ALTHOUGH Paris is renowned for its American contingent the magic of France draws people from the United States to all corners of the Hexagon.
One of these is Lisa Feay, right, who has settled in to her home with her partner Ian in the foothills of the Pyrenees, near Carcassonne.
A long way from her previous homes in New York, Glasgow and Minneapolis.
“It took me six months, I visited five departments, met 23 different estate agents and in total saw 64 houses before finding the house I wanted,” said Lisa.
“I knew I wanted a place that was quite big with some land somewhere in the Languedoc Roussillon, I wasn’t prepared to compromise and that’s why it took so long.”
However, although Lisa found the right place it still needed work doing on it as it had been boarded up for two years and had been a rental property for six years before that.
But with a background in television and design, plus keeping an eye for the colours of the region, Lisa has worked hard on her new home.
“It is a fairly modern house built in the ‘50s so much of it is made from common materials, so I’ve kept the walls very plain but hung a lot of artwork,” Lisa said.
“I like deep oranges and reds so the furniture is in these colours, but I’ve looked to match different rooms with touches of the same colours.
“But all around the area are lovely tiled roofs with houses of muted, pastelly colours.”
It is this experience of buying a property in France that has led Lisa to set-up a business offering a personalised relocation service.
Drawing on her local knowledge of the area, as well as how to register children in school, buying a car and finding a plumber she guides people through the pit-falls.
“It’s all well and good having a new home in the sunshine but if you don’t know how to pay your bills, or where the mairie is it can soon lose its lustre,” said Lisa.
“I’ve done everything from translating abbreviations in house sale adverts to opening a bank account, even helped to find a dog trainer for a client’s pet.
“Ultimately the secret is that you have to stay in a place long enough to slowly settle and take root.
“One day you will wake up and decide if you are either going to go with it, or spend the rest of your time pulling your hair out.”
Visit Lisa’s Relocate to France website.