Just spent nearly a million quid on a new garage for the Maserati and it wouldn't fit..............

[Doctor Houx]

There’s no “might” about it Phil, my Scottish o grade Frenchie ain’t gonna cut la moustarde.

Its amazing how quickly you pick it up just living there. When we bought our Provence Gites in 2004 I could just about manage to make a waiter understand what I wanted for lunch at Le Mans. 15 years of living there part time and I had a heated discussion yesterday on the phone with the septic tank pump out firm about what he wants to charge me, given I've had the tank stirred and taken out the worst lumpy bits that his machine won't process! Its amazing what some of our guests try to put down the bog......the holiday rental business is filled with such glamour!

On the cost vs commuting bit, I WFH in Norfolk or France as a corporate lawyer, and with the 1 hour back time difference and living about 30 mins from Tour airport at my Le Mans place or Marseilles for Provence, with just a carry on bag I can be with a client in central London as fast as I can from rural Norfolk.

With all the social distancing measures being implemented in offices ( one of my clients is an office fit out and furniture company who are having a field day reconfiguring offices and working 24/7), more WFH is bound to follow and with video conferencing there is far less need to be in physical commuting distance. The lifestyle improvement is night and day and you can get some very serious property with pool and tennis courts plus garaging galore for €1M in rural France. Even Norfolk is expensive by comparison.

 

[Felonious Crud]

Living in a city holds no interest for me. In this lockdown, colleauges with places in Notting Hill and South Ken are prisoners in their charming but relatively cramped houses, surrounded by a variety of wonderful and closed restaurants. Those of us who live in the country, whilst we had a longer commute back in the day, are in a better place now (I would argue).

God knows if there's a London bubble ready to burst, but I for one remain committed to not spending 4x the price for 1/4 of the property.

 

[philw696]

Living in a city holds no interest for me. In this lockdown, colleauges with places in Notting Hill and South Ken are prisoners in their charming but relatively cramped houses, surrounded by a variety of wonderful and closed restaurants. Those of us who live in the country, whilst we had a longer commute back in the day, are in a better place now (I would argue).

God knows if there's a London bubble ready to burst, but I for one remain committed to not spending 4x the price for 1/4 of the property.

Interesting you say that Adam as it's exactly what the train of thought is here.
Expecting a lot who can will be moving to a more rural setting.

 

[Wattie]

Its amazing how quickly you pick it up just living there. When we bought our Provence Gites in 2004 I could just about manage to make a waiter understand what I wanted for lunch at Le Mans. 15 years of living there part time and I had a heated discussion yesterday on the phone with the septic tank pump out firm about what he wants to charge me, given I've had the tank stirred and taken out the worst lumpy bits that his machine won't process! Its amazing what some of our guests try to put down the bog......the holiday rental business is filled with such glamour!

So basically, your French is merde

 

[CatmanV2]

Very happy to be living here, even if it is Harlow. Rarely used to go into the town as it was and there are a selection of lovely walks in the surrounding countryside

C

 

[rivarama]

As someone who downsized and downpriced from a 5BR house in central London to a 4BR house in Hertfordshire a couple of years ago, I do no regret it for a second. We have all the attributes of the country side outside our gate, and still are within 30min of Hampstead and 45min of Mayfair for the posh dinner and shopping we still want from time to time. Especially in the middle of the CV crisis.

I would happily spend more time in France or anywhere in Europe that’s 1h flight away from LRH and could prob work from home 2/3 days a week (so would my partner), but the kids schooling situation makes it tough. Not sure I want my 1/2 french kids to be educated in Laval , Lemans... or even Paris. No offence

 

[Gazcw]

Its amazing how quickly you pick it up just living there. When we bought our Provence Gites in 2004 I could just about manage to make a waiter understand what I wanted for lunch at Le Mans. 15 years of living there part time and I had a heated discussion yesterday on the phone with the septic tank pump out firm about what he wants to charge me, given I've had the tank stirred and taken out the worst lumpy bits that his machine won't process! Its amazing what some of our guests try to put down the bog......the holiday rental business is filled with such glamour!

On the cost vs commuting bit, I WFH in Norfolk or France as a corporate lawyer, and with the 1 hour back time difference and living about 30 mins from Tour airport at my Le Mans place or Marseilles for Provence, with just a carry on bag I can be with a client in central London as fast as I can from rural Norfolk.

With all the social distancing measures being implemented in offices ( one of my clients is an office fit out and furniture company who are having a field day reconfiguring offices and working 24/7), more WFH is bound to follow and with video conferencing there is far less need to be in physical commuting distance. The lifestyle improvement is night and day and you can get some very serious property with pool and tennis courts plus garaging galore for €1M in rural France. Even Norfolk is expensive by comparison.

