Does France really welcome foreign investment in real estate?

[nmb]

While France is by far and away the biggest tourist destination in Europe you have to wonder whether the country actually welcomes foreign investment in real estate. There are various restrictions on foreign ownership, a whole array of taxes and many who have looked at investing in France have been ground down by the red tape.

What is your experience of investing in the French property market?

 

[appletrees12]

The estate agents certainly welcome foreign investors! In South of France i.e. Cote d'Azur, Alpes Maritimes, the high end properties mostly sell to foreigners. However the French expect foreigners to speak French - unlike in Spain - where a lot of English is spoken.

 

[nmb]

I don’t think it is too much to expect those moving to France from other areas of the world to learn the local language? UK investors are often seen as lazy when it comes to learning second languages although the vast majority of countries do speak English. However, France does seem to be one of the more prominent countries demanding that overseas investors learn the language.