Nicola recently moved from southwest England to the beautiful city of Nice, France. With a deep-rooted family connection to the French Riviera through her mother who was raised there, Nicola has visited and felt a special bond with the area since childhood.
Why France?
“My mother is French, so I’ve got relatives all around that I’ve visited since I was a child. Last year, I went to visit Nice on my own for the first time and just fell in love with it. At the time, my house in England had sold but I was having difficulty finding a property to buy in my town that I liked which was in my price range, so I went back to Nice in the spring of this year to see what the market was like there.”
The buying process
Nicola’s buying journey was remarkably smooth, thanks to her being a cash buyer. “Everything was easier [than expected]. I didn’t have a mortgage which made the process of buying much simpler and quicker than otherwise. I have Your Overseas Home to thank for introducing me to the perfect flat in your monthly newsletter. It was beyond my price range, so I dismissed it at first, but after being convinced to see it by the estate agent, I made an offer I could afford which was accepted. It was a dream come true.”
Challenges and surprises
While the buying process was straightforward, renting a property proved to be more challenging due to limited availability and her self-employed status. “I tried to rent a property at first, which was a lot more difficult. It was virtually impossible because I’m quite newly self-employed and didn’t have the necessary three years’ accounts for the rental applications. Also, out of the 100 or so two-bedroom flats available to rent in Nice at the time, only half of those were in the city centre where I preferred to live. There was a lot of competition and I didn’t stand a chance.”
Nicola enjoys the French Riviera’s great climate, art and culture
Living in Nice
Nicola appreciates the beauty of the city and its cultural heritage. “The three things I love the most about Nice are the light that makes all colours so vivid and beautiful, the architecture, and the culture. It’s all very inspiring.”
She also appreciates the politeness and welcoming nature of the Niçois people she’s met. If you make the effort to speak French, the people here are so welcoming and kind. It’s important to make an effort and understand how important politeness and respect are to the locals.”
Advice for future buyers
Nicola recommends attending Your Overseas Home webinars and making multiple trips to see properties in person. “Look at the property market online but also visit in person as often as you can to compare properties and get to know the different neighbourhoods. It’s useful to understand the pros and cons of each area and how to get around. My purchase was completed in two months, which is unheard of in the UK, but I think I was lucky to be a cash buyer and to find the perfect flat.”
Inspired by Nicola’s journey? Here are three things you can do to kickstart your French adventure…
- Browse properties on our French property portal
- Speak to our property consultants for expert advice
- Register for our upcoming virtual event
