Basque Coast Buyers: From Surf Pads to Family Villas
I have been giving some thought to the different profiles of expats and international visitors who holiday on the Basque Coast, and then make it more permanent by buying a slice of it!
Looking back through the years, the clients wanting to buy a second home in Basque Country are made up of three main categories:
- Looking for a surf based/pied a terre that is easy to lock up and leave (with one or two bedrooms).
- They generally like to buy furnished units within walking distance of a beach or the town centre and they tend to use the property for long weekends outside of the holiday season.
- These people have often had so many family holidays along the Basque coast, they know exactly which location they would like and are ready to invest in their own place and use it for family and friends.
- They usually prefer villas with pools, sufficient land and within easy range of the beaches or a village.
- No more than 40 minutes inland. These families tend to be sporty and enjoy outdoor life.
Family Testimonial: "We decided we would love to have a holiday home... for future vacations with our family. Neither of us spoke French... I was very fortunate to get introduced to Julia. From our first meeting she impressed us with her patience, knowledge and energy. Bank a/cs had to be opened, solicitors engaged, planning application made, builders engaged... This was all done by Julia, who had gained our total confidence and trust. She sourced our property, managed its renovation and upgraded the property to a very high standard. This has been our summer home since 2013 and we love it."
Mr & Mrs O'Brien
- Want something central, everything by foot and a base for golf/spa time.
- They like spacious places and some outside space for breakfast and evening drinks, yet are easy to pack up and leave.
- They are at that stage in life where they have more free time to get down to SW France, enjoy the amazing choice of restaurants and golf courses and can make use of the fantastic public transport.
Whatever the profile, they all tend to have the same reasons for choosing Beyond Biarritz to help them achieve their goal of buying a home in SW France.
Most people know exactly where they want to be and have usually made the first steps by searching the web for estate agents. Others haven’t got that far and prefer to have their hand held from the outset with guidance from A to Z.
In France, agents don’t give the exact location of properties until you visit them. This somewhat restricts progress and can also waste valuable time. You basically have to get on a plane to check the location and if it’s wrong, you’ve wasted time and money.
Another potential issue is not getting a response to enquiries you send to estate agents. Sometimes it is the language barrier and sometimes they can lack proactivity. Either way, things suddenly come to a standstill.
This tends to be the point at which people contact me at Beyond Biarritz for help!
Buying a property in one’s own country is already a stressful process. Buying abroad in a different language and culture is another story and people often don’t know where to start or who to trust.
My aim is to relieve you of the stress, save precious time and money and be a trusted guide working for you throughout the process and beyond.
Read Julia's Guide to Buying Property in France
There are many moving parts throughout the purchase and legal tape to overcome. I think we all know France wins first prize when it comes to bureaucracy and it can be very challenging when you don’t understand the language and regulations.
All my clients are time poor and lack local knowledge. This is where Beyond Biarritz can really add value. Not just saving time and money but opening the door to a wealth of local artisans, banks, legal teams, maintenance agents, architects etc. The list is endless and all these people have been tried and tested over the years.
My role is solely built through trust and reliability. I will always go the extra mile to ensure that each client understands the process, feels comfortable and can actually enjoy the experience.
I don’t just hang up my coat when the purchase is done! Utilities, internet, insurance and even deliveries are organised for you. Get in touch today to organise a free consultation.
