Finding a property in France can take a long time not only because there is so much too choose from, but also because the large differences in climate, types of housing and so on. The weather, food and even culture can vary greatly from one area to another. For example, the Mediterranean weather in the south-east of France is completely different than the Atlantic-facing north-west.

Consequently, when looking for a property in France, one needs to narrow down the search in terms of WHERE you want to live and in terms of WHAT TYPE of property you want. Following are some suggestions on how to do this.

Any serious search for property in France must begin with selecting a general area of France. Saying "I want to live in France" is like saying "I want to live in the UK" or "I want to live in the USA". While it may very well be true, it is such a broad area that a selection of an individual property or place becomes almost impossible. Therefore, one must begin by narrowing down the search to a region.

This can be difficult for those who appreciate the advantages of France (weather, food, wine, lifestyle,....) but don't know enough about the various France Regions to select one over another. Here are some factors to consider:

• Climate. The weather in France varies widely from one area to another (north versus south, east versus west, lowlands versus mountains, inland versus near the Atlantic or Mediterranean). Some parts are wetter and colder than England, most are sunnier and warmer. If weather is an important criteria for you, French weather may be of interest.
• Food. Each region has its own styles of food, both in terms of the basic ingredients which are readily available, and in terms of preparation. Although one can find a diverse range of food everywhere in France, in many areas the local traditions will determine what is most readily available. This is true to a lesser extent with wine, as wine can be easily transported and stored, whereas fresh produce is best bought locally.
• Transportation links. If you are from the UK, good connections to and from the UK may be important. Even if you are moving permanently to France, quick and cheap connections to the UK will enable you to visit friends and family (and for them to visit you).

At one time, this meant being near the Eurotunnel or a ferry crossing. However, cheap flights are now available to much of France, so proximity to an airport served by a discount airline may be as good (or better) than being within driving distance of the UK. If you are relying upon a discount airline for regular travel, be aware that services to smaller regional airports are sometimes cancelled (with a corresponding increase in price at the remaining carrier or carriers serving that airport). At the larger international airports, competition tends to keep prices moderate and stable.

Reasonable proximity to train connections and major roads, depending on your lifestyle, may also be important. France's train system in general is fast (especially the TGV!!), efficient and reasonably priced. The roads are of good quality and largely free of traffic; with the exception of major metropolitan areas such as Paris, and popular tourist areas during holidays (Provence can be very busy during the summer).

Incidentally, the south-west of France (e.g. Nice) is the furthermost point from the UK, at somewhat over 1200 kilometers (about 800 miles) from Calais. This can be driven in about 10 hours (plus breaks) on the motorway. However, it is often both quicker and cheaper to fly (with fares as low as £50 return, and sometimes lower).

• Language. Ideally, you will want to learn French (which is not nearly as difficult as one may think) in order to integrate into the local community. However, if this is daunting, or if your French property is only a second home, then you may prefer a region (e.g. Dorgogne) where English is relatively widely understood and accepted. Further discussion on dealing with the French language is provided under French language.

France features many different styles of property, from rustic townhouses to stately chateau. Each has its own advantages (and disadvantages) in terms of cost, availability, ease of maintenance, physical appearance, and associated style of living. The choice needs to reflect not only your budget, but also your interests: a chateau offers elegant entertaining, a townhouse provides easy access to important facilities, and a farmhouse is cosy and frequently features enough land to keep horses (and privacy). For further discussion, click on French property types.

It is useful to establish your preference or preferences up front. This will ensure that you can perform property searches (either yourself or through an agent) on relevant properties, without having your time wasted by details (and visits) of properties that are of no interest.

Once you've choose the type of house, you can focus on the more detailed requirements (e.g. swimming pool, near to a town, large garden). This is useful not only for your own search, but also for instructing estate agents on the type of properties you are interested in and for which they should send you details.

Even if your requirements are clear in your mind, it is useful to write them down and review this with the whole family. This usually results in a lively discussion, as people often have differing ideas about the 'ideal' home. 

It is important to be realistic about your requirements, separating "must-haves", "should-haves" and "nice-to-haves". This will help you in instructing estate agents, especially if you've written it down

If you are using estate agents, they will certainly ask what price range of properties you are interested in. If you are flexible in terms of the type of property you are interested in, you may want to provide more than one price, depending on the nature of the property. For example, you may state your maximum for the 'prefect house', with a lower figure if it needs minor or major work.

If you are considering properties that will require changes, be it minor renovation or major structural, ensure that your budget makes generous allowances for these costs. It is very easy, even for professionals, to underestimate the costs in terms of both money and time. Furthermore, work in one area not infrequently uncovers the need for work in another. Therefore, it is wise to ensure that the budget has allowances for some additional costs.

Once you've decided on the property you would like to purchase, check the details carefully.

One of the items that often confuses people is the way in which property size is measured (see France Property Measurement Standards). The UK system is to measure the internal space (e.g. if a house is stated to have 100 square meters, this is the total floor space). The French system is only to measure habitable areas (e.g. living room, dining room). Stairways, bathrooms and such are excluded (as they are not living areas). Consequently, houses advertised in the French system can be up to 50% larger (by UK measurements) than the stated size. In other words, a 100m² house in France could be 150m² if the UK system of measurement was used. As the majority of the houses advertised here are by French estate agents, almost all the advertisements use the French measurement system. As a result, you may be pleasantly surprised when you visit an advertised house to see that it is larger than you expected.