Despite the price rises of the pandemic era, France remains one of the richest hunting grounds for bargains. Alongside its accessibility, wonderful scenery and laid-back lifestyle you can just get so much more land or space than you can in the UK.
Some further good news for those seeking cheap property in France. Over the past three years, properties have gone up by an average of 23%, according to the national statistics bureau Insee. But the Fédération Nationale de l'Immobilier (FNAIM) predicts a 5% average decline in 2023.
So, where best to look for cheap houses for sale in France?
Limousin
The rural centre of France offers some of the best bargains in the country and you don’t get much more central than the Limousin. It’s very popular for people buying a fishing lake, a rustic home to go off-grid or enough land to keep horses.
You can find value for money but in this vast dairy farming area but how far do you have to travel to the nearest airport? There is a reason why many homes are less than €100,000.
Prices are higher in the Haute-Vienne if you are close to Limoges and its airport but in Creuse you can get a home for €50,000 or €60,000 (within an hour of the airport), or a five-bedroom, three-bath townhouse in a pretty medieval town for €109,000. It could be a boutique hotel!
Deux-Sevres
More affordable than the popular Charente is Deux-Sevres (home to around 3,282 Britons). They clearly know a thing or two about cheap property in France. Like the nearby Charente in western France, it’s a rural department and suits those who seek a very quiet pace of life. Its proximity to the Loire valley [north of it] may also be a pull.
In our Top 10 Best Places to Buy Abroad 2023, one of the top five French locations was the market town of Sauze-Vaussais in Deux-Sevres. You can buy a four-bedroom stone house there for €39,000! Or a pretty six-bedroom house (renovated) with change from €200,000 – no wonder it’s so popular.
Read more
- Top 10 Places to Buy Abroad 2023
- Relocating to France
- How much does it cost to buy a second home in France?
Looking for a cheap property for sale in France by the sea? Try Brittany or the Languedoc.
Brittany
A region of north-west France defined by its coastline, Brittany is a wonderful region of rugged bays, and sandy beaches: a bit like Cornwall with more sun but lower property prices.
The average property price in Brittany is around €150,000 - not bad for a home close to the beach? But there’s an awful lot of choice if you budget is only €100,000. Or you can find a fixer-upper for less than €50k, like this detached village house for €45,000.
Look away from the hot spots of St Malo of the Gulf of Morhiban and go an hour inland to find detached two-bedroom houses for less than €100,000 - but do consider access to ferry routes when searching locations.
Languedoc
The Languedoc is the more affordable past of France’s southern coast with beaches, national park, medieval castles and mountains, it offers something for everyone – and a superb climate.
For those buyers who want a cheap property near the coast look to the Pyrenees-Orientales for seaside resorts with a mountainous backdrop and a Catalan twist. Many are popular with the French but like the small but vibrant resort of Canet-en-Rossillion near Perpignan you can get an one-bedroom apartment for €86,400 five minutes from the sandy beach.
Other places to check out for a cheap property in France?
In the Dordogne, in the agricultural areas around Nontron - rolling hills, forests and plenty of farmhouses - you can find a good choice of homes with a budget of €100,000. Ruffec in the Charente is also a favourite on our most searched-for locations.
