That’s really funny. We’re selling up in Bristol too and our fallback is Swansea. We’re in Brentry. Where are you?
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Redfield for the past 38 years - I was raised a few miles up the road in South Glos …
If it all works out I will probably rent in Brest initially - which is sort of like a dream version of Bristol …
I like Bristol, but having spent two months in the beautiful Indre before Xmas, we’re just longing for more space and peace. Looking in South Somerset / Devon, but not much around and the prices are silly. France would be ideal - I’m an Irish citizen, which helps - but we’ve some family ties here. Enjoy your adventure. I was just looking at what 150k can buy down towards Bordeaux. Sigh.
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Don’t go to Brest with rose tinted glasses, it has some very “dangerous” parts that you would not want to live in I can tell you. You would be better off just outside the city itself, Guipavas, Guilers, Plouzané, Le Releq,Milizac etc and get a better rental for less money. Parking is a nightmare in the city centre and there are even less now since the tramway came which is useful. My son lived right in the centre opposite the big mall and just up from Coat Gueven and had to park his car a good 15mins walk away and then when he moved up to the top of Yves Collet, he rented a garage across the road as parking was impossible, hence why most of the folks use the tramway now instead of driving. There is a lot of drugs and rough sleepers on the street but there are nice parts and the port de commerce is totally changed since we first came there end of the 80’s but only last week a young girl was murdered, having been at the disco and then found miles away, burned on the Presq’il de Crozon and the suspect dead from suicide. My son was mugged twice in broad daylight in the main high street also when he lived there.
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Swansea? Hmmmmmm… We evacuated from the Rhondda three years ago…
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Am just scouring through the forum to see if our area gets a mention.
We live on the Peninsula at the moment and our tax fonciere is 530€ ish for a 120m2 10 mins walk to beach, village location, usually more expensive being near to amenities.
Quite a nice place to live, we have lived in other areas further south although we are planning another move, house is for sale.
Very popular area for hikers, we have a little gite thats had people from all over the world all year round.
Did you move to the area then ?
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When I started this thread, I had a notion to sell my house in the UK in its pitiful state, but I was persuaded to put in some effort and not make a massive loss…- BIL retired and has building skills and I’m in very good nick for my age, but I hope I never have to manage a renovation project again.
It’s been a “journey” - ongoing - so for my sanity I have had to pencil in 2026 when I collect my state pension - so only six years since my early retirement… I suppose it means at least I get to get a little benefit from my efforts improving the house I’ve lived in various parts of for 40 years,
My original idea was somewhere near Audierne, but the Presqu’ile has so much more coast - and even an Aldi !
If you’re keeping your gite there, I would be very interested when the time comes so I have a qualifying base to apply for a visa and get established and find a house.
I have savings, but probably not enough so need the proceeds from my house sale …
Good luck getting your place up to spec for selling.
I bought this place with a view to renovating but after doing many houses before I got fed up of it and became happy with what we have, although I do like to potter DIY rather than all out renos so do find myself doing the odd job here n there to improve it, many viewing do get the impression it needs too much, depends how you look at it, I’m happy if it has a roof, windows and a toilet.
After travelling all over coastal France we have yet to find better beaches than the one we have in Telgruc, one of our faves is just up the coast near to Morgat.
Audierne area isn’t bad, you could have got a bargain around there until the last few years, still not bad price wise, same on the peninsula but no crazy bargains now.
We may well stay put, its the only place that we have lived that has helped feed us so am a little skeptical about moving although the other places we had were pre booking/airbnb days.
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I’m the same regarding domestic amenities, I’ve cooked in 4 parts of my house over the years and my favourite has to be the fold-down arrangement in the bathroom - I also grew salad sprouts in there - a shame I couldn’t make hydroponic watercress work - and my weekly bath (and laundry) provided grey water for flushing the loo and watering the garden. All I need is a microwave and a kettle.
My priority in France will be a large garden, but though I crave the luxury of not living in a terraced house, I wouldn’t want to be stuck out in the countryside - not only because of cycling distance to the shops, but also to have friendly neighbours…