Welcome to this introductory guide for investors.

Investing in France has never been more exciting with a change of President and government who has promised to act and get results.

This comes as a much needed change in France where over 50% rely on rental accommodation as their principal residence and are accustomed to working to a strict 35 hour week, the medical system is financially stretched and government pensions are so comfortable there is little incentive to create supplementary pension schemes.

Over the coming years we will see;

 A continued demand for long term residential rental accommodation. In France this presents an interesting investment opportunity for overseas investors as the rental tenancy agreements are very secure and offer protection against rental voids and tenancy disputes

 A rise in demand for property ownership as individuals are encouraged to get on the property ladder through increased incomes due to working overtime as a result of positive changes to the labour market imposed by the government presenting good capital growth opportunities

 Continued demand for tourist accommodation as tourist arrivals grow in the coming years to 106 million by 2020 from 75 million in 2006. This puts France as the most popular country in the world by over 20 million visitors

 A rise in demand for university accommodation as the university and further education systems are improved to encourage school leavers to pursue university or further education courses

 A rise in demand for medicalised centres and retirement homes as the government encourages longer term patients to be moved to specialised centres in particular for the elderly