It is always a real pleasure to talk to Jameson Farn, his knowledge of the property market on the Riviera, whether it is for rental or for purchase, is truly amazing.
Aside from that, Jameson is very cool indeed, for him the Riviera a perfect place to call home, just like me! And, just like he and I, there are more people travelling to this small piece of paradise seeking to call it home or coming to savour the Riviera experience. Some come with expectations that cannot be met, such as jumping out of bed into the Med which can only be found by having huge luck and even deeper pockets.
For some their home countries are becoming less desirable for various reasons and for others they are seeking the opportunity of spreading their wings. Both groups, and those in between, want to enjoy the life changing adventure that living on the Riviera brings. Those who haven’t access to an EU passport need to think carefully about the type of visa that they require, residency requirements and the other administrative aspects of swapping countries and together with moving from one culture to another. That said, if it is the ‘dream’ then it is entirely realisable.
It is interesting to see that families are seeking to move their lives completely to live and work here. A worry is, of course, that the schools will be suitable for their children. Happily this is not a worry as the independent system of international schools is excellent. When I say international, I mean pupils from many nations congregating under one umbrella which leads to an awesome opportunity to make new friends and expand the mind. Many enter the school system in France which may not be quite so diverse, but provides an excellent education.
Singles, couples and parents have no cause for concern about building a social life. If they are working then colleagues will obviously become a source of friends as will the school gate for the guardians of their offspring. However, if that does not springboard someone into a social life, or you are a sole entrepreneur, maybe a retiree, there are a multitude of resources available from many internet groups. It can be guaranteed that there will be people with whom you can mix on a social level or indulge in an activity. The beauty is that the Riviera attracts those who want to be there, so everyone has that in common!
The rules remain the same, be sensible with the budget and reasonable with expectations. Do not expect things to work like they did ‘back home’. Prices of homes on the Riviera are fairly stable, there will be exceptions though generally it is not as frantic as it was a few years ago. Jameson’ recommends taking time out to find the right location in and out of season as the two experiences can be very different. What works for a short break can prove to be less attractive when you are living somewhere full time.
Of course, there will be hurdles. Jameson, for one, is always open to offering advice and discussing practicalities.
Useful links
Experience The French Riviera on Instagram | GayFrenchRiviera.substack.com | Jameson’s Bathhouse Babylon book
All photos courtesy Jameson Farn / Experience The French Riviera
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