- 17 hours ago
Touring Around
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00:00There aren't many places in France where you can still buy a home for around £50,000.
00:05But today I'm house hunting in the central region of La Creuse, where property is some
00:10of the cheapest in France.
00:39History enthusiast, craftsman and Robin Hood fanatic Philip wants to swap Sherwood Forest
00:45back home to ride through the Gaelic glens of France.
00:49With daughter Charlie lending a hand on behalf of her busy working mum Christine, will he
00:55find a new mansion for his band of merry women?
00:58I can honestly say my mum will absolutely love this.
01:01Or will he be aiming his house hunting arrows reluctantly back home?
01:06We can make do for the time being.
01:10Philip Rayner from Cambridgeshire and daughter Charlie are looking for a different place
01:14to set up a new base for him and wife of 23 years Christine.
01:20With a love of bows, arrows and all things medieval, he's hoping to take his archery arts and crafts
01:26to the foreign forests of France.
01:29And whereabouts does he want to do all this?
01:32In La Creuse, in France's central Limousin region.
01:40The same size as Wales, La Creuse is known as the Green Heart of France and abounds with
01:46lush scenery and wildlife.
01:47While 130,000 people live here, the area is actually more populated by cows as La Creuse
01:56beef is an enormous export from the region.
02:00Farming is a major industry here with hunting and fishing being popular pastimes.
02:04Although still the cheapest place to buy in France, prices have quadrupled over the last four years
02:12as Brits look away from the costlier neighbouring regions.
02:16With most estate agents now having an English speaking advisor, Brits currently make up around
02:22a third of buyers.
02:24Philip has the modest sum of £55,000 including agents fees, plus £38,000 for the renovation work
02:32he plans to take on.
02:34So Philip, it's yourself and your wife Christine that's moving here, isn't it?
02:38What's inspired you to make the big move?
02:41We've reached our mid-fifties and I think this is going to be just the one huge adventure
02:46of our lifetime.
02:47Now, your wife Christine's busy working so she isn't able to make this trip, so in her
02:52place.
02:53Yes, it's her daughter.
02:54Charlie.
02:55So you think you know what mum's going to be after?
02:57Yeah.
02:58My mum doesn't want to live anywhere remote and she wants people around, maybe a few
03:04villages, you know, in a town nearby and shops.
03:07So tell me a bit more about the business side of things that you're going to be operating
03:11from your workshop.
03:12Well, basically I'm going back to carpentry.
03:14I was trained in carpentry so I make longbows, medieval furniture.
03:18Now, talking of bows, you're not going to give up making those, are you?
03:21Oh.
03:21Because archery is quite a passion of yours.
03:23Definitely not.
03:24No, the bows will come and they will be exported back to England and everything associated.
03:28So who are you going to be making all the bows and arrows for?
03:31There's a huge re-enactment society in England and there's well over 30,000 archers.
03:36Tell me, do you partake in the re-enactment?
03:38Do you dress up in tights of a weekend?
03:40Cross-dress every weekend.
03:42Definitely.
03:43And is this a family outing?
03:45No.
03:46Definitely not.
03:48Well, Lacrosse is the cheapest place to buy in France and your budget of £55,000 is
03:53really entry level even for a renovation project.
03:57Now, I've tried to find you properties that will bring you in on your budget of £55,000
04:02including your 10% extra for your notary fees and stamp duties.
04:06Every little helps.
04:07Exactly.
04:08Okay, well, you sound prepared and ready to go?
04:10Yes, we are.
04:10Here we go.
04:11So, he's handy with a hammer but his budget, even in this part of France, is still quite basic.
04:17The question is, can Philip's cash get the kind of house he's after?
04:23To start off, I thought it would be a good idea to show Philip and Charlie what's available
04:28without massive renovation work.
04:30So, I decided to take them to the region's north.
04:34Known as the green and blue land, thanks to its woodland and water, the most famous part
04:39of this area is Les Trois Lacs or the Three Lakes.
04:43Made from the river Creuse, three dams were constructed to create the lakes and the area
04:48is now a hot spot for swimming, fishing and water sports.
