and croissants wafting through the air. In the afternoon, we drove to a superb development near Carcassonne, a magnificent vineyard and spa estate (ref 24659). The collection of intimate houses, stylishly decorated and furnished to the highest standards really compliments the use of local materials (flagstones, wrought iron and stone). The reception house in particular took our breath away, with its beautiful Spa, Hammam and pool, the chic bar and restaurant and panoramic views from the terraces. Carrying on with the luxury feel, we headed to the La Redorte chateau (ref 26624), currently languishing in faded grandeur but soon to be rehabilitated into a stunning development of apartments and villas. Recalling its glorious wine producing past, the red liquid will flow once again, with 12 bottles of wine a year to be offered to each owner! We even visited the secret tunnel where the process will begin anew. Following this visit we felt a little parched ourselves and decided we wanted to experience wine tasting too. We found a charming local producer and a wizened old lady with a sale’s technique to beat any property mogul had me surrendering my hard-earned cash in exchange for a few bottles.
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Dinner was a glorious affair in the attractive town of Pezenas. I supped on breast of duck in a succulent fig sauce, one of the best meals I’d had in a long while. We chose to visit the place properly the following day, and returned, tired but satisfied, to our living quarters in Herepian. The former convent here has been delightfully renovated now offering six contemporary yet classic suites. Needless to say, we slept well.
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On our final day, we woke early to properly explore Pezenas. Its Saturday market seemed to attract the whole region, and for good reason. The array of mouth-watering produce on offer was staggering- cheeses, sausages, fresh fish, fruit (watermelon, cherries, apricots, nectarines…) and vegetables (the asparagus is renowned). Quaint squares are to be seen at every turn, with cafes and restaurants each more appealing than the next. The birth place of Moliere (France’s answer to Shakespeare), the playwright is celebrated in many ways, notably in street and cafe names and every summer impromptu plays are staged in courtyards for the delight of locals and tourists alike. We took the opportunity to view a development near Pezenas, which offers furnished luxury apartments in restored 19^th century buildings. At its heart lies a swimming pool and spa with a tiled Mediterranean courtyard, with full guest services and conference rooms, ideal for investors (ref 24697).
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Along from Pezenas lies Marseillan, a picturesque fishing port by the lagoon. Here the Port Rive Gauche development is entirely sold out- a charming rustic decor and uninterrupted sea views made sure of that.
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We managed to pack a lot into our morning, and after a lovely lunch on the promontory with views over the bay and the beach, we drove to Sete, known as the Venice of Languedoc. We took in a hotel residence right by the sea (ref 29546), and slightly further out a modern residence set in the hills with a pool and landscaped gardens (ref 14243). La Grande Motte, a seaside resort 45 minutes east of here offers a leaseback development nestled in a large landscaped park with swimming pools and leisure facilities, ideal for investment as the resort is very popular among the French (ref 30108).
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Finally, for a bit of relaxation, we headed 15 minutes east to Aigues Mortes. This beautiful fortified medieval town is set between the sea and lagoons, making for spectacular scenery. The development in the Aigues Mortes marina doesn’t disappoint (ref 27053), with small but perfectly formed Mediterranean houses, reminiscent of fishermen’s dwellings, some with their own moorings. Inside the town walls, the plethora of cafes, boutiques and restaurants see life go by at a slow, relaxed pace. It really is the perfect place to unwind. We enjoyed a leisurely meal of pizza with an ice cold beer, a lovely end to our trip.
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On Sunday morning we flew back from Montpellier airport. Our flight was at 10 am and we were back on British soil by 1pm, so quickly it felt like we’d never left…
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If you’re still unsure where to buy in the Languedoc, and weighing up the pros and cons of Sete, Marseillans, Aigues Mortes or any other town, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
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Jim Beattie
Direct line: 020 7428 4915
jim@sextantproperties.com
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Come to this free property seminar and learn how to choose investment properties with good returns for a reliable income now and in retirement, the advantages of buying off-plan and how to avoid the perils posed by currency fluctuations.

This seminar’s featured development will be the stunning off-plan development of Pont Royal Golf. Located in the highly sought-after Provence region (which receives over 300 days of sunshine every year), just 30 minutes from the Mediterranean coast and close to the beautiful town of Aix-en-Provence, this development offers residents luxurious eco-friendly apartments and villas set in a beautiful 450 acre park with an 18 hole golf course, excellent sporting facilities, fabulous restaurants and brilliant entertainment throughout the year.

The guest speaker will be Bernard Comptat who will speak about life in his native Provence and why property investors should be looking to purchase in this highly desirable area of France.

This seminar is free but places are limited so book now to avoid disappointment.

Date: Thursday 7th January 2010
Price: FREE

More about Pont Royal Golf

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