Housing in France: where to buy a house for less than £100,000

Photo: Telegraph

House prices in France are rising again, but in some regions you can find houses for less than £100,000 (€114,000). The offers are often linked to small towns and villages where the market remains affordable for buyers, writes Telegraph. The geography of choice is quite broad – from the Pyrenees and Charente to Normandy and the Loire.

Upper Garonne at the foot of the Pyrenees is considered one of the most affordable alternatives to the Alps. In Bagnères-de-Luchon, known as the “queen of the Pyrenees,” they offer a one-bedroom furnished apartment with parking for €99,000, and in nearby villages there are three-bedroom houses with spacious terraces for €115,000. In summer the town becomes a center of festivals, concerts and sports shows. The famous Tour de France cycle race passes through it. In winter people come here for the Superbagnères ski resort. Around it there are hiking routes, paragliding sites, horse trails and mountain lakes. It is easy to get here: the A64 motorway is nearby, and Toulouse and Tarbes airports are about an hour and a half away.

Cher (Centre–Val de Loire) is chosen by those who are looking for peace and space but do not want to lose connection with Paris. The area is famous for its lakes and forests, as well as the Jacques Cœur route with castles and monasteries. Tourists often stop here renting guest houses, while others come for hiking, hang gliding, as well as trips around central France including Puy-de-Dôme. A five-bedroom cottage in a village near Le Châtelet is for sale at €119,900 and a three-bedroom near Troncais forest at €117,720. Getting here is easy: trains go to Paris, and the drive from Dieppe takes about five hours. The nearest airport, Clermont-Ferrand, is just over an hour away.



Nievre (Burgundy) lies off the beaten tourist track but offers a calm pace of life and wide landscapes. Here vineyards neighbor old villages, and in the Morvan Regional Park you can walk for hours without meeting a single tourist. In 2024 more than 3,000 transactions took place in the department, with the average price being €90,000 for a house of about 95 sq. m. According to Green-Acres, Nievre is among the top three most popular destinations for properties under €100,000. For sale there is a stone one-bedroom cottage in Luzy for €98,000. For about the same amount, €99,000, you can buy a three-bedroom property. You can get here in six hours by car from Calais or in 2.5 hours from Clermont-Ferrand airport.

Normandy is traditionally popular with British buyers who prefer to come by car, avoiding flights and the southern heat. Especially in demand is the Orne department with its green valleys and historical landmarks. Nearby are the D-Day beaches and Bayeux with its famous tapestry, and further inland are the lakes of La Ferriere-aux-Etangs, Domfront castle and gorges known as “Norman Switzerland.” In the village of Chanu you can buy a four-bedroom house for €120,000, and in Tinchebray-Bocage a modern two-bedroom home is sold for €101,500. For those ready to renovate there are larger properties – for example, with four bedrooms for €109,800. Many villages remain lively and cozy: they have restaurants and active communities.



Charente in northwestern France offers the same atmosphere as neighboring Dordogne but at lower prices. Here there are stone houses, vineyards and sunflower fields, and life flows calmly and measuredly. In towns like Verteuil or Nanteuil-en-Vallee there are markets, cafés and restaurants, while around there are rivers and forests for walking, cycling or kayaking. According to agents, foreigners also value the region, so even in the countryside you don’t feel isolated. On sale are stone houses for renovation for €75,000 and neat two-bedroom homes in Nanteuil-en-Vallee for €86,000. You can get here in 6–7 hours by car from the Channel, and the nearest TGV stations are in Poitiers and Angouleme, as well as the airports of Poitiers, Limoges and La Rochelle.

Lot and Garonne is famous for its medieval bastides – small towns with regular layouts and central squares, green hills and spacious houses with views. Villeneuve-sur-Lot lies on the river of the same name and is known for its weekly market, arcaded shops and even its own brand – local plums. Nearby is Pujols, included in the list of the most beautiful villages of France. The region is suitable for permanent residence: in 2024 only 4% of transactions here were for second homes. For sale is a five-bedroom 1960s house for €99,900 and a four-bedroom cottage with a wraparound balcony for €126,000. The region is conveniently located between major centers Toulouse and Bordeaux.



Deux-Sevres between the Loire Valley and the Atlantic is called “one of France’s best-kept secrets.” There are old towns, green valleys and a convenient transport network: nearby are the airports of Poitiers, La Rochelle and Nantes, and the Atlantic is just over an hour away. In the towns of Niort and Parthenay all necessary infrastructure is available, and families are attracted by Puy du Fou park, one of the country’s largest attractions. In towns like Bressuire or Sauze-Vaussais you can find houses with three to five bedrooms and outbuildings for €115,000. Current offers include a two-bedroom home near Sauze-Vaussais for €109,000 and a three-bedroom in Pamplie for €129,000.

Aude (Occitania) proves that there are affordable options close to the Mediterranean. In the town of Quillan a three-bedroom townhouse costs only €71,000, and in the village of Azille a three-bedroom house €110,000. In neighboring Carcassonne in the same price range you can find apartments, and the city itself is called one of the most underrated in France. The climate here is milder than on the coast, there are fewer tourists, and nearby are wineries, walking routes and swimming in rivers and lakes. Agents advise also to consider Limoux and Fanjeaux, where municipalities are investing in development, making these places particularly promising.



Market features. According to the National Union of Notaries of France, in April the number of transactions increased by 3% compared to October last year. The market is becoming more active, but affordable housing can still be found. Experts advise to do this not in high-demand areas. “Be prepared to go beyond them and consider properties requiring renovation,” noted Benoît Galy, representative of the Green-Acres.fr portal. Daniela Harris of Beaux Villages Immobilier, international partner of Savills, agrees: “A house next to a bakery will always be more expensive. Maybe you should think whether you are ready just to drive five minutes by car.”

Land agency Safer reports that foreign buyers account for more than 10% of transactions in Poitou-Charentes, Limousin and Dordogne. At the same time, French property is usually not considered for investment and income, but for other purposes – prestige or preservation of capital. Rental yield in the country is low – 4.63%, according to Global Property Guide.

The highest figure is in Marseille – 5.26%, then follow Nantes (4.77%), Lyon (4.52%), Montpellier and Nice (4.50%). In Paris profitability is estimated at 4.76%, in Toulouse – 4.37%, even lower in Bordeaux – 4.33%. Investors usually prefer more attractive destinations where returns are higher and purchase and ownership conditions are simpler. Among such locations Georgia stands out with a free entry regime for citizens of about 100 countries. On average there you can get 8–9% from property, and branded hotel assets can bring much more.