04:52The house I'm taking Philip and Charlie to is in the hamlet of Puzo.
04:57With a population of just 40, the nearest village with bars and cafes is just three miles away.
05:03Now, I've looked at lots of houses in the area that need a complete overhaul, so I thought
05:09I'd break you in gently with this first one.
05:11So, outside impressions?
05:14Delightful.
05:14Beautiful.
05:15This house has two bedrooms, but with space to convert more, an outbuilding which could
05:20be used as a workshop, and it's on the market for £49,500.
05:25So, you come into a nice big open room here, dominated by a huge fireplace.
05:33What do you think of the room?
05:35Fabulous.
05:36Really nice.
05:37The beams, the fireplace, it's just everything we wanted.
05:40And I know for a fact my mum would love the fireplace.
05:43Look how big it is!
05:44I don't think I've ever seen on that thing.
05:45I've almost fit in it.
05:47I could cook a sheep on that.
05:48You certainly could.
05:50So, do you think that this room would lend itself to a perfect kitchen?
05:53Wow.
05:54This would be superb as a kitchen.
05:56Lovely.
05:57Put units in which I've built myself, the floor just lends itself to a kitchen, doesn't
06:02it?
06:02Be careful, Dad.
06:04We don't have a banister there.
06:05No.
06:06How do you feel about those stairs?
06:08Fraud, isn't it?
06:09Dire.
06:10It's, yeah.
06:11I think you would definitely want to make the gradient less steep if that staircase has
06:15put a banister in, don't you think?
06:17It would cost around £400 to do, but do you think that's a job you'd be able to take
06:21on, Philip?
06:22No, I'd do that myself.
06:23Make a new staircase and slide it back.
06:25Mm-hmm.
06:26That's fine.
06:27So, Philip, I know that you love the inside of the house, but I have a feeling this boot
06:33you're going to get quite excited about.
06:35Behind this huge window...
06:37Wow.
06:38...is your barn, a.k.a. Philip's workshop.
06:42Oh, happiness.
06:44Oh, it's, yeah, very big.
06:47You're speechless, it's wonderful.
06:49Now, that's not all you've got.
06:51Oh.
06:52A little bit more.
06:54Over here, across this little lane, is a garden.
06:59Dad, look.
07:01I can honestly say my mum will absolutely love this.
07:04I am really stunned with this.
07:06I can't believe it.
07:07First party, you're doing very well.
07:10You just fall in love with something like this, don't you?
07:12Yeah.
07:13The house shows no signs of structural wear and tear, but it's always worth having a professional
07:18builder look over the property.
07:20An appointment usually costs around £150.
07:24What do you think of the place?
07:25Yes.
07:25I love it.
07:26I love the whole place.
07:27The barn is big enough.
07:30But we've got three or four other places to go and see.
07:33Yeah.
07:33So we can't, we've got to keep our, you know, open-minded.
07:37Yeah, definitely.
07:39So do you think Christine might be getting a phone call slightly earlier than anticipated?
07:44I think so.
07:45I very much think so.
07:45Yeah, definitely.
07:46Well, before you go and make any big decisions, we're only on the first house, so let's get
07:51going.
07:51I've got another one to show you now.
07:52Yeah.
07:53Completely different proposition.
07:54Well, we're up to it.
07:55You're up for it.
07:56Seeing as our first house was such a hit, I wanted to entice Philip and Charlie further
08:02with something that would really stretch Philip's arts and crafts abilities.
08:06This time, I thought I'd take them to the south of the region.
08:12As this part of the Limousin is closer to the ever-popular Dordogne, property here moves
08:17extremely quickly and over the last three years has doubled in price every year.
08:24The town of Crow is a prime example of why the area is so popular.
08:29With all the amenities plus plenty of places to eat and drink, the architecture and layout
08:35make you feel like you're walking through a kaleidoscope of history.
08:41Now, Philip, I know you're into history, but how's your French history?
08:45Non-existent at the moment.
08:46Oh.
