From the grand apartments of the smerter arrondissements of Paris to decaying farm houses there is for some an exotic and romantic allure. However there is also a lot in common with what we know.
Firstly, there is¨Paris. Paris is expensive to rent or buy and out of the reach of many. Yet there a many unoccupied homes. The situation is similar in larger regional cities with house prices rising significantly over the last few years. The newspaper headline today says there is a shortfall of 900,000 homes.
Some of the regional cities are now, courtesy of the TGV within commuting distance of Paris. For example, Nancy? which is 300 km from Paris is now only 90 minutes away by TGV. A regional city is a much better place to live than the Paris banluie (suburbs skirting the city).
In the more rural areas, villages are dying and there are plenty of derelict farm houses. In one village I came through there is a plaque celebrating a two week stay by Jeanne D'Arc in 1414. It looks like nothing more exciting has happened there since. Paradodoxically on the edges of some villages there is something of building boom happening. There a little villas with land around going up close to larger towns and cities.
France's population is now growing rapidly due to both natural growth and immigration. Where the Maillets live (Heillecourt) is housing development in response to the babyboomer growth period of the 60s and 70s. These are good developments with a good mix of housing type and excellent social facilities. I am not so sure the current reponse to growth is as effective. Perhaps Denis can provide an authoritive comment as this is something that interests all of us.
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