Clé France

The Tour de France of the French property market

(by VousFinancer – French mortgage specialist and Clé France partner)

To celebrate the 114th world renowned cyclist event, the Tour de France, French mortgage specialist VousFinancer introduces its own Tour de France of the property market, taking a close look at all 20 key stage towns.

Each year the Tour de France is watched on TV by millions, for the sport but equally because it is a fantastic opportunity to discover more of France. This year, VousFinancer is following the Tour to bring you market insight on the 20 French towns featured in the event. Insight at each stage of “La Grande Boucle” (the Great Loop) will be published here and on social media – follow VousFinancer on Twitter.

This “Tour de France” of the property market is an opportunity to focus on (perhaps) lesser known albeit beautiful towns and cities.  

For instance, in Vittel (located in the Grand Est region) properties are priced at under 1,000 Euros (929 Euros) per square metre, whereas they are priced at close to 9,000 Euros (8,942 Euros) per sqm in Paris. In Bergerac (located in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region) or Foix (in Occitanie) prices are close to 1,200 Euros per sqm, half that of Marseille (Provence Alpes Cote d’Azur region) at 2,559 Euros per sqm, or Les Rousses (in Bourgogne Franche Comté) at 2,329 Euros per sqm.

While there is little difference in today’s interest rates from town to town (most French banks operate regionally), buyers’ purchasing power vary substantially due to the price difference between regions. Indeed, a monthly repayment of 1,000 Euros over 20 years will finance 23m2 in Paris, 76m2 in Salon-de-Provence (Provence Cotes d’Azur region), 147m2 in Puy-en-Velay (Auvergne Rhone-Alpes region), or 219m2 in Vittel (Grand Est region), according to VousFinancer Sandrine Allonier, responsible for all banks partnerships.

About Vousfinancer 

Founded in 2008 by Jérôme Robin, VousFinancer is a network of 160 mortgage broker agencies acting for French residents and non-residents alike.  Anyone interested in acquiring a property in France (be it a primary residence, a secondary residence or an investment) can benefit from our services.  We have access to all mortgage products available on the French market, an advantage which stems from the large market footprint of our group.  These banking relationships allow us to access long-term mortgages at very low rates for our clients, and our in-depth knowledge of the banks’ selection criteria means a high success rate on applications.  

At VousFinancer we pride ourselves on providing a professional service to our clients, looking beyond the ‘interest rate’, to recommend an all-round solution that considers repayment terms, insurance costs and guarantee options. Our clients always have complete clarity over the total cost of their mortgage and are therefore able to make fully-informed decisions, with no unwelcome surprises. Furthermore, they enjoy the benefit of our services at no cost until finalisation of the transaction, when funds are transferred.

Why not contact us today: 

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Our Mortgage Advice contact is Aurore Davis who has many years experience so when purchasing property overseas, Aurore and her international team are on hand to offer a personalised service : helping you step by step through the process:

Whether you are buying a French property, re-mortgaging or doing work to your home in France there is lots to consider when it comes to mortgages. 

How it works

Aurore Davis from the French mortgage experts 'Vous Financer' outlines how she can help you.

At Vous Financer we have bilingual and bicultural specialists who provide tailored advice to non-residents. Our expertise is an invaluable asset to your project. We operate on a ‘no mortgage, no fee’ basis and we can help you with every step along the way.

Here are some examples of where we can help you:

Assess your borrowing capacity

We offer impartial advice and find the deal that is best for you, based on your financial priorities and comfort level.

Prepare your mortgage application.

We handle the entire mortgage application process and use our knowledge of banks’ acceptance criteria to help you be successful.

Explain your mortgage offer.

We will walk you through your mortgage offer and key repayment terms, and explain any further requirements such as opening a French bank account.

Finalise the transaction.

We oversee the process with the Notaire and the bank, to ensure this crucial step goes smoothly.

Vous Financer have received great reviews from our past clients.

Talk to us at Cle France from the start and we can discuss your needs and lay out some alternatives before arranging for Aurore at Vous Financer to give you a call to go through the nitty gritty.

With Cle France and Vous Financer you have the best possible combination.

The information that you give and that we obtain through you using this website may be used by this Company and by our partner companies only for purposes in connection with your use of this website and for marketing activities of this Company and partner companies. By using this site you confirm your consent to this. If you do not want to receive any marketing information from this Company and/or our partner companies then please notify us.

For everything you need to know about French property for sale visit www.clefrance.co.uk 

It has been another rocky week for Sterling exchange rates, with inflation on the rise and the UK still politically unstable, it really remains unclear about what happens next. Current UK PM, Theresa May is still yet to formally announce her deal with the DUP (though there seem to be rumours about talks with the Lib Dems now as well), I don't think the Pound will rebound until the Queen's speech takes place (this Wednesday). 