08:47Well, Crow has got some beautiful historic buildings, but it used to have even more prior
08:52to the 17th century.
08:53There was a big battle of independence that took place here, and it destroyed quite a
08:58few of them, including part of the tower.
09:00That's beautiful, isn't it?
09:01The house I'm showing Philip and Charlie is a few miles from here in a beautiful setting,
09:06with more to the property than it might seem at first.
09:10So how about the idea of living in a terraced house?
09:14That hadn't occurred to us, but there's no problem at all with that, really.
09:18How about all three of these terraced houses?
09:21Oh.
09:21The whole thing?
09:22The whole lot, yes.
09:23Oh, right.
09:24Wow.
09:25What does one say?
09:26And it's on the market for £44,000.
09:31Gosh, that's good.
09:31You look quite shocked.
09:33That's brilliant.
09:35This house has three separate buildings, land, and a separate cottage to convert.
09:40It's on the market for the bargain price of £44,000.
09:45So this property is definitely bigger.
09:47Wow.
09:48But it does need more work doing to it.
09:50You've got one living room there.
09:53Oh.
09:53A similar sized one here.
09:56Oh, nice.
09:56Oh, this is wonderful, isn't it?
09:58Very different, though.
09:59It's the first property, isn't it?
10:00I mean, you've got a similarly huge fireplace, but it's quite different.
10:04It's hugely different.
10:05This is untouched.
10:06It's a blank canvas.
10:08So through here is a kitchen, which I don't know.
10:10Do you think Christine would think this was big enough for her?
10:13I mean, obviously, you're going to have to fit.
10:14Pajolia.
10:15Erm.
10:17Well, we can, er, we can make do.
10:20Yeah.
10:20For the time being.
10:21You've got the option, because this is just a stud wall, of knocking this down,
10:25and then you don't open it up into this room.
10:26Oh, this would make a beautiful kitchen diner.
10:29Oh, lovely.
10:30I like it.
10:30It does need more vision, and I'm pleased you're able to see it.
10:32Because I do think this house has got so much potential, because it offers you that much
10:37more space, doesn't it?
10:38Definitely.
10:38I think, yeah, I think with any house like this, erm, that you've got to have the vision
10:43Yes.
10:43To see what you could do with it.
10:45Should we go and have a look upstairs?
10:46Oh, yes, please.
10:47Follow me.
10:52All right, on the upstairs, you've got seven rooms.
10:55It's a bit of a rabbit warren, because they all lead off each other.
10:59But it's huge.
11:00It is.
11:00But the rooms are a good size.
11:02Yeah.
11:02When you're in them.
11:03Absolutely massive.
11:04I love it.
11:05One major issue is there's no bathroom or toilet here.
11:10You could put that in, Dad.
11:11Well, that would have to obviously be put in.
11:14Now, what we haven't discussed is the outbuildings that come with this property.
11:19Right.
11:19So you've got these two outbuildings here.
11:23You've got a garage.
11:24Also, just across the lane, you've got a woodshed.
11:28Lovely.
11:29Incredible, isn't it?
11:29I can't believe it.
11:30This is everything on the front.
11:32We've not even done the back yet, so come and have a look at the back up here.
11:36Oh, lovely.
11:36It's just too much, this is.
11:37It really is.
11:39You've got more garden space, which...
11:42Oh, wow.
11:42It's on a slope at the moment, but with a bit of work, you could...
11:47There's nothing like a shovel couldn't sort out.
11:49Nothing that puts you off is a fill.
11:51No, not really.
11:52Fearless fill.
11:53I'm under no illusion on how much work there is to do here, but it's within budget.
11:58I've got the money for it, and I think we can do it.
12:02Well, I'm very pleased.
12:03Why don't you have a good think about the whole property, and we'll catch up with your final thoughts.
12:08If Philip did decide to start a business here, Limoges University runs regular courses
12:14specifically designed for British people trying to set up in the region.
12:18Isn't it beautiful?
12:20Isn't it beautiful?
12:20I love it.
12:20Love the view.
12:21Yeah.
12:22Fancy waking up to that each morning.
12:23I know.
