18. Oktober 2011 
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Brits continue to invest in French residential property with a 23% increase in 2010
Spend on French residential property from investors investing or living abroad rose 21% in 2010, to pre-crisis levels, according to the latest ‘Investing & Living abroad’ report by BNP Paribas International Buyers. British buyers were the second largest overseas group, making up 11% of all transactions, just behind Portugal on 13%.
The number of transactions made by British buyers rose by 23% in 2010 from total 2009 figures. Spend by British buyers also increased by 7% in 2010. The proportion of mortgage takers remained constant throughout the provinces at 26% but there was a drop in mortgages in Ile-de-France (which includes Paris and Greater Paris).
Brits were less optimistic about investing in French residential property in the future than the rest of overseas buyers, with just 16% saying they’d look at buying again in the country, compared to 45% of other nations. This could be due to Brits typically investing in France as a second home, rather than a straight buy-to-let.
The region where British investors were most active was the South West Aquitaine province (Bordeaux, Basque Coast) where 20% of all investment was from the UK. Next was the Rhones-Alps region, where the UK represented 14% of all investment, largely due to their passion for skiing. Next was the Provence Alpes Côte D’Azur and Languedoc Roussillon where UK investment came second behind that of the Italians with 12%. However, UK interest in the region is growing with 60% of non-residents’ enquiries coming from Britain. For Ile-de-France, just 2% of investment came from the UK, some way behind Portugal, Italy and Turkey. The report shows British investors are looking less at Paris perhaps as they seek to ‘get more for their money’ and make the most of a second home in seasonal locations – such as for skiing or sunshine resorts.
Africa represents 15% (including Morocco at 5%) of overseas spend on French residential property. Asia represented 6% creeping up from 5% in the last two years and America proportion remained steady at 2%.
Although not well represented overall, there were some new entrants to the market with an increase in the trend of South Africans, Australians and investors from New Zealand all making purchases.
There were also some noticeable withdrawals from the market, with Italian investment reducing by 16% in 2010 and Turkish investment reducing by 14%.
The number of transactions made by British buyers rose by 23% in 2010 from total 2009 figures. Spend by British buyers also increased by 7% in 2010. The proportion of mortgage takers remained constant throughout the provinces at 26% but there was a drop in mortgages in Ile-de-France (which includes Paris and Greater Paris).
Brits were less optimistic about investing in French residential property in the future than the rest of overseas buyers, with just 16% saying they’d look at buying again in the country, compared to 45% of other nations. This could be due to Brits typically investing in France as a second home, rather than a straight buy-to-let.
The region where British investors were most active was the South West Aquitaine province (Bordeaux, Basque Coast) where 20% of all investment was from the UK. Next was the Rhones-Alps region, where the UK represented 14% of all investment, largely due to their passion for skiing. Next was the Provence Alpes Côte D’Azur and Languedoc Roussillon where UK investment came second behind that of the Italians with 12%. However, UK interest in the region is growing with 60% of non-residents’ enquiries coming from Britain. For Ile-de-France, just 2% of investment came from the UK, some way behind Portugal, Italy and Turkey. The report shows British investors are looking less at Paris perhaps as they seek to ‘get more for their money’ and make the most of a second home in seasonal locations – such as for skiing or sunshine resorts.
Africa represents 15% (including Morocco at 5%) of overseas spend on French residential property. Asia represented 6% creeping up from 5% in the last two years and America proportion remained steady at 2%.
Although not well represented overall, there were some new entrants to the market with an increase in the trend of South Africans, Australians and investors from New Zealand all making purchases.
There were also some noticeable withdrawals from the market, with Italian investment reducing by 16% in 2010 and Turkish investment reducing by 14%.
