Hi Graham (and all)
I just joined, so hopefully this ‘first’ post is in the right place - I am an Aussie moving to France, after all, and my wife is Scottish.
Loving the site - still lots to read - hence why I joined.
After selling some land in Oz, we had enough to put a decent deposit on a house here - then get a mortgage
to pay off for the next 15-20years, or buy overseas and chill.
We purchased a village house in Olonzac last year, but not quite made the ‘permanent’ move yet. Love the hot summers and cool/mild winters of the region.
I’m retired (Navy pension/super), and my wife is still working. We flit over regularly, and I dare say will continue until she retires. As no doubt you know, if I’m here alone - even fully owning a house - I’m still a 90-day tourist.
It seems the biggest bugbear preventing people from buying overseas is the language barrier. They often ask can I speak French. “I know words, but can’t put a sentence together yet.” 
I’ll get there,
Anyway, just sending out a ‘wave’ and keen to read about others planning, or have already done, the same thing.
Cheers