Whether you dream of a romantic holiday retreat or look to invest in property in a safe and stable country close to home, property in France and especially property on the French Riviera and the south of France can be a good long term and secure option. With a chic, sophisticated lifestyle and a warm climate, the south of France remains a firm favourite amongst foreign property purchasers, especially the British and Scandinavians – this has indeed been the case for many years now. In particular properties for sale in the south of France have always been a popular choice amongst overseas property investors – quaint villages, award-winning beaches glamorous cities such as Cannes and Nice continue to draw property investors to the south of France, as do the top ski-resorts and more inland destinations such as Valbonne and Mougins, not to mention that prevailing sense of natural chic and sophistication that foreign visitors always find so alluring. The value of property in the south of France continues to remain stable and is now moving in a positive direction. Villas and apartments in the south of France boast a strong rental market due to the fact that the vast majority of French citizens rent their homes for fixed terms of 3 years, and this creates a healthy demand for rental property in most major cities and indeed villages further inland such as villas in Valbonne and Mougins. Meanwhile many holiday destinations such as Cannes, Nice, Antibes and these inland villages are still in need of tourist accommodation to satisfy an increasing number of annual tourist arrivals to the French Riviera and the south of France. With flying time of less than 2 hours from the UK and most European cities, the south of France offers property investors easy access via budget airlines plus, an excellent road and rail infrastructure. This naturally has an incredible appeal amongst those looking for a 2nd home or relocation in the south of France and not too far away from the rest of the family back home. France’s proximity to the UK and the rest of Europe is a major factor influencing the success of the property market on the French Riviera allowing homebuyers to visit regularly and cost-effectively, while taking advantage of the slower pace of life, lower crime rates and that certain ‘Jene sais pas’. These have been main ingredients to France’s recipe for success in the eyes of many investors. Property for sale on the French Riviera as an investment continues to be highly popular option amongst many worldwide investors and this remains so in 2011 – the French Riviera can offer you a safe investment within a well tested market. For investors who snap up French Riviera property for sale within its newly developing property markets, good returns can be expected over the medium to long term. The steady progress of France’s general property market and its booming tourist industry in the south of France, prices should continue to rise. Shrewd investors are acting now while prices remain relatively low but rising, and the best French Riviera property investment opportunities are still available. In fact, over the past number of years the quantity of British registered home owners who have taken up residence in France has risen sharply. A large percentage of these properties have been purchased as holiday homes by the British and Scandinavians, reflecting an undying interest in French property as a sought after property location. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6179050

When buying a property as an investment property to buy, improve and sell on at a profit is an art and requires skills that are quite different from buying property to live in. Get it right and you can make a tidy sum – get it wrong and you will end up with a financial mill stone around your neck!

Key Points to Consider When Choosing an Investment Property:

Have a definite budget from the outset and stick to it. You need to be hard-hearted and not allow a property’s perceived character sway your choice, if renovating the property will take you above your budget – walk away!.

Always have a contingency fund of around 15% to allow for unexpected issues or a delay in the sale of the Property

Decide what type of person you are going to sell the property to before choosing the property. A professional couple is more likely to want a modern house (modern kitchen, bathroom, stripped wood/ laminate flooring etc) near to their work and the town centre and shops. A family will be looking for more neutral scheme of decoration (enabling them to put their own stamp on it), with good transport links, parking and near to a good school

Check what type of people live in the area – what is the average income? What is the average type of employment? All these factors combine to indicate your target market.

Research what the properties in the area sell for and how frequently they sell, and use this information when considering how much refurbishment you are going to do to the property. Each area has an unofficial limit as to how much a property will sell for. No matter what you do to a property or add to it, you are unlikely to be able to sell the property above this limit. Check how long the property has been on the market – if it has been on the market for more than a few months there is unlikely to be any profit in it.

Research the neighbourhood: The type of neighbourhood a major factor in deciding the success or failure of a development project. You may find a property that only requires a lick of paint, new carpets and the installation of a new kitchen and bathroom, however if the property is in a run-down area with a high crime rate, it is unlikely to sell regardless of what you do to it – walk away.

Check the condition of the property – Visit the property several times with tradesmen such as plumbers, electricians, carpenters, damp proof companies, many of these will provide free estimates and this will provide an invaluable indication of what the issues are and what the renovation is likely to cost you. Although this is an important first step, it is not a substitute for having a survey carried out on the property by a surveyor once you have chosen the property.

Have a careful look at the neighbouring properties – if for example you are looking at a two bedroom house with a view to converting it to a three bedroom house by building a two storey extension – check whether the other properties in the street are extended, if they are not, this may be because it is difficult to obtain planning consent for such an extension from the local council. There may also be restrictions or ‘covenants’ on the title that prevent the extension of the property – it is important to seek the advice on this from a conveyancer who is experienced in such matters.

If the renovation involves extending or converting a building – it will most likely require planning consent; make sure that the purchase of the property is made subject to the obtaining of planning consent. If you complete the purchase without making the obtaining of planning consent a condition of the contract, you may find yourself saddled with a property you cannot do anything with.

Check whether the property is a listed building or in a conservation area: If the property is in a conservation area or is a listed building, there will be restrictions on what you are able to do to the property. Conservation areas are designated to keep the character of the area, and you will have to apply for planning consent before doing anything to the external appearance of the property; if your Newport Residences plan is to install uPVC replacement windows this may be rejected and you may have to install made to order sash windows which are considerably more expensive. With a listed building, any change or repair to the property will require listed buildings consent and will usually involve the need to use materials in keeping with the original construction; such materials may require extensive sourcing or you may have to have them specially made. The expense of this may easily wipe out any profit in the project.

Check whether the property is Freehold or Leasehold: If it is Leasehold you will need to obtain the landlord’s consent to any changes to the property. The landlord may not give the consent or may charge for it.

Do the minimum that you need to do to sell the property at a profit: Keep ‘your eye on the ball!’ Remember this is not going to be your home – the purpose of the project is to sell the property at a profit in the minimum length of time. If you spend money on unnecessary improvements (for example, hot tubs, modern spotlighting) or spend too much time on the renovation – you are eating into your profits and will have less to invest on your next project