Listen to French Property Exhibition Interviews

For all that cross-Channel joshing and ribbing, there’s a long-standing love affair between the French and the Brits, and it’s as strong as ever…

To the amusement of the watching world, Britain and France have long held something of a rivalry. But at the same time, the two countries also enjoy a well-established Entente Cordiale. And the latter is thriving, according to French Property News editor, Karen Tait.

Speaking to BBC Radio York from the French Property Exhibition in Harrogate, Karen said: “British people living in France get on very well with their French neighbours. We’ve had so many stories from the readers of French Property News about how kind their French neighbours have been and how they have helped them to settle in. And the French people themselves are pleased to see British people moving to French villages, putting their children into local schools, using the local shops and renovating houses that are tumbling down. So, in actual fact, a lot of British people have injected a breath of life into some French villages where the younger people have moved to the cities to work.”

Starting today (6 May) and running until 8 May, the French Property Exhibition is being held at the Yorkshire Event Centre in Harrogate. If you’re looking to turn your dreams of owning a French property into reality, then this is the place to come for all the information and inspiration you’ll need. And, as Karen points out, the French property bubble hasn’t burst, saying “People are still really keen to move to France. Despite the economic situation, people are still planning on moving there.”

Also interviewed was Alex Dietrich, from property agent Step in France, who pointed out that people are returning to the French property market as it is one of the more stable markets in the world these days. Meanwhile, Duncan Campbell, of overseas financial experts, Siddalls, who adds: “There has been a lot of misrepresentation in the press. People think that people aren’t moving to France because of the exchange rate, but it’s the UK housing market. People who are making a permanent move to France actually want to sell their house and move can’t do so because of the stagnant market. So it’s the UK that’s the problem, not France.”

To listen to Karen, Duncan and Alex, go to…

 www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p002fg04

You can then select listen now’ for the Adam Tomlinson Breakfast Show from 6 May. The interview segments can be found at one hour 18 minutes, and two hours 19 minutes.

For more details and how to register for free tickets visit www.fpeharrogate.com