It’s the best of both worlds – having your own place abroad and making it work for you as a business. We look at various options that have worked for our readers. Words Katie Wood
Falling in love with Biarritz in south-west France was all the incentive that John Lewis needed to buy a home in the area. John, who lives in Gorsley, Ross-on-Wye with his wife and five children, is a clergyman, given a vicarage as part of his job, so the family were keen to invest in another property overseas.
John and his wife instantly fell in love with the chic streets and charm of Biarritz, so they met with a local estate agent and found their ideal property in the window. By the end of the week they had secured a pretty Landaise home, surrounded by natural oak woods and stunning French countryside.
It’s a popular choice – even President Chirac has a place nearby in Soustones. The area has great surf, beaches and mountains, and the family found the locals to be very friendly – the local mayor even personally invited them to fiestas and fetes! Their neighbours have been very supportive, looking after the swimming pool, providing fresh poultry, homemade fois gras and organic eggs. John says: “The French way of life here has had a tremendous impact on us all and has taught us to really value family time together.”
Quickly discovering how popular their property was with friends, they decided to get a housekeeper and starting letting the property through book-direct specialists ‘Chez Nous’. John continued: “We choose to let out the property just through the summer months as we spend time with friends and family in the property throughout the rest of the year. During the summer period alone (20 weeks) we earn more than enough to cover our costs, pay our French mortgage and still have a substantial amount left over as income.”
Read more in the November issue of Living Abroad Magazine
