Home foreclosures or foreclosed homes are homes that have been taken over by the lender when the homeowner defaults in paying back the availed mortgage loan amount. The number of foreclosed homes for sale has rapidly increased in the past couple of years. This is attributable to the buying pattern which depicts that the homeowners take mortgage loan to buy the property and their inability to pay back results in the property being foreclosed by the lender.

For potential buyers and investors, home foreclosures offer tremendous scope for making a profitable investment as the lenders are keen on recovering their loses as soon as possible, and hence sells the foreclosed properties at discounted prices, ranging from 30 to 50 percent lesser than the actual value.

For making the right kind of investment, it is essential to know about various available home foreclosures as a wider choice will help the buyer in making a sound decision. Proper research and adequate knowledge is a pre- requisite for buying foreclosed homes.

Following ways will help in finding home foreclosures:

1.    Internet: Search online for foreclosure listings. Various enterprises dealing in real estate provide comprehensive foreclosure listings for home foreclosures. You can select the desired State and accordingly locate the property that appeals to you. If you are a real estate investor and will be dealing in foreclosed properties often, then subscribing to newsletters is a good idea.

2.    Banks: In majority of the foreclosures that take place, the lender is usually the banks. So inquiring with banks about available foreclosed properties will help you in getting the most updated information.

3.    Governmental agencies: Look up for Housing and Urban Development website to locate foreclosed properties in your State. Websites of various other governmental agencies are also a good source to get information.

4.    County clerk’s office: When the lender forecloses a property, it has to be registered with county clerk’s office. So they have the details about all the foreclosures which have taken place. Contact county clerk’s office to locate available foreclosures.

5.    Newspapers and Magazines: Look up in real estate magazines and advertisements in newspapers to know about current foreclosures.

6.    Find a realtor: Realtor who has good experience of dealing in foreclosed properties will be the best source for getting the latest information on available foreclosures. Further, he will also be able to guide you on how to go about with purchasing the foreclosed property.

Frequently Asked Questions relating to the role of estate agents in UK property sales. 

What is an Estate Agent?

The term estate agent describes a person or group who is employed to assist with the buying, selling or rental of a property.  The majority of property transactions conducted in the UK are made via estate agencies.

What do Estate Agents do?

Typically estate agents will offer a variety of services relating to the selling of a property.  Most estate agents will begin by valuing the home being sold.  After setting a selling price estate agents will advertise the property for sale.  This advertising will take various forms from traditional media such as newspapers and magazines to other sources including the internet.  A third service offered by estate agents is to arrange viewings of the home by prospective buyers.

What fees do Estate Agents charge?

Traditionally estate agents set their fees at a percentage of the value of the property being sold.  Most estate agents will charge between 1-3% of the selling price of the property.  Therefore for a home being sold for £100,000 the estate agents fee will be in the region of £1000 to £3000.  On the other hand a property being sold for a £1 million will incur estate agency fees of £10000 to £30000.

In recent years a different type of estate agency known as fixed fee estate agents has emerged.  Fixed fee estate agents will charge the same fee whatever the value of the property being sold.  Many home sellers find that with a fixed fee estate agent they can make a significant saving.

Are there any alternatives to Estate Agents?

 Although most property sales are made via estate agents there are other options.  An increasing number of home sellers attempt to save money and avoid estate agency fees by selling their home independently.  There are a number of websites that allow home owners to advertise their property for sale online.  A further alternative to estate agents is property auctions.  There has also been an increase in this type of property sale in recent years.  However property sold at auction tends to be homes that have either been repossessed or are in need of significant renovation.

 How are Estate Agents regulated?

 UK estate agents are not directly regulated although they are expected to comply with the governments Estate Agency Act.  Many estate agents choose to become a member of a professional body such as the National Association of Estate Agents or the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors although there is no legal requirement to do so.  An Ombudsman of Estate Agents has been set up to help settle disputes between estate agencies and their clients.

The process of trying to prevent a home foreclosure occurring, before the process starts, is called loss mitigation. The process is generally led by an employee or a representative of the lien holder. Alternatively, it can be led by a third party working in the best interest of the home owner.