12:23It's a road, it's so peaceful as well.
12:25Location is fabulous.
12:30So, has your love for this house exceeded your love for the first house is my question.
12:36Oh.
12:37Yes.
12:37Yes.
12:38I think so.
12:38Yeah, it's lovely.
12:39The third house that I want you to take a look at has been part renovated.
12:43So, it's a different option, slightly easier in terms of the amount of work.
12:49Ready to see it.
12:50Yeah.
12:50Super.
12:50There you go.
12:51Well, it's off to a roaring start, and we seem to be going from strength to strength,
12:56seeing as Philip's not afraid of a little elbow grease.
13:00Will what I've got to show Philip next add another string to his property bow?
13:05Oh, whoa.
13:06Yes, definitely.
13:07It's lovely.
13:08Or will the shacks away from Sherwood have him tearing his tights in haste to get home?
13:14I'm still unconvinced.
13:23I'm in central France finding a new home for Philip Rayner and his wife Christine.
13:28He wants to live a simpler old-fashioned lifestyle in the medieval surroundings of La Cruz, and
13:33with the help of his daughter Charlie, he's poised to find a renovation project to make
13:38his new home.
13:40Archer and craftsman Philip and daughter Charlie are two places down on the house hunting tour,
13:46and both have hit their property bullseye.
13:49I'm just speechless, really.
13:50It's just lovely.
13:51Will what I've got lined up next confuse matters even more?
13:58To tempt Philip and Charlie on further in their French property search,
14:02I thought I'd take them to the centre of the region to give them a contrast to the north
14:07and south.
14:08The town of Chambon-sur-Vuez is found where the river Creuse meets the river Allier.
14:14This is the top of the Plateau de Mille Vache, or Plateau of a Thousand Cals, which runs all
14:20the way to the Creuse's border with the Dodoyne.
14:23This part of La Cruz is becoming increasingly popular.
14:27As the south becomes fuller, buyers are heading further north.
14:31The most popular properties tend to be detached farmhouses ready to renovate.
14:36This is it.
14:42This 19th century house has space for two or three bedrooms, is partly renovated, and has
14:48a price tag of £46,000.
14:51So here is the house.
14:52It is covered again in that render, that crepe.
14:56You can see the stonework poking through there.
14:59You can see the holes in the stonework coming through.
15:01I think this is one that definitely would need repointing, isn't it?
15:04Does that immediately worry you a bit?
15:08Yes, very much so.
15:10So around the back of the house, you see you've got a slightly more conventional garden,
15:13in that it actually comes straight out from the house, instead of down the road like
15:17in the last house.
15:19Still unconvinced?
15:21The outside just isn't doing it for you, is it?
15:23Not at all, no.
15:26Not really.
15:26Okay, well, let's have a look inside the property.
15:28You never know.
15:32So you come into the kitchen.
15:34Ooh.
15:34Now this is the first house that you've seen with furniture in it.
15:39Yes, gosh.
15:39So we'll have to ask you to look beyond what is here currently.
15:42I can certainly do one better than the last property, in that the last property didn't
15:46have a bathroom.
15:47I shall now reveal what lies behind this screen.
15:51This is your bathroom.
15:54Right.
15:55Slightly unconventional.
15:56I'm sure you'd want to change the layout, but the fact is that the plumbing's in place,
16:00so you can change, you can move the bathroom to...
16:02Well, if you get caught short while you're cooking the sausages, I suppose.
16:05Well, exactly.
16:05I knew you would see it at that point.
16:07Oh, God.
16:08Come through and have a look.
16:09Okay.
16:10Off the kitchen.
16:12Now this is a stud wall again, so if you wanted to knock this down and open it up
16:16into this room, you certainly could do that.
16:19What do you think of this room?
16:20Like the wood burner.
16:23I love it, yeah.
16:24That's a nice fireplace.
16:25Lovely feature, isn't it?
16:26Don't like that crack that's running down the wall there at all.
16:30I think the main thing here is that the last property, you didn't mind if it had a crack
16:46and I think we're in agreement there.
16:47It's just...