I always knew there were sh*t stirrers on here!

 

[philw696]

No offence taken @rivarama and my kids are grown up and in the UK.
For me at nearly 58 probably the Best place yet I have laid my hat and I have lived in a few around the World.

 

[rivarama]

No offence taken @rivarama and my kids are grown up and in the UK.
For me at nearly 58 probably the Best place yet I have laid my hat and I have lived in a few around the World.

Don’t get me wrong, I love France. I was born there and still have lots of family living there. I plan to spend a lot of time there once the kids have left the family home... they’re still in primary school at the mo ;-)
The value for money on real estate, the food, the wine, the climate, the lovely country side and history... well most of it bar the French

 

[ratbag]

Well when we sold our two Florida homes 4 years ago we wanted to buy one final villa, that would "wash its face" rental wise but more importantly be somewhere where we would want to go to forever/semi retire to. (this years rental season is killed of course) We looked all over Europe for our final property, but eventually decided on Menorca- Just two hours away cheap flights, and very different to neighbouring Mallorca /Ibiza (no loud bars/drunken brits etc.) Picked this up from an elderly Brit couple who had owned it from new, for not much more than £400,000 needed a lot doing to it, put about 50k into it to bring it up to scratch ..........think it will be a safe investment long term due to its seafront location..
Property on Menorca is 20% cheaper than Mallorca/Ibiza- I think its a much nicer , quieter island....

 

[Andy Marshall]

When we rebuilt our house I made sure that the garage was big enough for all eventualities! The Granturismo would fit nicely where the Aston lives now..

 

[MarkMas]

When we rebuilt our house I made sure that the garage was big enough for all eventualities! The Granturismo would fit nicely where the Aston lives now..

View attachment 69621

Is your middle initial 'K' ?

 

[Andy Marshall]

how did you guess?

 

[safrane]

Was about to pull the trigger on a Oak Game garage with three bays at the farm, when.... saw a fat bird sat in the field which normaly provides a lovely view.
Her and over weight husband have noticed it is up for sale. Asked what they are going to graze on there and they state they want to turn it into a camp site!!!
Unlikely to get permission as its an AONB, but the worry of it being messed with means we will now buy it... sodding news aa thats the garage and next sports car on hold... and the last thing I need is another nine acres to mow!

 

[mjheathcote]

Well when we sold our two Florida homes 4 years ago we wanted to buy one final villa, that would "wash its face" rental wise but more importantly be somewhere where we would want to go to forever/semi retire to. (this years rental season is killed of course) We looked all over Europe for our final property, but eventually decided on Menorca- Just two hours away cheap flights, and very different to neighbouring Mallorca /Ibiza (no loud bars/drunken brits etc.) Picked this up from an elderly Brit couple who had owned it from new, for not much more than £400,000 needed a lot doing to it, put about 50k into it to bring it up to scratch ..........think it will be a safe investment long term due to its seafront location..
Property on Menorca is 20% cheaper than Mallorca/Ibiza- I think its a much nicer , quieter island....

Menorca is lovely.
Spent many a summer holiday with friends in the early 80's who had a lovely villa and pool in Binibeca. Water skiing in the bay behind their 14ft Fletcher in my early teens. Followed by piella at the beach side bar restaurant.
It's 20 years since I was last there, didn't recognise the place with the amount of new build.
Another 20 years on, can't imagine.

 

[Wattie]

There should be a thread on here for all those with a holiday property to advertise it to members.
Benefits all.
Assists investors whilst providing Reduced price/nice holiday location- when things get back to normal.

 

[MarkMas]

....... and the last thing I need is another nine acres to mow!

https://www.farmmachinerylocator.co...tegory/1100/tractors/manufacturer/lamborghini

 

[Doctor Houx]

No offence taken @rivarama and my kids are grown up and in the UK.
For me at nearly 58 probably the Best place yet I have laid my hat and I have lived in a few around the World.

Same here. My kids both grown up and in their late 20’s. They don’t waste any time having free holidays at the French homes with their partners and mates though. My daugter has already booked her 30th with 19 mates in our Provence gites for May 21. God knows what it will look like after a week of that lot staying!

 

[Doctor Houx]

There should be a thread on here for all those with a holiday property to advertise it to members.
Benefits all.
Assists investors whilst providing Reduced price/nice holiday location- when things get back to normal.

Agreed. Happy to offer special rates to forum members, other than the Le Mans property during main race events when we can let it 10x over for the full price!

 

[Wattie]

Agreed. Happy to offer special rates to forum members, other than the Le Mans property during main race events when we can let it 10x over for the full price!

Excellent can I suggest that when this is all over we set up a thread, links to sites etc with a discount code for members.
that lets owners control dates/codes and allows forum members to inquire/ book some lovely properties