France Property Investment News

Rail links 'boost demand for French property'

The demand for investment property in France has been increasing with the recent introduction of new transport links, according to industry experts. According to currency specialist HiFX, the launch of a high-speed rail link between St Pancras and Paris this month has fuelled interest in the country's property market.

The firm stated that since the new service was quicker than previous routes, many people were now considering moving to France permanently and using the train to commute to work in the UK. Mark Bodega, director at HiFX, commented: "It is now increasingly feasible for buyers to have the best of both worlds, living permanently in what was a holiday home and commuting back to the UK when necessary."

St Pancras station has recently been renovated at a cost of £800 million and was officially opened by the Queen earlier this month. According to Eurostar, the new service running from St Pancras International (moved from Waterloo International) to Lille and Paris means that up to 25 minutes is saved on the journey. Lille, the fourth largest city in France, is now just 80 minutes by train from the centre of London - a quite acceptable commute time by the standards of many that work in the city.

Many foreign-owned French properties are bought for investment purposes and let as holiday accommodation – the country is the most popular foreign holiday destination in the world and the second most popular destination for UK tourists to visit. However, the convenience of travelling to France, particularly from England, means that a large proportion of foreign-owned properties are used as second homes. This proportion is likely to grow as the country continues to become more easily accessible.