16:48It's cold.
16:49Oh, dear.
16:50Even though there is a rustic family room and attic space to convert, it's just not the
16:56house that Philip's after.
16:58It looks like after the terraced cottages, he's got one place on the brain.
17:02So I wondered if I could turn his head with our last property.
17:07To take the edge off the traditional farmhouse, I thought I'd show them something back in the
17:12north of La Cruz, in the town of Boussac.
17:16Considered to be a sought after location, Boussac has shops, restaurants and two supermarkets.
17:22There's also a famous 15th century castle, which has provided inspiration for artists
17:28and writers throughout the centuries.
17:3019th century French author, George Sand, wrote many of her books in the rooms here.
17:36Renovated farmhouses are incredibly popular as the French and foreigners alike have fallen
17:41in love with the area.
17:43House prices have doubled in the last two years.
17:47So this area's got a real international community.
17:50Is that going to appeal to you?
17:51Indeed so, especially if there's a fair few English around.
17:54Help you integrate immediately, won't it?
17:56Immediately.
17:56While you're polishing up your French skills.
17:57It's a beautiful place.
17:59Well the next house is just a 10 minute drive from here.
18:01That's fine.
18:02Although a typical renovated farmhouse tends to cost around £150,000, the house I've
18:08found for Philip and Charlie to see is a rare bargain.
18:11Now I know that your heart may well be set on the terrace houses still, but I wanted to
18:17show you this final house, because not only has it got stunning views, but I just think
18:22it's so pretty.
18:23It's adorable.
18:24I like it.
18:25I'm very pleased you've got smiles back on your faces.
18:28This house currently has two bedrooms, four outbuildings and land.
18:33It's on the market for a slightly higher £56,000, but could be the blank canvas that Philip's
18:40looking for.
18:41The front door leads you straight into the kitchen, which is the biggest one that we've
18:45seen.
18:46Wow.
18:46Oh, whoa.
18:47Yes, definitely.
18:49It's lovely.
18:50Fabulous.
18:51So coming straight into the kitchen, you don't think Christine would mind that?
18:54Oh, Christine would love this.
18:54Now through here, again, they're using it as a bedroom.
18:59Oh, gosh.
18:59Oh, this is, oh, wow.
19:01What a living room this would make.
19:03Oh, isn't it?
19:04And these are gorgeous, they're structures, you can't move them, but they do add character,
19:08I think.
19:09Oh.
19:10Oh, it's glorious, isn't it?
19:12It's fabulous.
19:12I want another fireplace.
19:14And a bread oven.
19:15Fantastic.
19:15I thought you would like that, seeing as you're quite fond of your fireplaces.
19:19I'm quite fond of my food, too.
19:21Now this is where the work really begins, up the stairs.
19:24Ah, right.
19:25Let's see.
19:26I hope these aren't too steep for you, Charlie.
19:28Oh, gosh.
19:29You all right there, Charlie?
19:30Yes, I am, yep.
19:33Oh, gosh.
19:33This is your blank canvas.
19:34Oh, my word.
19:35It's incredible.
19:36It's stunning, isn't it?
19:37Absolutely stunning.
19:37It's so big.
19:39How would you divide up this space?
19:41How many bedrooms do you think you would need for yourselves?
19:44I think three in here.
19:45And a bathroom.
19:46And a bathroom.
19:46And a bathroom.
19:47I'd love to come back and see it when it's done.
19:49You're more than welcome.
19:50Okay, so back out from the back door, from what your living room would be.
19:55Obviously it's very important, Phil, where you're going to keep your tools.
19:59You've got a couple of options here.
20:00So you've got this outbuilding here and you've got that one there.
20:04Oh, wow.
20:05Fabulous.
20:05So as well as all of this garden area, which is probably enough for...
20:10So you've got Christine to look after, isn't it?
20:11Oh, it's lovely.
20:11Oh, it's fabulous.
20:12It goes all the way round, which is what I like.
20:14It's really nice.
20:16So as well as going all the way round, also across the lane, that's all yours as well.
20:21Oh, no.