A third party is often the best choice to handle a loss mitigation process, with relevant experience and an ability to deal impersonally and unemotionally with the lender. The process of loss mitigation was created and popularized in a collaborative effort of the federal government and the mortgage industry. The aim of the program was to help homeowners facing the loss of their homes because of delinquent and defaulted payments. The role of a professional loss mitigation counselor or company is to work with homeowners and the lender, acting as a go-between, to find a viable alternative to home foreclosure.

There are several options available to the homeowner with regard to loss mitigation, including:

. Deeds-in-lieu

. Reinstatement quotes

. Forbearance Programs

. Repayment Plans

. Pay-offs

. Mortgage or note modification agreement

. Redemption calculating

. Assumptions of the loan

. Waivers of Redemption

. Quitclaim Deeds

. Affidavits of Abandonment

. Pre-foreclosure short sales

In a typical scenario, the main focus should ideally be to keep the owner in the home. A loss mitigation counselor would initially seek to try and set up a loan modification plan or work out some sort of realistic repayment plan for the homeowner, which would be agreeable to the lender. A loan modification attempt may include trying to arrange for a partial payment of the arrears and then getting an extension on the loan term, to enable the homeowner to pay off the remainder of the default amount. In negotiating repayment plans, it is essential to come up with a realistic one considering the ability of the homeowner to successfully repay the delinquent amount.

A short sale is a good option if the homeowner does not have enough equity for a refinance or a loan modification. The homeowner would simply have to sell the property, even if the price is not enough to cover the outstanding dues on the mortgage. Some professionals may be able to convince the lender to waive the deficiency amount against the homeowner and take the short sale amount as a full payment. In a pre-foreclosure, the borrower has enough equity and can sell the property if the lender agrees to accept the rest of the balance owed, from the sale price. A deed in Lieu is another option to be considered for loss mitigation. The borrower in default, would voluntarily release the home and return it to the lender. This is often the last ditch option, if the homeowner wants to avoid foreclosure. If the homeowner employs the services of a professional loss mitigation company, they handle all the documentation necessary during the process, including such things as any additional tax or the title information and the filing of final documents.

If you are looking for a new home, have you thought about buying one of the many bank home foreclosures that are for sale? Purchasing a foreclosure property through a bank sale or auction is a great way to buy a home for only a fraction of what you would have paid if you had tried to buy the same house when it was still on the real estate market.

Saving money on your purchase is one reason that choosing to buy bank home foreclosures is a good idea. One of the other benefits to buying this real estate is the profit that can be had later if you decide to sell the home. In fact, this is how many real estate developers and investors built their wealthy portfolios: purchasing foreclosed upon property at the discounted price, fixing it up, and then selling it at the current market rate. This practice is called “house flipping,” and it was once quite a good way to earn extra money, (for some people it still is).



One of the biggest benefits of buying bank home foreclosures is the boon that it has on your credit and equity ratings. Owning property is very important when it comes to an individual’s portfolio and purchasing a home at the foreclosure rate is a good way to start building that portfolio. It also helps you look good to future lenders, should you ever need to borrow money.

The fact is that bank home foreclosures can be purchased at as much as forty percent less than the current market value of the home. This helps people who might be too cash poor to get into a home quickly and start building their credit and equity ratings while also giving them the pride and status that comes from owning property.

Foreclosure filings were reported on 2.3 million U.S. properties in 2008, an increase of 81 percent from 2007 and up 225 percent from 2006, according to the RealtyTrac U.S. Foreclosure Market Report released January 15, 2009. The soaring number of forclosures have sent ripples through the housing and banking industry with the affects being felt by millions.

According to RealtyTrac, California, Florida, Arizona posted the highest 2008 foreclosure totals. A total of 523,624 California properties received a foreclosure filing in 2008, the nation’s highest state total. Foreclosure activity in the state increased nearly 110 percent from 2007 and nearly 498 percent from 2006. With 385,309 properties receiving a foreclosure filing in 2008, Florida documented the second highest state total. Florida foreclosure activity increased 133 percent from 2007 and nearly 412 percent from 2006. Arizona’s 2008 total of 116,911 properties receiving a foreclosure filing was third highest among the states. Foreclosure activity in Arizona increased 203 percent from 2007 and 655 percent from 2006. Other states with Top 10 totals for 2008 were Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Texas, Georgia, Nevada and New Jersey.

