Steffie invested near Annecy from Spain

Steffie has lived abroad for 16 years. When she tried to buy in France on her own, the banks would not follow her: she had no income in France. With the programme, she obtained a 20-year loan with a six-month deferral, which she can extend by two years after the first year to lower her €988 monthly repayment. What she did not expect was the paperwork: documents to print and post, which she handled alone, as her husband does not speak French.

In this area, she could do short-term lets and earn more. She chose a long-term furnished let: she wants “peace of mind”. The studio is let for €1,200 including charges, against a total cost of about €1,050 a month with insurance: she keeps about €150 each month. It was let ten weeks after the signing.

From Spain, Steffie wanted to buy the studio from the floor plan alone, given the price per square metre. The agency insisted on a viewing: she sent her parents, who live an hour’s drive away, to check the surroundings and the state of the building. She signed without seeing the studio. In the first few days, she barely slept and woke up at night to redo her calculations. During the works, her parents sometimes stayed on site for a few days.

The studio of about 36 m² had a separate kitchen. She used a technique from the programme: moving the kitchen into the living room to create a bedroom. She booked her tradespeople well in advance: the deed was signed on 19 August and work began on the 21st. She followed everything by video and photos, talking to the tradespeople almost every day. The works cost €36,000, more than the €29,500 agreed with the bank.