Find and buy your French castle or dream chateau in France!
How to search for French castles for sale, understand how to purchase a historic property or chateau in France and avoid overpaying!
The French Chateau - find your dream castle in France for sale!
If you’ve fallen under the spell of a chateau in France, you are not alone! Each year, thousands of chateau enthusiasts fall in love with the idea of owning their very own piece of history - a French castle!
Indeed the siren call of owning your very own chateau in France can be hard to resist! And with plenty of examples of American and international chateau owners who are living their dream lives in France, this dream could indeed be a reality for you!
But just like any other big idea in life, it’s worth doing your research and homework! Yes, some castles in France are for sale for well below what you would expect to pay for such an architectural gem… but why?!?
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT BUYING YOUR DREAM FRENCH CHATEAU? LET’S DIG IN!
The dream of owning a “French chateau” has dramatically evolved and is more achievable than ever!
What was once the exclusive domain of wealthy aristocrats and passionate history enthusiasts is no longer the case! Today, purchasing a castle in France is a surprisingly attainable goal - for American and international buyers alike!
Chateaux in France - Key French chateau market data you should know!
Let’s highlight some market statistics for the castles in France that will certainly inform your research and purchase decision when considering investing in a French chateau!
There are 40,000 - 45,000 châteaux France
Only about 10,000 (or about 25%) have “historic monument” classification - more on why that’s important later!
About 90% French castles are privately owned (and easier to buy)
An estimated 5% of all château owners in France are American
British, Dutch, Belgian, and Chinese investors constitute other significant international buyer segments for castles in France
Most American buyers find the sheer number of castles in France surprising! And… are pleasantly surprised that such a small proportion are classified as “historic monuments” - which has pros and cons! More on that later!
FRANCE HAS 40,000 - 45,000 CASTLES!
And only about a quarter of all French chateaus are classified as “historic monuments”, which makes renovations more expensive and means additional permissions and authorizations are needed. BUT on the plus side, it means that those renovation projects are often eligible for government help!
What is the official definition of a French chateau? SURPRISE!!!
Let’s clarify one big question that many American property buyers have about French castles:
“What is the formal definition of a French chateau?” Well… here is the surprising truth!
Contrary to popular belief, France has no official legal definition of what constitutes a château. Calling a castle in France a “chateau” / château is on a case-by-case basis and is really more about tradition and context rather than any specific rigid rules or rigorous definitions. So one person’s “chateau” can certainly be another person’s “manor” or “estate” and so forth…
SURPRISED? Most American and international buyers are!
Cultural norms suggest that the term “chateau” or with the proper French spelling “château” for a single castle or “châteaux” for more than one - plural - castles can include a variety of properties including medieval fortified castles or forts, Renaissance era palaces (which are particularly popular with buyers), large country manors or mansions, wine estates, or even substantial hunting lodges!
The benefit of there being no strict classification or formal definition of what is a “chateau” in France is both good and bad for buyers. The key point to remember is that properties for sale that are described as "châteaux" can and do greatly vary in size, historical significance, architectural style, and… PRICE!!!
FSBO CHATEAUS IN FRANCE!
While not right for every buyer, one way that some American and international buyers can save serious money on their chateau purchase is pursing a direct sale (FSBO) / for sale direct by owner chateau property in France. Yes, they exist! And once you learn our expert strategies, they’re easier to find than you might think!
While the potential savings you could make with purchasing a FSBO castle / chateau in France could be tempting, it does mean that you need to educate yourself and make sure that you are more knowledgeable about the purchase process - the legalities, expectations and the cultural norms!
You certainly shouldn’t just rely on free advice online from various sources which are not detailed enough, perhaps outdated, based only on personal (not professional experience) and often just outdated!
What you SHOULD do is invest in yourself! We can help!
Avoiding the renovation nightmare! What about the renovation budget?
One important point to get to grips with when it comes to considering a chateau purchase is the potential renovation costs, permissions and grants!
While owning your very own castle in France might be tempting, it often does require some renovations, upgrades or investments!
It’s certainly an area worth further researching so you can get familiar with the permissions you will likely need for your renovation project, and how to budget for your renovation costs.
The nice surprise is that depending on the classification of the chateau, it might be eligible for government grants and additional state aid to assist with renovating and preserving these substantial properties!