20:22Oh, lovely walled garden.
20:24Isn't that beautiful?
20:25Now, I sensed I might have confused you a little bit showing you this house here.
20:29Totally.
20:30Hmm.
20:30The thing is, personally, I would be happy, very happy to live here.
20:35I'd be very happy to live in the terraced houses, but the final decision's going to be Chris's.
20:40While this house would take most of Philip's renovation budget to do up, because the plumbing
20:46and electricity are in place, he would be able to live in it whilst doing the work.
20:51What are spiders?
20:52Oh.
20:54Wow.
20:55This is just so beautiful.
20:57Oh, I don't know what to say.
20:58It's very big.
20:59It's fabulous.
21:00It really is nice.
21:01And, I mean, overall, I just think the whole property...
21:05At first, I wasn't too sure, but now I've seen the whole property, I think it's...
21:09I think, wow, I love it.
21:11Do you think Mum would like it?
21:12I think she will.
21:14So, have any big decisions been made yet?
21:17Sort of, I think.
21:19Yeah.
21:19There's a lot to take in, isn't there?
21:21There's a lot to take in, but I think it's between two.
21:23The terraced house and this beautiful place.
21:26So we've got two in the running.
21:27We've got two in the running.
21:28As I thought, Philip and Charlie are so impressed with what they've seen that confusion, rather
21:35than any conclusion, reigns.
21:37I thought it was time for them to phone Christine to talk through the properties and see what
21:42they wanted to do next.
21:43Hello, love.
21:43It's us again.
21:44We've just found the most incredible property.
21:48After making that all-important call back home and got Christine's perspective on the
21:53whole picture, I wanted to talk them through their final decisions.
21:56I just want to talk about the first property that you looked at, the typical cruise cottage,
22:01because you both really loved it when you looked at it, didn't you?
22:04And have you changed your mind on that one at all?
22:06Yes, since we've seen the other properties.
22:08I think there was a bit of premature excitement.
22:10So that leaves us with the two properties in the running.
22:13Yes.
22:14So we've got the terraced houses and the farm workers' cottage.
22:17What's it going to be between those two?
22:19The terraced houses.
22:21Definitely.
22:22Yeah, I've come to a decision.
22:23We absolutely loved that, didn't we?
22:25We did.
22:25And I think Mum would really love it as well.
22:28It was just fabulous.
22:29And it did offer you amazing value for money, didn't it?
22:32Just incredible.
22:33I couldn't believe it when you said, what about the three?
22:37And what about the farm workers' cottage?
22:40Because you did love that one as well.
22:41I loved the cottage.
22:43I thought it was a really beautiful cottage, but the location I just didn't like.
22:48It was too isolated.
22:49Really?
22:50So the terraced houses it is.
22:52Yes.
22:52What is your next step and what do you want me to do now?
22:54Well, I've just spoken to Christine and she's busy booking the flights.
22:57So she's on the way over here and you're going to show her the terraced house.
23:00And fingers crossed she loves it as much as you do.
23:02And if she does, are you then in a position to go in with an offer?
23:06Yes, we'll go in at about $40,000, $41,000.
23:09Brilliant.
23:10Well, best of luck.
23:11I hope Christine loves it as much as you.
23:13I hope she does.
23:14Let me know if you come to putting in an offer and what you get it for.
23:17We will.
23:17We'll certainly do that.
23:19Brilliant.
23:20On seeing the property, Christine was in complete agreement with Philip and Charlie.
23:25They have since put an offer in on the terraced cottages
23:29and are now the proud owners of their very own houses in France.
23:34La Cruz may be the cheapest place to buy property in France,
23:37but with more and more people discovering the hidden treasures here,
23:41I don't think it's going to keep that title for much longer.
23:44I hope you've enjoyed seeing what's on offer in the region and join me next time.
24:16We'll see you next time.
24:18Thanks for listening.
24:18Thanks a lot.
24:18Thanks a lot.
24:18When theest diligent energy enfinopianhythm is not a gift with people.
24:19Duplanet.
24:19We'll see you next time.
24:19You