Property Guides

What to look for in a French seaside town

What’s not to love about a French seaside town? Featuring bustling quays teeming with stands selling the local catch, colourful seafront properties and top-notch restaurants, French coastal resorts are the real deal when it comes to an atmospheric escape or a bolt-hole from city life.

Five of the best villages in la Nouvelle Aquitaine

La Nouvelle Aquitaine is the largest region in France in terms of area, created in 2014 when the Aquitaine, Limousin and Poitou-Charentes all merged together. As well as having some wonderful cities and towns such as Bordeaux, Limoges, La Rochelle and Pau, there are some beautiful villages here too, hugely popular with expats and second home owners.

A home in Andalusia’s Golden Triangle

Andalusia covers almost the entire bottom quarter of Spain. Moreover, for many it’s the “real” Spain, of flamenco, tapas, the Alhambra, lilting guitars and fighting bulls, and, of course, the Costa del Sol.

Why learning a bit of Spanish can be a lifesaver when buying a home in Spain

“You’re in Spain. You can’t expect everyone to speak English, and an attempt at some Spanish will definitely be appreciated by the locals. It will also make your early days in Spain a lot easier – take it from me!” says Ailsa, a Spanish homeowner who is now 15 years into her Spanish language learning journey.