It’s certainly worth doing your homework and learning more about what to expect!
Are you dreaming of a lifestyle change, passion project or an amazing creative venture in France? Perhaps building a new life and business in a French chateau is your dream? There’s a reason why chateaus in France are a fairytale for many!
Plenty of new profitable businesses are created in French chateaus!
If you’re wondering about the possibility of creating a business as part of purchasing your French castle and living life in France on your own terms, then you’re not alone!
Plenty of American and international buyers do just that! And certainly, a French chateau could not only be a magical place in which to live, but a really good money earner!
Whether you’re considering creating a wedding venue business in your French chateau, a high-end luxury retreat in your castle, or a luxury holiday rental business with a focus on food, wine, wellness, art, or more, creating a business that earns serious revenue in your French chateau could be your exciting next step!
Get more familiar with some real-life examples of how your chateau investment could pay for itself and genuine business strategies to help you get there!
Invest in the right tools to give you the knowledge and confidence to be empowered to find your DREAM FRENCH CHATEAU! WE CAN HELP!
Check out our selection of resources below! Let us help you get knowledgeable, confident and empowered to successfully find and purchase your perfect castle in France and living your dream adventure in your very own French chateau!
-
THE ULTIMATE PROGAM FOR AMERICAN BUYERS PURCHASING FRENCH PROPERTY
Make sure you sign up for our brand new program launching soon! It’s our comprehensive roadmap for buying property in France specifically created for the unique requirements and needs of American buyers!
Stop struggling, wasting time and money trying to find a needle in a haystack! With our comprehensive roadmap, you will finally gain the knowledge and confidence to find, research, visit and purchase your dream French property!
Our program will help you avoid costly mistakes and frustrations so that you can finally make a decision that’s right for YOU and move forward with your French property purchase confidently and with joy!
-
1-HOUR PERSONALIZED LIVE EXPERT CALL
We have a limited number of time slots available for a 1 hour live calls with buyers focusing on any topic of your choice related to French property - including chateaux!
During these calls, you can ask us anything related to the French property search - no question is too big or small!
Whether it’s the big questions about where to start and how to find chateaux for sale in France, or a specific question about negotiating an offer, or what pitfalls to avoid with your French castle purchase, we can help!
If you want a truly independent unbiased professional opinion on a specific situation you’re facing related to looking for and purchasing French chateaux / castles, then we can help!
-
THE BEST WAYS TO FIND FRENCH CHATEAUS FOR SALE - ONLINE COURSE - OPTIMIZING YOUR FRENCH PROPERTY SEARCH
Ready to leverage our years of French real estate expertise combined with our unique cultural insight to FINALLY find your perfect French chateau while avoiding common pitfalls and maximizing your budget?
Want our expert advice on the best places to search for your French castle and find it? Want to learn insider secrets on how to successfully find French chateaux, ask the right questions, and make contact with the sellers to get the best response?
We even share our industry insight on how to hunt down the right information to hunt down FSBO chateau listings and off-market French castles!
We've developed an online course specifically focused on helping American property hunters in France get a handle on the main differences, and learn our expert strategies to find your dream property (including a chateau!!) in France!
-
Apply for Free Personalized Advice!
Every American buyer in France is different with their own unique search criteria, challenges and questions! No two French property searches are ever the same!
Want to get some FREE personalized expert advice? You’re in the right place! No obligation, no catch, just genuinely useful actionable expert advice for your French property search! Apply here!
-
Free 30 Minute Masterclass!
BRAND NEW! Check out our 30 minute free masterclass revealing the 7 key mistakes we see American buyers in France making and sharing our top tips and expert advice on how you can avoid them!
You will gain the insight and knowledge to avoid these mistakes that could cost you money, lost time, missed opportunities and endless frustration!
-
Free Expert advice - Our Blog!
Check out our blog where we share our expert strategies and industry secrets!
We share our insider tips helping you find your perfect French property! Whether you’re looking for a countryside property in Provence, a modern seaside villa on the French riviera, an apartment in Paris, or your very own chateau or castle in France, learn how to make your budget go further!
One of the best sources of our expert advice is our blog! We share our expert insight, market analysis and top tips and more!
All for free! Check out our blog here!