With mounting job losses and a weakening economy, forclosures and mortgage delinquencies are expected to continue to rise. The nation’s unemployment rate shot up at the end of the year, reaching 7.2 percent in December — its highest level since early 1993, according to a Labor Department report release January 9, 2009. That puts U.S. job losses at 2.6 million for 2008.

However, with all this doom and gloom in the housing market, there is a glimmer of hope for senior homeowners 62 years of age and older. That hope comes in the form of a HUD Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) or Reverse Mortgage. Those who have obtained a reverse mortgage need not be concerned with the increasing forclosure rates and whether or not they can make their mortgage payments. With a HECM reverse mortgage, there are no monthly payments required. 

Borrowers remain in their homes for life and never have to worry about making a mortgage payment again. All they need to do is keep the property in good repair, pay their property taxes and keep their homeowners insurance current and paid. 

For seniors who currently do not have a reverse mortgage, now may be the time to explore the option. It does not matter if a senior is currently late on their mortgage. They may still qualify for a reverse mortgage. To qualify all borrowers on title must be 62 years or older, occupy the property as their primary residence and not currently be in a bankruptcy. That’s it! 

MLS Reverse Mortgage has helped save several seniors who were months away from losing their homes. 

So, in these tough economic times, there is still hope for seniors looking for mortgage payment relief or cash out to enjoy life’s pleasures.

Learn more online: http://www.mlsreversemortgage.com

It has been a dismal year for house prices, according to the Global Property Guide’s latest survey of publicly-available house-price time-series for the year 2008. And seen from a global perspective, the downturn is still accelerating.

The collapse of the world’s housing markets can be seen from three points of view, and unfortunately, all of them reinforce the bad news.

During 2008, the downward price momentum accelerated, as compared to 2007.

Only 2 countries saw positive momentum in 2008 (a slower downward house price movement than last year, or faster upward movement), while 28 countries saw their housing market momentum deteriorating, compared to the previous year. The two countries with a positive momentum were Germany and Switzerland.



During 2008, house prices fell in most countries.

During 2008 only 8 out of 32 countries saw house prices rise, after adjustment for inflation, while 20 countries experienced house price falls.

In contrast, during the year 2007, the downturn was just beginning, and only 6 countries saw house prices fall, while 24 countries saw house prices rise (all figures inflation-adjusted).

Many house-price falls during 2008 were extremely severe. Countries with house price falls of over 10% during 2008 were Latvia (Riga) (37%), Lithuania (Vilnius) (27%), the US (20%), the UK (18%), Iceland (16%), Ireland (12%), and the Ukraine (Kiev) (12%) (all figures inflation-adjusted).

During the final quarter (Q4) of 2008, the downward price momentum significantly accelerated, as compared to Q3, suggesting that the situation is deteriorating.

During 2008’s final quarter, 9 countries saw house price falls of 5% or more during just that quarter. Price drops of more than 10% during this single quarter occurred in three countries – in Latvia (Riga), which saw price falls of 15%, in Ukraine (Kiev) (13%), and in Hong Kong (15%). Other countries with Q4 house-price falls of 5% and over, included the UAE (8%), Lithuania (7%), Iceland (7%), Singapore (6%), Bulgaria (5%), and the UK (5%) (all figures inflation-adjusted, except UAE).

These price falls were much greater than during the previous quarter, Q3. During that previous quarter, only two countries experienced house-price falls (inflation-adjusted) of 5% or more, and no countries experienced house-price falls of more than 10%.

REGIONAL SURVEY BY GLOBAL PROPERTY GUIDE

Europe has major problems

The Baltic countries of Latvia and Lithuania suffered the hardest price falls both in nominal and real terms. In Riga, Latvia, the average price of standard-type apartments plunged 37% during 2008. Prices have been going down in Latvia since late 2007, after a remarkable increase of about 70% in 2006. The most alarming decline took place in the 4th quarter, when prices declined by 15%, the steepest quarterly drop in real terms in any country. These price falls were triggered by increased interest rates, and by the tightened credit rules which Latvia imposed in 2007.

Average prices of apartments in Vilnius, Lithuania, fell by 27% during 2008. House prices started slowing in mid-2007, and crashed in early 2008.

House prices in the UK plummeted by 18% in 2008. Although mortgage interest rates dropped slightly, to 4.48% in December 2008, the number of loan approvals for house purchases fell 58% in 2008.

