Hello George!!!!! Concur your thoughts. See you in May?
We live quite close to Sarlat in a popular village of 470 souls. There are only 6 or 7 British expats living here permanently. Plus a few with second homes who visit for a few weeks a year. We are certainly not swamping the locals and the French have made us very welcome indeed. Certainly it isn't anything like "Dordogneshire" except perhaps during August. The British who try tointegtrate into village life are made very welcome by most of the French (who have remained here to live) because we invest a great deal of money in restoring our properties and in supporting local businesses (unlike some other nationalties). The beauty of the region, the climate and many other attractions should see this region remaining a popular British destination, both for holidays and for settling here to make a new life. We moved here four years ago and found property prices very reasonable compared to many other regions.

Colin Tozer, Nr Sarlat, France

Paul, Many of the houses being restored by the resident British in the Languedoc are houses that the French, especially the young, don't want to buy, being old village houses with damp, dry rot, etc. As for speculation, if the property isn't your main residence, then you pay 27 percent capital gains - 11 percent of this is social charges - on the sale, so British residents are contributing to French society if they do this. Further, if they renovate and rent out a village house for holidays, they bring much needed business into the area. Sure, prices go up - practically every French person in my street who has put their house on the market recently, has asked me if I know of any English willing to buy it - because they hope to get more for it this way. Human nature I guess!. They don't want to sell to a local for a lower price, and in any case, this local person often looks down on village houses and wants a new place on an estate on the outskirts of the village.

Penelope, Languedoc, France

Another area where the British property speculation disease has spread. Languedoc and Poitou-Charentes should also experience significant falls.

Paul, Coventry,

Other things might explain that. As France is trying to balance its books, it is now the end of free health care for foreigners and there are more investigations into unemployment benefits frauds.

Maybe it has also played a role in deterring newcomers?

Laurent, Reading, UK

As a person who loves the region, with a small house in Flayac near to Verteillac, I can vouch for the beauty and tranquility that the region has. Whilst saying it is in the Dordogne, it is very much away from the normal Brit haunts. The French are wonderful and we have many good friends. There are two key observations I would make. Firstly on the issue of costs, many Brits bought at a seemingly low price but many have invested in derelect of substandard properties, renovating them to a superb standard. Many have done this not as second homes but for retirement. Secondly, that whilst prices may go down, this will unlikely attract a rush By French families to buy a house here. The Dordogne is predominantly agricultural and most land retained within a family structure. I have talked to a number of young people, and their one aim is to head for the cities and to find reasonably paid jobs and break out of the generations of toil the countryside has demanded on the forefathers.

George Bent, Portsmouth, England

Other things might explain that. As France is trying to balance its books, it is now the end of free health care and there are more investigations into unemployment benefits frauds.

Maybe it has also played a role in deterring newcomers?

Laurent, Reading, UK