Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'
[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

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Buying property in the EU

Posted by Allan Campbell on 26/1/2025, 8:13 pm

I watch some of the programs usually buying property in France, Spain and a few in Italy.

Some have taken on such a big job to renovate a property and just do not think of the size, effort and costs involved.

Some are trying at an age which is crazy. To old and health a bit off.

Some years ago talking to people that bought property in France and then done them up, said in most cases you will only get back the money of the original purchase. Refurbishment cost becomes a straight loss unless sold to a say U.K. person but even then?

Buying a holiday property less risky BUT.

Good luck to those that manage it, but as the years pass ?

Allan C.

Re: Buying property in the EU

Posted by John Shearer on 26/1/2025, 8:46 pm, in reply to "Buying property in the EU"

Allan, there is always pit falls in taking on overseas property and at an older age is just stupid, with the costs of medicals, Travel, insurance/cover Etc. you have to have a young family to share the costs and burdens of repairs. Its just not the same as a few years back but can still be rewarding.

Re: Buying property in the EU

Posted by Malcolm on 26/1/2025, 9:03 pm, in reply to "Buying property in the EU"

Or just maybe, it's not about making a profit on the property?

Maybe it's just the joy of doing something different, something challenging?

Or a separation from what you were doing, to have an adventure, with someone you love?

Not everything comes down to Pounds, Shillings, and Pence.....

Re: Buying property in the EU Lads

Posted by Allan Campbell on 26/1/2025, 10:36 pm, in reply to "Buying property in the EU"

If I was 30 years younger and a good pile of readies I may have considered it

However I doubt that it would suit me. I dislike the heat that you can get from June to end of August.

In any case I would not wish to be there on the Med. area, the greenery of U.K. just fine.

Give me the North Sea. Every time. The Coast of the U.K. superb. The wrecks around our coasts great.

The only place that I would wish to go to now is Malta plus parts of Italy like Rome and other historical places, just a holiday.

We would have never bought a property abroad but would have gone traveling for say 6-8 months but never had the whereforeall to do so.

I had all the skills to rebuild a property and have done so here in the U.K. for about 15 years. Getting tradespeople in where required.

Even today we want to wander and home is an excellent base to do so. Anyway family comes first.

Allan C.

Re: Buying property in the EU (AllanCampbell)

Posted by John Shearer on 28/1/2025, 1:42 pm, in reply to "Re: Buying property in the EU Lads"

Allan, I was reading this today and thought you may be interested if you haven't already seen it

https://uk.yahoo.com/finance/news/spain-punished-british-homeowners-pay-080000835.html

Re: Buying property in the EU John S

Posted by Allan Campbell on 28/1/2025, 2:38 pm, in reply to "Re: Buying property in the EU (AllanCampbell)"

Thanks for that.

What can one say. Those Spanish people selling their properties possibly will not get so good prices for them unless others from the EU take by buying more.

If we were not getting on a bit we may have had another few years in France for 15 weeks but with the various changes we are now not going so the E U looses out between £3000 and £4000 each year.

By doing so and COVID etc our bank balance much better.

Allan C

Re: Buying property in the EU John S

Posted by John Shearer on 28/1/2025, 6:54 pm, in reply to "Re: Buying property in the EU John S"

Yes Allan, they may grow to regret their actions as it was the tourists that made their Economy.

Re: France a big problem

Posted by Liz Dance on 28/1/2025, 7:10 pm, in reply to "Re: Buying property in the EU John S"

To be honest this year might be our last driving holidays through Europe, France in particular is a complete nuisance, we are visiting the Luberon later in the year, it has taken us ages to book hotels in France.

Firstly, what are the hotel rooms like, if they are nice, is there a restaurant and if so what is the food like, some of the menus seem to be composed of road kill. Assuming you find a hotel that fits what you are looking for the next question is - is the restaurant open in the night you are staying, imagine you arrive at the hotel, you have done your research, the hotel is in the middle of nowhere the restaurant is closed, after driving for hours to get to the hotel the last thing you want to do is then have to drive mikes for food.

France has been terrible trying to book hotels, we will be driving to the Southern Tyrol later in the year, trying to again book hotels in France has been a nightmare, not much better in Switzerland as they don’t seem to want to take bookings more than 3 months in advance, Germany, for the return route is marginally better, at least the hotels are bootable well in advance with decent rooms and reasonable food, too much hassle much better to be able to book a house somewhere in the UK, be able to get there in a day, no hotels to be booked enroute, only issue is try to avoid travelling on a Friday.

Rant over, but EU will probably not be seeing us next year.

