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Buying
a French Commercial Property with Sifex Ltd
This section of our site features a wealth of different
properties in the Commercial Sector. Some of them already have
commercial status and are operating as businesses, whilst others
are properties which we consider offer the potential to become
commercial, whether as a Chambres d'hotes ( B & B), a Gites complex
or an Hotel for instance. It should be borne in mind that commercial
loans are not as straightforward as ordinary mortgages and are
more likely to be achievable where the property already has a
proven source of income or the purchaser has an alternative source
of income.
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Monastic Farm with 78 Hectares - Aquitaine
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Agricultural Estates/ Farms
These range from those with agricultural land with pasture and facilities
for livestock, beef, sheep, goats, dairy farms, deer farms, and
fish farms etc to properties with arable land or those with olive
groves, fruit orchards, plantations of walnuts or even a garden
centre or 'pépinière'.
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Château sold by Sifex in Poitou Charentes - now featured
in Alastair Sawdays' 'Special Places to Stay'. |
Chambres d'Hotes or Bed and Breakfast
A warm welcome and prompt service encourages a good reputation and
whilst it is hard work, running a Chambres d'hotes remains a popular
concept amongst those seeking to move to France and find a means
to supplement their income. Some couples even offer dinner as an
optional extra to tempt weary travellers who do not want to venture
forth after arriving at their chosen location. Chambres d'hotes
range from simple elegant houses to the most opulent Châteaux.
Over the years Sifex has sold several Châteaux which have
become Chambres d'hotes with their own websites and thriving businesses.
Five is the maximum number of bedrooms allowed in a B & B before
it attains Hotel status and falls under the stringent EEC regulations
for fire, health and safety.
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Château/Conference Centre Sold by Sifex - Brittany.
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Conference Centres
These are increasingly in demand with the advent of Hi-Tech communications
and the incredibly good and varied travel links between France,
the U.K. and beyond. Whether the facilities are used for corporate
purposes or for social events such as weddings and other such functions,
there is no doubt that this is a popular business to which the Château
style of property is particularly well suited.
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Mill with Gites sold by Sifex - Midi Pyrénées |
Gites
There is a constant demand for properties with existing Gites or
the potential to create them. Sometimes they are run to supplement
a retirement income combined with additional accommodation for visiting
family and relatives. On other occasions, they are a full time business.
The nature of 'agri-tourism', first promoted by the French Government
with the introduction of 'Gites de France' is such that quality
is, without a doubt, the key requisite. A Gite in these modern times,
must offer at the very least, a swimming pool and comfort is of
paramount importance. Where there are other activities on offer
as well, whether riding, harvesting, wine tasting or painting, cookery
or language courses, the scope is enlarged. It could be argued that
acquiring an existing established business was a safer option, since
so many Gites already exist in France.
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Château Hotel sold by Sifex - Champagne
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Hotels
Our portfolio of Hotels varies from the most imposing and impressive
star rated Châteaux Hotels, to smaller charming Hotels in
market towns and rural locations throughout France. If you do not
find what you are looking for, be sure to inform us so that we can
keep you informed of any new details of hotels we may receive.
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Château/Chambres D'Hôtes with 120 cover Restaurant
sold by Sifex - Midi Pyrénées
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Restaurants
Naturally there are all manner of restaurants on the market. On
the whole at Sifex we specialise in the most prestigious commercial
properties so it is rare that we have a restaurant on its own -
although our portfolio changes constantly. More frequently we have
a Hotel or Chambres d'Hôtes for sale that has an established
restaurant of its own. An important factor to consider when buying
a business of this nature is to ensure that you are able to acquire
or take-over the 'Licence IV' which entitles you to sell alcohol.
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Château with Haras or Horse Stud and estate. Poitou
Charentes |
Sporting and Activity Based Commercial Properties
Many commercial properties have sporting facilities. If they are
equestrian it may be a horse breeding establishment or 'Haras'
which may be combined with a riding business. Then there are properties
with boating, golf, fishing or hunting, swimming or maybe a fitness
centre. In addition there are those properties where the activities
consist of courses or training programmes. Amongst the popular
subjects are cookery or painting classes, language courses and
sometimes a retreat or centre for meditation or holistic medecine.
The permutations and possibilities are wide ranging. Activity
holidays designed to keep the young occupied are also increasingly
popular for busy working parents and there are campsites for those
who prefer to holiday under canvas.
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Château Vineyard sold by Sifex - Vaucluse.
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Vineyards
It would be wrong to imply that buying a Vineyard represents an
immediate source of profit. It is wise to employ the services of
an expert agency and Sifex is fortunate in being associated with
such experts. Banks generally only finance 30% of the purchase price
of a vineyard so you would need to have access to 70% of the purchase
price in funds. 600,000 Euros is really a minimum budget for a vineyard
estate of any description plus the finance necessary to purchase
stock and operating costs for the first 18 months. This is because
the seasonal cycle of producing and harvesting the grapes and manufacturing
and bottling the wine ready for sale generally takes 18 months.
Operating costs can be calculated on an average price range of between
4,000 and 6,000 Euros per hectare.
To receive documentation on useful pointers on the ten key stages
to the successful purchase of a vineyard, contact info@sifex.co.uk.
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We recommend that you read our section
on buying a property in France, which can be found under Contact/Buying.
For property details and general assistance, either register on
line at www.sifex.co.uk, or e mail; info@sifex.co.uk
or telephone us on +44 (0) 207 384 1200. Our office hours are 9
a.m. - 6 pm Monday -Friday and if you leave a message, we will get
back to you as soon as possible. To view properties in our Commercial
Portfolio please click
here.
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