From the pure white slopes of the Alps, through to the chic boulevards of Paris and stunning coastline of the Cote d'Azur, the romantic allure of buying a property in France has long appealed to investors from the UK. Famous for being home to one of the world's finest cuisines, France has a considerable amount to offer someone looking to purchase a property overseas.

For people seeking to purchase an investment property overseas, France is today the worlds leading tourism market, with more overseas visitors than any other country. Understandably, the demand for short term rental accommodation in the tourist regions is considerable, offering purchasers the opportunity for high rental yields and long term capital appreciation. Indeed such is the demand for property in France from overseas investors, that a recent survey of French estate agents estimated approximately 30% of properties in France sold this year were bought by overseas purchasers.

One of the key factors in the success of the French property market has been the French leaseback property scheme, whichallows investors the opportunity to purchase an off-plan property on a freehold basis whilst having the VAT refunded back. With VAT in France currently sitting at 19.6%, this figure either replaces or significantly reduces your deposit. The purchased property is then leased back to a specialist property management company for a period of 9-16 years. For more information on this type of purchase, please visit our specialist French leaseback property page.

For people looking to purchase a property in France, the most popular destinations shifted from the northern regions of Britanny and Normandy in recent years. Today, the more southern destinations such as the Cote d'Azur and its stunning Mediterranean coastline are at the heart of the overseas demand, as people seek to purchase second and holiday homes in some of France's most popular tourist destinations.

Despite the recent challenges due to sovereign debt within the Eurozone, the French economy has performed well, offering additional incentives for people seeking to buy a property in France in the coming months. As France emerges as a leading economic and political force in the world, it's position as one of the worlds leading property markets seems secure for the years to come.

Regions: PACA | Poitou Charentes | Aquitaine | Midi-Pyrenees | Brittany | Languedoc