Alexis Stratfold

Alexis Goldberg

Alexis loved visiting France as a child and always dreamed of living there one day. Fortunately she met a man who had the same dream! So they married, then bought a beautiful 300-year-old character house in a pretty village in the Languedoc Roussillon. Alexis has been writing about France for a decade, inspiring and helping hundreds of British people to move there. She says: "Our only regret is that we did not move to France earlier! The lifestyle is tranquil, the summers are long and hot and the sun shines almost every day (or seems like it does!). We’ve made friends of many nationalities here."

Changes to notaire fees

New discounts have been introduced that apply to the work the notaire performs as part of the purchasing process in France. The main role of the notaire is to uphold French law throughout property transactions, and as such he works for neither the buyer nor the seller; the notaire is there to make sure the legal process of buying in France is carried out properly. You will usually only need one notaire, but you are at liberty to choose a separate one if you wish – the fees will be no higher, but rather split between the two of them.

Enjoying and maintaining the outdoor space in your new French home

It’s all good news when it comes to outdoor space in France. Land is cheaper here than in the UK and you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding on whether to have a flower garden, vegetable plot or simply a terrace or deck. This time of the year sees abundant growth everywhere, particularly in our corner of the Languedoc, where the vines are now becoming bright green and bushy: a wonderful sight!

If Brittany is the new Cornwall, then where’s the new Brighton?

According to The Times newspaper, Brittany is the “new Cornwall” for London’s wealthy looking for a second home. “In many ways it’s like a bigger version of Cornwall but with more sun and homes at a fraction of the price,” says the newspaper: “The average value of a property in Brittany hovers about the €150,000 (£120,000) mark and it’s not that difficult to reach.”

Confidence in French market soars

There has been positive news for the French property market this week, as renewed market stability and improved buyer confidence has helped to entice would-be overseas buyers back to the country.

10 ways to regret nothing when you buy in France

It’s a big decision, choosing a home in France. A Place in the Sun readers recently revealed their top tips for getting it right. Find homes in France via our property portal. The French are famous for regretting “rien”, but A Place in the Sun magazine has revealed 10 regrets of its readers who bought abroad and then had a better idea. Don’t worry, they were all very happy to have bought a place abroad, but realise that with a bit more thought they might have made better decisions. The good news is that when buying a holiday home or moving abroad, you can normally correct any early mistakes.

France still popular for Brits

Our nearest neighbour France has been, and by all accounts probably always will be, one of the most popular choices choice for British people buying overseas. There are so many reasons why this is the case and we all have our own ideas when it comes to why we hold France in so much affection.