There is serious trouble in Iceland (house price fall of 16% during 2008), Ireland (12%), Ukraine (12%), Malta (9%), Portugal (8%), France (8%) Finland (7%), Norway (6%) and in Spain (6%).

North America’s woes

In the US, the centre of the global financial crisis, in 2008 house prices fell 20% according to the Case-Shiller house price index, which emphasizes urban areas. OFHEO and FHFB figures, which are associated with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans and have somewhat lost credibility, suggest a smaller decline of 6% and 3% respectively, during 2008. The US government recently approved a $ 787 billion economic stimulus package, of which $275 billion will be allocated to rescue the ailing housing market.

Canada has been much less affected than the US.

Pacific heads down

Both Australia and New Zealand saw house price declines during 2008, of 7% and 8% respectively.

Asia no longer insulated

Housing markets in Asia have not been insulated. Singapore, Hong Kong and Philippines recorded house price falls during 2008.

Singapore’s private residential prices dropped 9% during 2008, in sharp contrast to the 26% price increase of experienced during 2007. The developed countries’ economic troubles adversely affected Singapore’s exports, and during 2008, output in the manufacturing sector, particularly of electronics, precision engineering and chemicals, shrank by 10.7%. Singapore was officially in recession in Q3 2008.

Hong Kong has been badly hit by the crisis. House prices were down by an average of 6% in 2008. But during the last quarter, Hong Kong experienced a severe decline in prices of 14%.

In Makati, Philippines, prime 3-bedroom condominium prices fell by 2% during 2008, after an 11% price rise during 2007. Nevertheless construction of high-rise residential buildings continues, with residential condominium stock rising by 7% during 2008, according to Colliers Philippines.

Japan recorded modest Tokyo condominium price rises of 1.2% during 2008. On the other hand, land prices in Japan’s six major cities fell by 6% y-o-y to Sep-2008.

In Shanghai, China, house price rises slowed to 5% y-o-y by the end of 2008, after peaking at 30% y-o-y to May 2008. However Shanghai is likely to be somewhat exceptional, and Xinhua News Agency reported house prices declines in 70 major cities during 2008. Shenzhen suffered the hardest fall, with prices down by 18% during 2008

UAE on shaky ground

In Dubai, UAE, despite the bleak global picture, saw surprisingly large dwelling price rises of 41% during 2008. However during the year’s final quarter, prices fell by 8% in nominal terms. This downturn is attributable to strongly tightening lending criteria, an increase in interest rates, multiple layoffs, and alarm among buyers.

Forecast: No recovery in 2009

History suggests that in a crash, housing markets take many years from peak year to full recovery. In view of this and of the pessimistic IMF forecast for the global economy, no real recovery is likely in the global housing markets this year.

The IMF has predicted that the world economy will grow by 0.5% in 2009, the lowest level in 60 years. GDP in advanced economies is expected to decline by 2% during 2009. The United Kingdom and Japan will be hit the hardest. Output in the UK may contract by 2.8%, while Japan’s may fall by 2.6%.

Growth in emerging economies is expected to slow to 3.3% in 2009, down from 6.3% in 2008. Developing Asia is forecast to be the least affected, with growth of 5.5%. China’s economy is predicted grow by 6.7% in 2009, but this is a substantial decline from 9% growth during 2008.

We cannot be optimistic for five reasons:

• Valuations still clearly remain stretched in most countries, in terms of price/rent ratios.

• Economic growth is slowing or negative in many countries, which is negative for housing values.

• There are no signs that banks are becoming more willing to lend.

• The unprecedented nature of the financial system’s collapse has greatly added to the difficulties facing the world’s housing markets.

• Some national governments are experiencing difficulty in refinancing their national debt, putting their currencies under pressure. Currency instability is likely to aggravate housing sector problems in countries where many loans were taken out in a foreign currency.

The positive news is that the US government and several others are acting with vigour, as has the IMF. Nevertheless, there is a long tough road ahead.

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Description of the Global Property Guide:

The Global Property Guide (http://www.globalpropertyguide.com) is an on-line property research house, specializing in analyzing residential property valuations around the world.

Terms of Use:

On-line newspapers, magazines, sites, etc wishing to use material from this press release MUST provide a clickable link to www.globalpropertyguide.com Sites and newspapers found not to be providing a link to us will be removed from our press list.

