Gite complex or Village houses
I just want to back Ju up 100% on her figures. It's important not to underestimate the cost of living and the costs involved in running a gite business. One good thing is that the more children you have the less income tax you pay. But it is the social contributions that are the real killer for small businesses.
Well, I refuse to give up! I will just have to be inventive. I'd rather live on my own vegetables and nothing else in France than continue getting up at 06.00 in the morning and getting home at 18.30 every week-day rushing up and down the ratty motorway to bloody boring work. Enough is enough. I want time - time to live, not exist; time to smell the roses .
Louise
www.lacharronniere.com delightful gites in the Vienne countryside.
www.lacharronniere.com delightful gites in the Vienne countryside.
evaluating feasability of areas
Just a thought, Paolo pointed out
Having read a number of other topics on LMH I noted alot of renters do not show their availability for one reason or another. I feel it would be difficult to evaluate an areas popularity using this method.There is a good tip above - look up the sort of properties you are thinking of on listing sites and check rates and availability.
If you are buying existing gite businesses, then you will get some idea of what the income is by their accounts or tax returns. I don't think anybody wants to put anyone off living their dream and escaping the rat race, but the fact that there are so many gite complexes for sale, especially in certain areas of France, speaks volumes about how difficult it is to earn a living. You may be able to live off vegetables, but they won't pay the never ending bills!
Some advice I can think of - a pool is really a necessity now to get a reasonable occupancy and income, either that or gites on the coast. Choose the location carefully - the business may be beautiful and affordable, but if it's in a region that doesn't attract many tourists, so you won't make any money. Transport links - it isn't so important for me in Brittany because I am not far from the ferry ports, but I think that if you are further south, proximity to low cost airports is also an advantage.
Bon courage!
Some advice I can think of - a pool is really a necessity now to get a reasonable occupancy and income, either that or gites on the coast. Choose the location carefully - the business may be beautiful and affordable, but if it's in a region that doesn't attract many tourists, so you won't make any money. Transport links - it isn't so important for me in Brittany because I am not far from the ferry ports, but I think that if you are further south, proximity to low cost airports is also an advantage.
Bon courage!
Susan's comments are good.We are near the coast and we have a pool and I believe the two are necessary for a chunk of our market.Many people start off thinking they want to go to the beach but often one or two trips is enough to feed the habit and they spend the next 10 days glued to the pool (well,with a few hours off for wine tasting forays!!!!!!!).
www.thepetitmanoir.com
www.thepetitmanoir.com