Bank of England's interest rate decision

Earlier last week, the Bank of England's interest rate decision caused the Pound to gain about 1% against major currencies after BoE members 5-3 on keeping rates on hold, (Expectation was a 7-1 vote)- the translation of this vote basically means that we now seem to be closer to a rate hike than ever. The reason for this is the current inflation rises we are seeing in the UK and the lackluster wage growth alongside it. My only concern is that we will be raising rates solely to curb inflation, not because our economy is stable enough for it, and this could end up badly in a year or so from now- But I will write more about this as we get closer to an actual hike. 

So... How Will Brexit Negotiations Effect the Exchange Rate

Onto this week, the most important event (Apart from Wednesday's Queen's Speech) will be Brexit negotiations formally starting on Monday. Now, the Prime Minister has explained previously she will not be constantly updating the public about how negotiations are going, however, I feel that the EU will do the complete opposite. This means that we may start to see pretty biased news coming out about these negotiations, obviously in favour of the EU, which could cause the Pound to weaken from time to time. Now it is also important to point out that these negotiations will take at least 2 years, so Monday is not a one-day event- it is ongoing volatility. 

Short term, we will see the Pound move around 2-3% up or down due to political events and economic data, however, the long-term move really does rely on Brexit negotiations, so the Pound will be extremely sensitive to any news that comes out surrounding this. 

This could potentially be a positive week for the Pound, (Ignoring Brexit headlines), however, it is exactly these headlines that could keep Sterling subdued even if the Prime Minister manages to organise her Government effectively. 

So if you need to buy or sell sterling and would like to be kept up to date with all the latest data releases and exchange rate movements then feel free to contact myself Ben Amrany. If you are buying or selling a house in France we will make sure your monies are in the right place at the right time, we work hand in hand with you and Cle France.

Current rates:

Monday 19th June 2017 at 16:45

£1.00 GBP = 1.1411 EURO

£1.00 GBP = 1.2739 USD

£1.00 GBP = 1.6755 AUD

£1.00 GBP = 1.7585 NZD

£1.00 GBP = 1.7585 CAD

£1.00 GBP = 16.4856 ZAR

Do you want more information ?

For more information on the currency service I can provide please feel free to contact myself...

Ben Amrany from FC Exchange follow this link or phone and ask for myself and quote "Cle France" on 020 7989 0000.

You may contact me directly using this form (click here) with your requirement and I will explain the options that are available to you in getting the best exchange rate.

For everything you need to know about French property visit www.clefrance.co.uk

Hello Sharon,

We had a lovely time with your Cle France agent, she could not have been more helpful, friendly and professional. While we were happy with what we viewed and one or two were very tempting, ”I have to think with my head” not my heart as my wife kept reminding me.

We have not yet fell in love for any but so still looking.

We love visiting the region so “we will be back” as Arnold said.

Best wishes, J&S.

Buying a House in France is easy with Cle France, You can do the same, it is easy for you because WE guide YOU through the French Property Buying Process from the very start to completion and beyond!

And as several of our clients say "Follow your heart and make the move"!

May’s snap-election call backfires, Sterling plunges...

It’s been a long night but Conservative MPs will be very upset after this morning’s news that the party has not only failed to increase their majority but failed to obtain a majority full stop!

Sterling has plunged against other currencies and will likely react to political developments across the day whether it’s the Conservative’s forming a coalition with the DUP or whether it is the resignation of Theresa May.

Foreign Currency Exchange rates will be exceptionally volatile – if you’d like quotes, please call in rather than email as rates will likely change in the interim period. 

Tel UK: 020 7989 0000

Tel from abroad: +44 (0)20 7989 0000.

What now...

We are expecting Friday to be very volatile so if you wish to discuss any exchanges please feel free to contact me on 020 7989 0000 and I will be happy to explain all of the options available to you.

Transactions arranged through FC Exchange are always at the most competitive rates, and the service is personable, fast and efficient. An estimate of the typical savings using FC Exchange over high street bank transactions are in the region of 1 to 2%, or £1,000 to £2,000 saved for every £100,000 transferred.

To transfer money via FC Exchange contact: Ben Amrany.

Tel UK: 020 7989 0000 Tel abroad Tel: +44 (0)20 7989 0000.

Be sure to quote "Club Cle France" when phoning to ensure you get the best possible rates we have secured for you through our partnership.

Or create an account via the FC Exchange website.

If you have not used a currency trader before then read our article Using a Currency Trader: The basics.

We all want to get the most Euros for our Pound but how do you do this? read our article on How do I get the best Exchange rate deal?