Requests for Comments:

Requests for comments are best made by telephone to +(63) 917 321 7073. UK-based callers should telephone before lunchtime. Our local time is Hong Kong time, i.e., standard time + 8.00

Economics Team:

Prince Christian Cruz, Senior Economist

Phone: (+632) 750 0560

Email: prince@globalpropertyguide.com

Publisher and Strategist:

Matthew Montagu-Pollock

Phone: (+632) 867 4220

Cell: (+63) 917 321 7073

Email: editor@globalpropertyguide.com

Address:

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Opening an office in London can be a hugely beneficial step for a company to take. However, before you can begin reaping the benefits that the capital has to offer, you need to find new premises. In order to ascertain whether a commercial property in London is suitable or not, you will need to ask yourself a few pertinent questions.

The first consideration should focus around the sort of property you require and its location. Would it best to have the premises nearer to the business’s employees, its suppliers or its customers? Alternatively, it may be more important to have the business located close to a transport network, such as rail or road systems. And, importantly, the premises have to be within your budget.

Should you manage to find a commercial property in London that is suitable, it may be prudent to approach your bank manager or at least speak to the firm’s accountant to ascertain the impact that the new premises will have on the company’s budget. Next you will need to negotiate with the landlord to get rental terms that are favourable to you – often a difficult and frustrating process.

On the other hand, you may feel it better to place the whole procedure in the hands of a property expert. A commercial estate agent will have a great deal of experience in sourcing available commercial property in London. Whilst you will have to pay for their services, it is worth bearing in mind that mistakes with property can be extremely costly and have even in some cases resulted in bankruptcy.

A commercial property agent will have resources available that you will not, such as a database of existing and up-and-coming commercial properties in London. They can also help you organise the move within the parameters of your budget, taking into account things that you may have overlooked. Factors such as producing effective relocation plans, choosing suppliers during and after the move and a constant budget report can all be implemented by the appointed relocations manager and contribute towards a smooth and efficient process. A commercial agent can also take care of things like surveyors and solicitors and also ensure that the contract you sign provides you with favourable terms, taking into account factors such as the rent and possible increases, the length of the lease and how easy it is to give it up, to whom the responsibility of insurance falls, who is liable for repairs, service charges, financial guarantees and lease protection. These are all commitments that you can expect to find in an agreement, but a commercial property agent will be able to negotiate terms on your behalf that you may not be able to.

Renting a commercial property in London generally heralds a new beginning for most businesses; to ensure that your rental goes as smoothly as possible and does not affect the operation of the company, it would be prudent to research just what a commercial property estate agent in London can offer you.

st phrase in the English Language right now is home foreclosure. A home is something that people have worked a long time to get, and the possibility of having that asset taken away by foreclosure is unthinkable.

Have you had a hard time trying to keep your head above water? Perhaps you have been slipping on your mortgage payments. Have you been getting telephone calls from your lenders asking you to call them?

If you think your home is headed for the foreclosure list, here are a few things you will want to do. First of all, do not ignore the phone calls or letters from your mortgage company. Your silence will be deafening to them, and indicate to them that you do not want to get things worked out peaceably.

If you are unable to make your mortgage payments, and you do not want your home to go into foreclosure, then there are steps you must take right now. Do not ignore the problem. The further behind you fall in your mortgage payments, the harder it will be to have your loan reinstated and the more likely it will be that you will lose your house.

As soon as you know you have a problem, call your lender immediately in an effort to avoid home foreclosure. Believe it or not, lenders do not want your house. Options are available to help borrowers when they are having financial difficulties.

Open all mail from your lender and respond to it. The first notice you receive from your lender will be filled with information about foreclosure prevention and will give you options as to how you can weather some financial crises. Later mail may include precise notice of impending legal action. The failure to open this mail will be no excuse for you in foreclosure court.

Know your mortgage rights. It would be a good idea to find your loan documents and read them through with a fine-tooth comb so, in the event that you cannot make a payment, you will know what your lender may be able to do. Learn about the foreclosure laws as well as the time frames in your state. The laws vary from state to state.

Believe it or not, the foreclosure laws are actually on your side as much as they are on the lender’s side. But most consumers do not know this, and your mortgage lender is actually counting on the fact that you do not know your rights when it comes to foreclosure. You DO have options, but the ball is entirely in YOUR court to exercise those options, since your mortgage lender is almost certainly not going to make you aware of them.

