Finding a dream life in Burgundy...

06/10/23 • 33 min

Kate Veach and her husband Nathan were already living a life very connected to France with a French restaurant in Geelong outside of Melbourne, Australia but always dreamed of living in France, so just prior to COVID they made the decision to get serious about achieving their dream. They knew they loved Burgundy so drew a circle around Beaune with a limit of an hour travel distance and found their dream property 56 minutes from the epicentre of their search!

They had a brief to follow for the search of being in a village, walking distance to amenities, with a cellar and in a wine area. None of which was in the final property! They have found a property in a hamlet 3kms from a village with a number of outbuildings and some land which they found online during the Melbourne COVID lockdowns and bought sight unseen with only 7 photos! Purchasing remotely of course is a big risk so they engaged a buyers advocate to decipher the legal documents and work through the finer details. The result has been a beautiful experience of restoring the 100ish year old house and 500 year old barn, establishing themselves in a little French community.

There is so much to do and see in Burgundy. Kate told me about the picturesque villages to meander through, Burgundian food is known to be focused on fresh local produce and there is a wonderful Burgundy wine route. The area is also well known for excellent brocante!

Whilst there are challenges along the way, Kate recommends to anyone dreaming of a similar life as hers, just do it! Be realistic with your skill set to achieve the dream, but once that's clear, get going and do it! It's been the best thing she has ever done!

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Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.
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Previous Episode

Navigating a dream move to France with Adrian Leeds!

When Adrian Leeds first visited France on a European trip with her not-yet-husband in 1979, she knew right then that Paris was a place that fed her soul.

Since that time over the last 28 years she has built a business that is devoted to assisting Anglophones from all over the world to turn their dreams of moving to France into a reality. The Adrian Leeds Group is now the go-to company for finding out all the details and pitfalls of navigating the complexities when wanting to purchase property and live in France. Adrian seems to have a special skill though which I think is essential, she sees the property in terms of its potential and what it can be rather than just what it is on first viewing. Adrian reminds her clients that they are buying what they can't change. The view, the light, the bones of the building structure is fairly set, but the rest is smoke and mirrors! No need to despair if you don't like the pink walls of a property you find! Adrian also has a team who will work to renovate for the client as well if that's what they want or need. She will work with the client to ascertain what their plans are, whether they want to purchase or rent, assist to find an appropriate property and find the way forward. Some people start with "I've been dreaming of moving to France..." whereas others have very specific ideas already set. Adrian's also great at giving a reality check for people who wear rose coloured glasses!

I have often heard from guests and listeners who have bought a place in France off the internet sight unseen! Adrian assists with this sort of situation regularly. Through COVID, Adrian had dozens of clients for whom she found properties, made a plan with the client, completed all the due diligence, then completed the renovation or restoration with her amazing teams in both Paris and Nice. I'm sure having her team working on the ground in France would have been great comfort to the client that what they saw on the internet was what they would actually get!

Adrian does caution against purchasing in France without a buyer's agent. Buyer beware! The seller's agent is only concerned about selling the property, not necessarily about the issues that could be associated with the property. I think if making a huge life decision such as buying property and moving to a foreign country, it only makes sense to get expert advice. There are a number of considerations for how to set up a purchase that will impact the manner in which the property can be passed on to future generations so this expert advice is in my opinion a fabulous investment.
Tune in to hear all the details as well as Adrian's take on life in Paris and France.
Come and escape to France with us xx

Next Episode

Paris Perfect? Yes it is!

Madelyn Byrne is the founder and visionary behind the apartment rental business Paris Perfect. She grew up in a military family as an American but also a global citizen. as her father was stationed in Italy through some of her childhood. Working in London after College, Madelyn took a skiing weekend break in France with a friend and met her French husband, Philippe. Loaning out Philippe's Paris apartment to friends when working and studying elsewhere, started the business she has today.

Paris Perfect rentals are purposefully managed as rental apartments rather than staying in someone's home who has just been moved out temporarily. Everything has been considered for travelers including a concierge to greet guests and to connect with in Paris. There are apartments with exquisite views, for all occasions. There are romantic retreats, family friendly rentals or luxury stays.

The concierge at Place Dauphine is in an old hotel Madelyn bought and renovated. It's a 400 year old building which now has fabulous apartments decorated sympathetically with modern convenience. Madelyn told me all about the experience of turning this stunning old building into a functional space. The restoration turned out to be a labour of love. Madelyn had to go through 6 different historical committees to have an elevator installed! The buildings in Place Dauphine were built by Henri IV after the 30 years war of religion on the King's land. There were 32 little homes built for the workers of the king in 1610 on Place Dauphine. Madelyn found when renovating the "mother-beam". It is a massive beam which would have been floated down the Seine to the building and is positioned on the second floor holding all the building together. She also found an entrance from the cellar to the sewers of Paris. (**Both Madelyn and I highly recommend the tour of the Paris sewers which is accessed on the Tour Eiffel side of the Pont d'Alma.) Renovating an historic building such as Madelyn did will obviously have difficulties but also wonderful rewards. Peeling back all the layers of history when in the middle of the restoration can be fascinating, discovering the history of that particular building and uncovering its story.
Tune in to hear all about Madelyn's story. Come and escape to Paris with us!