Re: France a big problem. Liz

Posted by Allan Campbell on 28/1/2025, 8:04 pm, in reply to "Re: France a big problem"

Thank goodness never had any problems because using the caravan.

I may be talking cobblers but have you been travelling too far in a day or just getting to your hotel too late?

From what you say it would appear that any hotel should be located where there are restaurants close by so you can have backup.

Of course you could have a good lunch and have something simple in the evening.

As I remember restaurants will close if there are not enough customers. That’s happened three or Four times to us, our learning curve.

You must visit the L’Isle sur la Sorgue on market day it’s also a great Antiques Center and often on TV.

Roussillon and other villages and towns in the area.

There is one town (Roussillon) specialises in pictures and other items made using the coloured sands from the area. We did and wished we had worn old shoes as they got covered with the sands.

Allan C.

Re: France a big problem. Liz

Posted by Maria Ratheram on 28/1/2025, 8:27 pm, in reply to "Re: France a big problem. Liz "

Happy memorys of going to Switzerland we stayed in Geneva not far from the shop CA was there .Got a bus went over border to France no one checked anything went on cable car had hot chocolate and rugs.Seemed to remember a fountain in a lake near centre.

Re: France a big problem. Liz

Posted by Geordieboy ns on 30/1/2025, 11:53 pm, in reply to "Re: France a big problem. Liz "

Maria, lake Geneva in Switzerland has a water spot you mentioned. I did quite a bit of back packing in that lovely area.

Re: France a big problem. Liz

Posted by Maria Ratheram on 31/1/2025, 8:40 am, in reply to "Re: France a big problem. Liz "

Happy days Geordie Boy lovely memories .

Re: France a big problem. Allan / Maria

Posted by Liz Dance on 28/1/2025, 9:27 pm, in reply to "Re: France a big problem. Liz "

Allan to get to the Luberon we will stay 2 nights en route, we cross using Eurotunnel, en route staying in a hotel about 50 mins from the Eurotunnel on the French side, great going out but can’t use that hotel on the way back as closed Sunday nights. Staying in a hotel in Montrachet the next night, can’t stay there on the way back as full.

We know L’isle sur le sorgue very well we will be going to the Sunday Market on both Sundays we are there, we are staying near Apt. Will also be visiting markets in Lourmarin, Forqualguier, and Sault, know the area very well.

Hate staying in towns hence hotels where we need a restaurant for evening meals. It seems that since covid French hotels have got worse.

With regard to long days, the journey to the Southern Tyrol will only involve 2 long days those being day 2 going to the Southern Tyrol, the journey will be about 7 hours with short stops that is going from just outside of Calais to Alsace, return journey Alsace to just near the Eurotunnel. Once in Alsace the journey to Klosters will take about 3.5 hours excluding lunch, then Klosters to the Southern Tyrol not to bad, last time we were there the passes were still closed so had to put the car on the train and go through the tunnel. We will return to the UK via Lake Constance, German part, then Alsace etc.

When we first started doing these drives we were much younger consequently we were able to get to Lake Garda in 2 days, that is driving up hill and down dale through Switzerland, that drive is something we most certainly could not do now, anyway being retired it is not something we need to consider, hence we now take 3 nights to get to the Tyrol, I guess we could use the Brenner but much prefer the scenic routes.

Maria, we haven’t stayed in Lake Geneva but have certainly driven past it, lovely scenery.

Re: France a big problem. Allan / Maria

Posted by Maria Ratheram on 28/1/2025, 10:17 pm, in reply to "Re: France a big problem. Allan / Maria"

Enjoy Liz when the time comes it will be worth it .We are going to Crete not good on my legs somewhere restful sit with a good book heat helps .

Re: France a big problem- Maria

Posted by Liz Dance on 28/1/2025, 10:36 pm, in reply to "Re: France a big problem. Allan / Maria"

Crete is a lovely Island, hope you have a lovely time Maria, we thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Crete, we enjoyed the Plateau of Lasithi, found an amazing church whilst driving round, it was tiny but absolutely full of Icons, must have been worth a fortune, when we were inside a very old lady came, clad all in black, she was tiny but her job was to light candles, poor lady had to climb up and down ladders, my husband bring 6’ 2” gave her a helping hand she was very happy.

Re: France a big problem- Maria

Posted by Maria Ratheram on 29/1/2025, 8:34 am, in reply to "Re: France a big problem- Maria"

Ah that is lovely Liz .They are are good people over the years have been Greece many times.

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[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

Rules! No Party Politics,swearing,derogatory remarks or we will delete. Anyone sharing our content on Face Book must credit 'Hebburn and our Neighbours'.