Current rates:

Friday 9th June 2017 at 08:45

£1.00 GBP = 1.1346 EURO

£1.00 GBP = 1.2698 USD

£1.00 GBP = 1.6845 AUD

£1.00 GBP = 1.7603 NZD

£1.00 GBP = 1.7162 CAD

£1.00 GBP = 16.4189 ZAR

For everything you need to know about French property for sale visit www.clefrance.co.uk

Possible Outcome Scenarios of Thursday's General Election Results

The week is finally upon us, the UK will go out on Thursday 8th June to vote for their new Prime Minister.

So what may happen after Thursday's results are in? if you are thinking of exchanging currency for a property purchase then the result could impact your budget going forward, feel free to call us to discuss the option open to you.

Over the last couple of weeks, we have seen the Pound lose around 3% against most major currencies due to the uncertainties that have been brought about by this election. The market was initially confident that British PM, Theresa May would win by a sizeable majority, but it seems now various opinion polls are showing that this may not be the case but who really knows?

Strong and Stable Result -

Why was the market happy for a Theresa May win, this is because it would be a continuity of agenda. Any form of uncertainty hurts the markets, and this is why the Pound has lost so much value since the Brexit vote. The PM has already begun the process of Brexit, and many people would like her to see it through, as opposed to somebody else coming in and starting again. I feel that many voters are not voting on policy, but voting for Brexit again to ensure it happens.

The common consensus is that if Theresa May wins this election with a decent majority (Anything over 100), then the Pound will strengthen, this is mainly due to the fact that with a majority, Theresa May can continue with Brexit negotiations without too much opposition. (The faster Brexit happens, the better for the markets).

Hung Parliament Result -

Looking at the thought of a Labour win in this election is causing the Pound to weaken, and according to opinion polls, Jeremy Corbyn has been eating away at Theresa May's margin and seems to be closing in. Currently, opinion polls are not predicting a Labour win by majority, but are forecasting that a "Hung Parliament" is possible if the Conservative's don't manage to get enough seats.

If this happens, many analysts are forecasting that Labour, SNP & the Lib Dems could form a coalition Government.

Why a Change brings about uncertainty -

The reason why the Pound is weakening every time Corbyn seems to take a jump in the polls is nothing personal against him. It is simply because the markets do not like uncertainty, a new Government will mean a new stance on Brexit, (A softer Brexit perhaps), and though this sounds great to many people in the long term, the short term does mean that the Pound will weaken as a result.

If you are thinking about any Currency Exchange soon -

For those of you selling the Pound, the markets will be very narrow leading up until Thursday, many traders will leave the Pound alone until we have a result, so the Pound will remain weak, which means that for those of you who are buying the Pound, there will be ample opportunities leading up to the elections.

Following the elections, it seems that the consensus is still the same, a Conservative win will mean the Pound will strengthen, and a Labour win will mean the opposite. It won't be as simple as this, of course, it will come down to the size of the majority the winner has.

Assuming a majority win for the Tories, how will it pan out -

100-120 seat Majority - Very strong win, exactly what the markets are priced for, Sterling strengthens.

Less than 100 - A successful result, Sterling would react positively.

Less than 50 - Would set fears of a "Hard Brexit" into the market, Possible weakness for the Pound.

Less than 30 - Could cause Sterling to move lower.

Less than 20 - This would be a "Red Alert" for Sterling.

17 seats - This is close to the current majority, would cause the Pound to weaken.

No Majority (Hung Parliament) - Sterling weakness until there is a resolution.

Assuming a Labour Win - 

And just to play Devils advocate, there is always a chance of a very convincing Labour win, if this were to happen I believe the Pound may strengthen due to the certainty of a new leader and the Public being behind them, in the short term we may see some weakness, but in the long term I think the Pound would react positively.

Current rates:

Monday 5th June 2017 at 12:40

£1.00 GBP = 1.1482 EURO

£1.00 GBP = 1.2911 USD

£1.00 GBP = 1.7283 AUD

£1.00 GBP = 1.8114 NZD

£1.00 GBP = 1.7418 CAD

£1.00 GBP = 16.4815 ZAR

Do you want more information ?

So if you need to buy or sell sterling and would like to be kept up to date with all the latest data releases and exchange rate movements then feel free to contact myself Ben Amrany. If you are buying or selling a house in France we will make sure your monies are in the right place at the right time, we work hand in hand with you and Cle France.

For more information on the currency service I can provide please feel free to contact myself...

Ben Amrany from FC Exchange follow this link or phone and ask for myself and quote "Cle France" on 020 7989 0000.

You may contact me directly using this form (click here) with your requirement and I will explain the options that are available to you in getting the best exchange rate.

For everything you need to know about French property visit www.clefrance.co.uk