Download our free guide to buying a property in France
Duncan Campbell explains the UK-France double taxation treaty
Jonnie Irwin and Jasmine Harman help Penny and Mark with a tough dilemma. They've been battling with the decision to move to France for years, but with a slow UK housing market and low exchange rate they have seen their budget drastically reduced, so do they buy at home or spend their £400,000 budget away? The pressure's on to find the best place for value for money and to raise a family: will it be Cheltenham or France?
Mark and Penny Jones fancy a change. Having sent Penny's two boys from a previous relationship off to university, they are now looking at where to raise their two younger children. With a five year old and a seven year old to raise, they need an area with a good pace of life, great schools and a family feel.
Penny thinks they would get all of that in France and wants to put her A-level French to good use, but breadwinner Mark is worried that his lack of language could stop him getting a job. He would like to relocate to Cheltenham where Penny has previously lived and where he at least speaks the language. With the time right for a move, where will the family settle?
Home properties - Cheltenham
Cheltenham began as an Anglo-Saxon village over 1200 years ago. From 1226 to the 18th century, Cheltenham was a market town, until the discovery of its medicinal waters. The waters were regarded as beneficial for a range of illnesses and by the late 18th century the town was one of England’s leading spas. King George III spent 5 weeks in the town in 1788 to drink the waters in an attempt to cure his madness. His visit ‘set the seal’ on the town’s popularity and during the following years the number of visitors and residents increased dramatically. Remnants of the town's 18th century past can be seen in the architecture. The town has the second highest number of listed buildings in the UK, one of the main attractions for character property loving Mark and Penny.
Away properties - Aude, France
Despite being one of the windiest departments in France with averages of between 300 to 350 days of wind per year, average temperatures in Aude are high with summers dry and hot, which is what Penny is after. There are also excellent schools and tourist sites for the kids with plenty of parks and palaces to educate them about French culture.
Will Mark and Penny's boys be multi-lingual by the end of the year, or is a move to Cheltenham on the cards?
After the Costa Blanca, the Dordogne is our most popular area for property searches. Why?
The fall in the pound against the euro is not putting off British investors...
As it is announced that David Beckham is about to sign a deal with Paris St Germain, we look at what they might be able to buy in Paris
If like Penny and Mark, who featured in an episode of A Place in the Sun: Home or Away? you are thinking of buying a home in France...
If you want to enrol your children at a French school, here's our handy guide on everything you need to know.