Living in the South of France

The southern French Riviera is home for many people who have not been born there: in particular, the Russians and the English have quite developed the region at the beginning of the 19th century. The Russians mainly built large buildings such as churches and extremely luxurious villas and the British threw themselves into special projects to make life pleasant such as the Boulevard des Anglais (1840) and the ski resort Isola 2000 (1970). Today, the population is an mix of almost every nationality with a shared agreement: we all love France, good food and the sun.

Anyone interested in Living on the Riviera will think twice before you go. Because to say it is easy enough, but really do it? It took me over 20 years before I took the big step; 2 months after my emigration I knew that I would never take go back. There are more people that choose for the quality of life and are looking for a sunny outdoor area for the children and where the schools are strict and sound.

In the South of France the economy is less bad than in the rest of the country and companies in numerous industries still search people who speak multiple languages. Tourism, yachtinng and the brokerage industry are the largest branches and further anything where service and care is key. Your own place on the French Riviera should not be expensive, shopping at the local Lidl or Dia are similar in price as in the UK. You can hire a flat or studio in the center of Antibes or Nice from 500 Euros per month and a bit detached house with garden and two bedrooms is yours for less than 300.000 euro. Want more garden, sea and space? Then prices run up quickly. Mougins is the most expensive city to live, followed by Cannes. A general rule, one hour from the coast saves about 150,000 euros on prices.

If you know that you want to rent a house, remember that real-estate brokers often ask an annual rent (12 months yes) as deposit. You are a foreigner and they have bad experiences with non-paying tennants. You can also talk to a local company like the Dutch managed MarinusConcierge Services. They know many local landlords and you can make a direct deal with only 3 months deposit.

Do you want to buy a house on the Riviera, do not get lost in the overhwelming numbers of real-estate agents, but hire the search service from Living @ the Côte d'Azur. They have a public and a closed range of villas and apartments at special locations and mostly owned by Dutch people who prefer their villa without a French agency. Learn more about work, school and housing? Call the Dutch couple Jolanda Marinus 33 659 910 425 or Ab Kuijer 33 770 186 203. Or email jo@ cq ab@marinus-concierge.com. They offer their experience, Dutch reliability and a large network of local properties.