Holiday Home...Rent or Buy?

MisterB1959

we were also considering a future move to france, though 'part time' and had the funds to buy but not really the time to renovate. we couldn't decide whther to buy or rent so we decided instead to buy a caravan in the uk and shipped it out to france (after first securing a plot - V important - on a very French site, no bar, but with swimming pools) we bought a very good condition second hand van - quite luxurious - and it cost less than 13k in total inc shipping. site fees are 2k Euros per year and its very French ( about 5 English families and over 200 French plus tourists etc) weve now been there six years, staying for school holidays (wife worked at a school so we got the whole six weeks in summer) and got to sample the French 'ambience' BUT with the risk of major financial loss being avoided. now were both retired, we're doing the same again, with a slightly larger van (3 beds, 2 wc, central heating, double glazed - 2 years old) but will go living 'part time' in france after easter.


we get to explore lots of places and can even stay away for a couple of nights in different places/towns/areas and use the van as a base, it has the security we wanted when its not occupied, even throughout the winter and the financial commitment is a lot less than buying a property that may lie empty for considerable periods throughout the year.
it might be worth you considering something similar in the areas you think you like, before committing fully ?


capital growth? - our current van will sell for more than we paid for it, not massively, but we certainly wont lose (whereas if we had bought brand new on site then it def would have! - and we don't like continental vans, uk ones are much better suited to our taste)


investment risk - there always is, but we minimised the amount to 12k originally - what we didnt realise was that as soon as it was sited, it became worth more than we paid!


income - none, we don't rent it out


ongoing cost - for 2k euros per year we have been having 8 weeks in france - and that includes rwo daughters - who are teachers, spending all summer there with us GREAT !! prior to sad bereavement last year the out laws used it from april to july, then sept to end of October, this year we will be using the new van fro easter to end of October whenever we choose!


new static vans are really like small apartments/flats/bungalows - you may be surprised by their quality and facilities if you start to look more closely, and might be a viable consideration prior to moving there full time?