'I want a property in the countryside with great views and no neighbours - and I want to be a short walk from a village with a boulangerie, a bar/cafe and a farmers market - and I want lots of land and outbuildings - room for all the family to come and stay - and I want to be within easy reach of a city with an international airport and trains'
Sounds beautiful! Who wouldn't want that?
It's a very common request and if I (and every agent in France) had ten euros for everytime we have read this brief then we would all have retired.
Whilst properties matching that exact description do exist on the market, they are somewhat rarer than Hallmark Channel RomComs and daytime lifestlye programs would have us believe.
More crucially, by sticking to this one idealised vision, you may be ruling out a whole host of wonderful possibilities which are out there.
Our advice? Look through the hazy dream and carefully examine what it is that you are REALLY looking for. It might not be what you think.
What did we dream of?
When we first looked for a property here in France we were attracted by the lower prices of La Creuse and, upon visiting, enchanted by the gorgeous historic stone properties and beautiful, forested, rolling hills of the Department.
We wanted....a property in the countryside with great views and no neighbours, a short walk from......yada yada yada!
We earmarked a few properties that seemed to fill that brief and met up with several agents in the area. It was soon evident that every property required a lot of compromise - a word that didn't sit well with our idealised view of our new life in France!
Why wouldn't our Agent listen!
One agent had sent us details of a small cottage in need of renovation on the edge of a town. We had rejected it completely - too small, too little land, too ugly, we didn't want to be in a town. It didn't tick one box on our list.
She kept telling us we should visit it but each time we refused.
On the day of our viewings we met her in the car park of the nearby supermarket.
'Right' she said, 'We'll go and see the little fermettes you wanted to visit....
'...but first I want to take you to the little house in Boussac.'
'NO!', we wearily cried in unison, 'We've TOLD you that we're not interested.' Why couldn't she get it?!
'I know, I know, but it's on the way,' (it wasn't!) 'and I just really think you should see it out of interest.'
Reluctantly we agreed.
SOLD!
Well to cut a long story short, we had decided to buy it within 30 minutes, bought it and lived there very happily for six years.
Our agent listened to our desires and didn't dismiss them, objectively weighed up our needs and introduced us to a property that would fulfill them in a way which we ourselves could not immediately see.
She was right, and has never let us forget it!
We thought we wanted seclusion and lots of potential but what we really needed was a budget-friendly and sustainable home with just enough romance.
So let's take an objective look at the dream...
'I want a property in the countryside with great views and no neighbours...
Peace, quiet, no disturbance - what so many of us coming from crowded towns and cities long for.
Of course the countryside in France is a working environment, whether that's farming, forestry or tourism, so there will always be some compromise to live with there. There may be more peace to be found in a small town or village ironically.
Historically people have huddled together in small communities for warmth and convenience, so totally isolated properties are not quite as common as you might think.
Isolation can be a blessing but also quickly become a curse. Mobility and health problems, car troubles, help in an emergency, loneliness - consider the unthinkable beacause it could quickly make your idyllic countryside life hell. Maybe complete isolation is not such a great idea for you.
You think you want isolation, but is what you really need privacy and peace?
I want to be a short walk from a village with a boulangerie, a bar/cafe and a farmers market
Sounds fantastic but, for the most part, it may rule out the first desire for countryside.
The truth is that rural France is sparcely populated and most communities cannot support small businesses or replace them when their owners retire or go out of business. However, ask if there's a bread van or grocery van which visits nearby or farmers who sell produce direct - not so idyllic maybe, but practical, and you will still get that little bit of contact and conversation.
Some rural communities are finding inventive ways to re-stimulate local life with community cafes or associations planning regular get-togethers. Find out what else there may be other than the obvious.
Alternatively, consider that you may find what you are really craving in a small town or larger village? Somewhere where you can participate in village life, meet your neighbours and gradually become part of the community. You might give up larger outside space, but have a more vibrant and sustainable daily life and, crucially, not be isolated.
Plus you will be closer to services, artisans and help when you need it.
You think you may want to be at arms length, but do you really need a way to integrate that you are comfortable with?
I want lots of land and outbuildings
Lovely - who can afford that in the UK or the Netherlands? But it's often so affordable and tempting here in France.
BUT - What are you going to do with it?
Land and outbuildings need using and looking after or they very quickly deteriorate. If it's a holiday home, do you really want to spend most of your visit cutting grass and fixing leaks? You will need a plan or deep pockets. Is this how you want to spend your retirement?
If you are going to renovate outbuildings for use, look carefully at the real costs and the true re-sale value. The truth is that in many rural areas of France you are unlikely to get your investment back, so be realisitc about what you are going to actually need and use yourself, and examine the local market with one critical eye to the future.
If you are imagining long lazy afternoons reading in the garden, then ask yourself 'who is doing the gardening?' A beautiful courtyard may offer you the private space you crave with enough room to grow plants, benefit from some shade, and entertain friends without it becoming a full-time job to maintain.
You think you want the security of land and property around you, but do you really need a secure and manageable future?
Room for all the family to come and stay
Glorious! Long family lunches in the garden, grand-children running round the orchard or splashing in the pool, everyone with their own space to enjoy extended holidays in the sun.
The truth? Most people we speak to have had the exactly same expectation, but the reality they report is that friends and family may come once or twice, but rarely annualy.
Your dream.......may not be..... their dream. The reality you love..... may not be their idea of a holiday.
Don't make the mistake of paying for space which then sits empty for 99% or the time. Consider properties with the possibility of making a Gite which can serve as accomodation for family and friends but could also bring in an income.
Alternatively, are there gites nearby that you could hire for guests when needed? They will be just as happy (and so, in our experience, will you) and it will be more financially astute. Make the move for you, not for others.
You may feel a strong desire to provide for everyone else, but do you really need to provide astutely for yourself?
I want to be within easy reach of a city with an international airport and trains
Fabulous. Days out in the city, shopping, culture, easy transport links.
Proximity to these conveniences comes at a cost. You may have to reassess your budget or the kind of property you buy.
Transport in rural France is sparce so you may need to adjust to a whole different view of travel and the time it takes. In truth, that's part of the more laid-back lifestyle which we all love once we get used to it. Assess realistically how often you will need to access international travel.
However, don't forget that even in the most rural parts of France there are local events of all kinds. Be open to them and you will be surprised.
If I ask the question 'Where in La Creuse can I go to the Ballet next Tuesday?' I will not get a positive answer.
However, 'Where in La Creuse are there Dance festivals, performances or workshops this Summer?' will give a range of interesting and charming results.
In short
Dream the dream and live the dream, but the dream property must serve your needs, your budget and your lifestyle or it may become a nightmare and a burden.
As well as giving your agent a specific brief, tell them what it is you really need and desire from your home and be open to the suggestions they make - it may not be immediuately obvious, but they just might give you what exactly you need in an unexpected package.
A little extra thought and planning will truly make the dream a reality!
Rob Kearley works in the Creuse as an independent property consultant for Beaux Villages Immobiler. You can find his latest properties for sale here.