Your home is a valuable asset and you must do everything you can so that it does not go into foreclosure. Take the time and effort that is needed to discover the options you have and get them started today. The problem is not going to go away by itself, so the sooner you get started, the better off you are going to be.

A financial crisis can confront a person at any time during their lives. When you are young and earning, you possess the mental and physical capacity to bounce back in spite of major setbacks. However, old age can be a different story, especially after retirement from active service. If you have not saved for the rainy days, or in case the savings do not prove to be enough for a financial emergency, it can be a major crisis for an aged person. An asset like your own home, can at that time, prove to be a major blessing and help you arrange for finances when you need it the most. A reverse mortgage on your home after the age of sixty two can help you deal with any financial requirement with dignity and self respect. Citizens of the United States of America have greatly benefited from the concept of reverse mortgage for raising funds when required.

A Florida reverse mortgage would allow a home owner to mortgage their property to a third party or lending institution in lieu of a lump sum of money, which is calculated on the basis of the equity of the property. The main difference between reverse mortgage and any ordinary mortgage is that, the ownership continues to remain with the original owner and he can continue to reside in the property till the time of his death. Also, the borrower is not expected to repay his debt during his lifetime, as long as he continues to pay the house taxes and other costs associated with the property. The loan is also not a burden on the heirs of the borrower, as the property is sold off by the lender and once the mortgage has been repaid the heirs can get access to the remaining amount received from the sale of the house.

In case a home owner decides to sell off the property that has been put up for a Florida reverse mortgage, he can do so, provided he first pays off the loan amount to the lending agency before claiming any money from the sale of the house. A reverse mortgage, therefore, is the most dignified manner in which a property owner, who is already retired and beyond the age of sixty two can raise money in times of need. The money can be paid to the borrower either as a lump sum amount or in small monthly installments; the choice depends on the borrower and his financial requirements.

A reverse mortgage can prevent you from asking for financial help in times of emergency from any family or friend and be self sufficient till the very end. It is one of the best methods to utilize your property, while raising money against it at the same time, as it allows you to continue to reside in the same house that has been put up for mortgage. However, if you are seriously considering a reverse mortgage, it might be good idea to seek the advice of a financial consultant before you finalize any deal.

Buying a property in France has been an attractive option for some time now, particularly amongst the English but also to a lesser extent the Americans, Dutch, Germans and others. But the influx of foreign buyers has been huge (around 100,000 each year) so have all the bargains been bought up or is there still cheap French property for sale?

The answer you get will depend on who you talk to and where in France you are. Talk to a property agent from anywhere on the south coast and they’ll probably tell you that cheap French property is a thing of the past. Talk to a farmer from the centre of the country and he’ll tell you the same.

The thing is, it’s a question of perspective. The agent probably mostly sees people looking for somewhere with sea views or maybe just a short walk from the beach. That’s going to be expensive. Yet friends of mine bought a two bedroom town house not 15 minutes from the south coast at a bargain price just last year. It needs a bit of work but it suits them perfectly.

Same story with the farmer. Ask him if he knows of any cheap French property for sale and he’ll shake his head. He remembers when these houses were much cheaper and might blame the influx of foreign buyers for recent rises. Yet if you come from the south east of England, for example, you’ll see comparable properties that in the UK would cost you four times as much.

The truth of the matter is that certainly prices for French property have risen far more than just inflation. In some areas houses haven’t just doubled or tripled but are many times what they were a decade ago. However, the explosive growth has now stopped and France still offers some great bargains whether you’re looking for investment, a holiday home or a permanent move.

If you pick on the so-called hot spots like the Dordogne, Provence or the Alps you’ll struggle. These places have always been pricey – even for the French. Anywhere by the sea is a similar story – but that’s the same in any country in the world that I can think of!

Go a bit inland though, to the less populated areas, and you’ll certainly find bargains. France has been suffering the loss of rural population for years and still is to some extent. The work is in the big towns and cities so that’s where many people have moved. If you can work from home, or if you’re retiring to France, then you’ll find many a picturesque village with very attractive and affordable property.

So if you hear people saying there’s no more cheap French property for sale, take it with a pinch of salt. It’s not as easy to find as a decade ago, maybe, but there are still bargains to be had. Come over here and look in the local agent’s windows, the French agents in the small towns. You’ll be amazed what you can find.