An Englishman Abroad

knightstyle

Lots of info here http://www.frenchentree.com/ Make sure the info you rely on is up to date, there are changes to inheritance laws in the offing. We bought with a clause tontine as we both had children from previous marriages. Without it the surviving spouse could be forced to sell the family home.
Health insurance can be a problem, generally emergencies are free but everything else is paid for with a carte vitale, with the government picking up a percentage, around 70% and private insurance paying the remainder. But some people are not covered, particularly those not working but under retirement age.
all income from lettings must be declared in France and profit from selling a second home is heavily taxed in the first few years.
Living costs are similar to UK.
Most important is if you have work done on your French house use a registered tradesman and get a copy of their insurance before signing the devis to authorise the work.
OH and it is against the law to go overdrawn at the bank without arranging an overdraft.

plumfin

We met a number of British semi retired couples who work for Canvas holidays in France. One couple had a house in Brittany they rent out for the summer while they work elsewhere in Europe, then go back for winter. Seemed a great idea and definitely a plan for us later in life.