Silver surfers represent today’s typical overseas buyer according to recent survey
Around 70% of prospective overseas buyers are aged 50 or over according to the recent Overseas Buying Trends survey conducted by The Overseas Guide Company (OGC).
With a sample size of 1,114 respondents, the results identified that over half (59%) stated that emigration for retirement would be the purpose for their overseas property purchase with 40.7% explaining that their property budget (including buying costs) would sit between £100k-199k.
When it comes to financial support, 73% of respondents claimed they will rely on pensions and/or investments to support themselves. Richard Way, Editor of The Overseas Guide Company comments:
“The evidence paints a clear picture of today’s typical overseas buyer – a financially self-sufficient retired or semi-retired person looking for a discounted home abroad where they can enjoy a better way of life than in the UK.”
As more and more people look to move abroad for their golden years, seeking lower living costs and a better quality of life, France remains one of the most popular destinations affording a wonderfully warm climate, relaxed lifestyle, stunning natural beauty and easy access to the UK.
For those in their third age contemplating a move overseas, the Languedoc-Roussillon region in France will make for a wonderful place to relocate. Chosen for its three C’s – climate, coast and countryside as well as being one of the best places in the world to go canal boating, Languedoc is one of the most visited parts of south west France with 18.72% of all French enquiries accounting for the Languedoc region in September 2012 according to figures from overseas property portal, TheMoveChannel.com.
Alexis Goldberg, a writer for The Overseas Guide Company based in the Languedoc had this to say about the region:
“We live on the border of the Aude and Herault departments and we’re about 20 minutes south of Minerve. We chose this area as we love the Mediterranean climate and colours. The people are extremely friendly and you are close to Spain and the coast as well as the mountains and there are some wonderful towns and villages.
“There is not a huge amount of industry down in the Languedoc and many folk make a living by running vineyards or small agricultural farms as well as relying to some extent on the tourist industry. One of the things we love about living here is that people are not concerned with status – there’s a much simpler attitude to what makes life worth living here.”
As a result of Languedoc’s popularity, The Villages Group has decided to develop their first active living resort ‘village’ for those over 50 to enjoy at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Canal du Midi, one of Europe’s longest and widest canal systems, situated in the Languedoc region.
Danny Silver, MD of the new “active” living resorts for over 50’s, The Villages Group explains,
“The Overseas Guide Company has perfectly highlighted that people over 50 represent a significant market in the overseas property industry today. Interestingly, they discovered that 42.2% of respondents in the survey would like to buy property near a local village close to a resort. All our resorts will be built close to local towns to ensure residents can submerge themselves in the local community as and when they please and with a price tag of around €165,000 our villages match their budgets too.”
The Villages Group first “active living” village community will comprise of 107 villas on the banks of the Canal du Midi. This village site will afford full on-site amenities including tennis courts, indoor pool, gymnasium and quality entertainment programmes, perfect for living an active and fulfilling life within a community of like-minded individuals.
For more information please contact The Villages Group on + 33 1 4007 8625, email info@thevillagesgroup.com or visit www.thevillagesgroup.com.