Why NOW is the Time to Invest in Languedoc Roussillon Property

The recession that hit the world in 2008 has, not surprisingly, affected the property markets in France. By December 2008, the French alliance of real estate agents (FNAIM) reported a 20% to 25% decrease in the buying selling of properties compared to figures a year earlier. In addition, the federation's October property market trend report indicated that after 10 years of robust property price increases, it seems that prices will now stagnate or even decline. This of course means that nowadays... it's a buyer's market!

The Languedoc Roussillon area is no exception and property prices in the area have indeed been dwindling a bit. This is despite the fact that the location continues to be a favored area for relocation and 2nd home owners for investors in and out of France.

In addition to offering splendid views, the Languedoc-Roussillon area has also been noted as great for business. In a June survey by the Le Figaro publication, the Languedoc-Roussillon placed second as the area that had the most successful small to medium enterprises (SME). (SMEs are business that employ over 10 but less than 250 employees, and present over EUR2 million but less than EUR43 million in yearly income).

The publication of the survey results could not have been timed better. It came out during the inauguration of the Maison de la Region in London's Cavendish Square. This is the Languedoc-Roussillon Conseil Regional's fourth base abroad (the first three being Brussels, Milan, and Shanghai), making it the only French state to have set up official offices in the world's central business districts. The purpose of the Maison de la Region is to promote business interests (in the areas of gastronomy, tourism, and others) between the UK and the south of France.

Of course, all these promotions will be for naught if the Languedoc-Roussillon region fails to deliver and that is definitely NOT the case. In fact, it was recently mentioned in the Lonely Planet's 2009 Blue List, a compilation of MUST-SEE locations for the year. On the list, the Languedoc-Roussillon area was described as a "Cinderella of the South". Lonely Planet acknowledged the fact that Languedoc-Roussillon is often bypassed in favor of the more popular Provence and the Cote d'Azur. However, the fact that Languedoc-Roussillon is indeed one of the more 'secret haunts' in southern France makes it all the better for the traveler to experience its "discreet charm" and "sandy beaches and dynamic towns" in peace.

The Languedoc-Roussillon region offers five splendid cities for your travels: the Nimes, Montpellier, Beziers-Cap d'Agde, Carcassonne and Perpignan. And with inexpensive airline carriers flying to them from the UK and Ireland, now is definitely the best time for you to enjoy Languedoc-Roussillon. Who knows, you may even decide to relocate there or make it the target of your second home purchase.

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