newsletter 101

This is newsletter number 101 about life, living in France and our personal experiences over the last 16 years bringing up our family in a French village. perhaps "101" is a good number - we are just beginning to learn a little.



There are over 1,000 articles in our archives at...



http://francevoila.com/archives.html




http://francevoila.com/archives.html



Our holiday/vacation rental site is at...



http://rentalsfrance.com/



http://rentalsfrance.com/



we advertise holiday villa and gite rentals in most parts of France, established in 1998 we are one of the most prominent and successful villa rentals sites on the Internet - and aim to stay that way.



Do browse through our websites and please use the advertising links.






Red Spiders, Hospitals and Hoopoes,



It has been an interesting week - among many other things : we have been plagued by itchy red spiders in our house, my Mother has had a hip operation in the local hospital and I just spent 20 minutes watching a hoopoe a few feet away from me in our garden.



We all came out in what looked like flea bites last week - thoroughly embarrassed we went to the doctor to be told we have been bitten by microscopic spiders from the vineyards - it is not unusual and it explains two instances of guests claiming we had given them fleas over the six years - so the probability of getting these pesky things would be about one in 250 - painting each other from neck to toe in gunge was hilarious - I am still scratching though so stay away.



After 9 months waiting in vain just for a scan in the UK, my Mother came to live with us in France and has had a hip replacement operation after waiting 6 weeks. Says it all really.



I remember the national papers reporting on the sighting of a hoopoe in the UK once - common as pigeons here it seems - but one just came to eat a load of stuff in the garden only a few feet away - weird and wonderful birds, I hope their main diet is minute red spiders



More this week about property buying and renting in France - I am going to spin off another newsletter just about property so I can write more about other things. If you want to hear about any subject please write to me, I will try to help, or comment.



tony@frepro.com



Tony



==



My Mum's fine - standing up after 2 days, with no pain



=======



In this weeks issue



1. Renting Out Unfurnished Property in France

2. How Long Do I Wait For Planning Permission

3. How Can I Get Finance

4. Accurate Translations Service

5. A readers Good Experience with Leasebacks

6. Which Locations are the Warmest in Winter

7. Handicapped People in France

8. Nice is a Good Place for Wheelchairs




=======



1. Renting Out Unfurnished Property in France



Dear Tony,



For a couple of years I am a subscriber to your francevoila website now and very much appreciate what you come up with as for information on all sorts of subjects. I would like to come to you with the following:



I am a Dutch lady living in Sydney, Australia. I bought a nice apartment in 2002 in the heart of Montpellier, where my sister used to live. I have had it painted and rented out since June 2003, having arranged a managing contract with the real estate agent. Since mid last year he sold his company. In the meantime the first locateur has left and is replaced by somebody else. The apartment is rented out unfurnished.




To read the rest of this article, please go to



http://www.fblog.com/?q=node/view/168



Renting Out Unfurnished Property in France




=======



2. How Long Do I Wait For Planning Permission



We have applied for planning permission on a property we are currently buying in the Pyrenees, permission has been passed by the mayor and has now gone to the DDE would you know how long this usually takes before we could expect to hear anything.




To read the rest of this article, please go to



http://www.fblog.com/?q=node/view/167



How Long Do I Wait For Planning Permission




=======



3. How Can I Get Finance



Hi Tony



I'm looking to relocate to the South of France and I am looking to purchase perhaps 3 small properties that could be let. I am currently self employed and have trouble showing healthy profits due to a healthy disregard for the tax man. I have been searching for a way of funding these properties and keep coming up empty. I understand that there is no such thing as self-cert mortgages but is there a way of buying properties via a well-written business plan where ones earnings are not taken into account? Or perhaps some kind of buy-to-let self funding vehicle?




To read the rest of this article, please go to



http://www.fblog.com/?q=node/view/166



How Can I Get Finance




=======



4. Accurate Translations Service



Hi Tony;

I read about one of your reader´s comments on getting accurate translations done.



We know all about the frustrations of this and so recently invested (quite costly) in a program that translates up to 10 languages including SWEDISH! We also had to get an international key board to handle the differences in the alphabets.



We are thinking of offering a translation service at a small cost. It is a matter of actually typing in the language to be translated and then running the program.




To read the rest of this article, please go to



http://www.fblog.com/?q=node/view/165



Accurate Translations Service




=======



5. A readers Good Experience with Leasebacks



===



Tony



I have been reading with interest over the last couple of years the
enquiries and replies about leaseback that you have been receiving. I think
two matters are of particular importance:




the possibility that a commercial bail may be automatically renewed on
expirey unless the owner gives prompt notice to the commercial lessee - the
notice requirements should be stated in the bail; and



whether compensation is payable to the commercial lessee on termination of
the bail. If so, again this should be set out in the bail.



We own a leaseback property in the Alps which has three years left on the
bail.




To read the rest of this article, please go to



http://www.fblog.com/?q=node/view/164



A readers Good Experience with Leasebacks




=======



6. Which Locations are the Warmest in Winter



Tony,



Your honest comments on French matters for those contemplating taking up residence in France are very much appreciated.



Now, when house hunting one can find suitable properties/environment by visiting regions, but lovely in June could be unbearable in January. And vice-versa dependent on individual preference. Therefore, would you be brutally truthful on the following, please. Which locations are the warmest in Winter,




To read the rest of this article, please go to



http://www.fblog.com/?q=node/view/163



Which Locations are the Warmest in Winter




=======



7. Handicapped People in France



Hi Tony



I am an expat brit living here in France for more than 20 years, I am now handicapped at. 80%,trying to find a job is almost impossible. There are more people working to try to find handicapped people jobs than there are handicapped people.




To read the rest of this article, please go to



http://www.fblog.com/?q=node/view/162



Handicapped People in France




=======



8. Nice is a Good Place for Wheelchairs



Tony

You mentioned in one of your columns that in 16 years you have never gotten any feedback from someone in a wheelchair about the accessibility of accommodations in France.



I have been traveling to the South of France for over 30 years in a wheelchair. I have found it to be very accessible. In particular Nice.




To read the rest of this article, please go to



http://www.fblog.com/?q=node/view/161



Nice is a Good Place for Wheelchairs




=======