House prices have increased almost everywhere in France in recent years, so much so that a person with a moderate salary can afford on average to buy a property six square metres smaller in major cities today than in 2017.
But there are still affordable homes out there if you are willing to make some sacrifices, either in terms of location, size or renovation time and work.
We list below eight properties that cost €50,000 or below to show what is on offer for people who are home-hunting on a budget.
Some of the properties are ready to move into, while others require work but could make a good home with the right renovations.
We have excluded homes that are unlivable in terms of size, such as the various properties that are under 10 square metres and do not have toilets located in the Ile-de-France area. You can see an example of this with this five-square-metre room available in Paris’ ninth arrondissement here.
With most of these properties, information on energy efficiency or internet connection is not immediately available, but can be requested.
For more information on all the properties we have listed, including pictures, click through the link provided.
1. Three-room chalet on the Côte d'Azur - €45,000
This 36-square-metre chalet is more a mobile home aimed at those who want a get-away. However, it is fully equipped, modern and, importantly, low cost.
It is situated in a campsite near Fréjus on the French Riviera and boasts a 15-square-metre terrace, a parking space, air conditioning, electric heaters and all the equipment needed to start living in immediately.
It should be noted that the campsite facilities are only open for nine months of the year. You also have to pay an annual fee of €9,808 to cover the cost of renting the land, utilities, access to campsite facilities, etc.
2. 90-square metre rural hideaway - €44,800
This next property is definitely a fixer-upper. It is a five-room, 90-square-metre brick cottage that is in quite a dilapidated condition. But it is great for anyone looking for a project, and especially for someone looking for peace and quiet.
The home itself is located one kilometre away from the nearest village, which is Menet in south-central France, around a one hour and 45 minute drive from Clermont-Ferrand.
The home sits at an altitude of 600 metres, has four bedrooms, and 2,500 square metres of surrounding land.
It is not for the faint-hearted, but it has a lot of potential.
3. Three-bedroom ready-to-go house - €47,500
This 82-square-metre, three-bedroom, two-floor house is all ready to be moved into.
It is located just nine kilometres from Bourbonne-les-Bains, a thermal spa town, in the Haute-Marne department in north-eastern France.
The house itself is fully equipped, although could do with being freshened up. The downside is that it is in the middle of nowhere, but that is a boon for certain people.
4. Studio at the port of the Canal du Midi - €46,000
This cosy - or to state it simply, tiny - 19-square-metre studio flat is situated in Agde in southwestern France (Occitanie).
But that space does not include its balcony overlooking the port.
It is a simple one room, one bathroom affair, but it does also have storage space above the ceiling.
It is not its size that makes it attractive, though, but rather its location. Agde is the Mediterranean port of the Canal du Midi, a 240-km long body of water considered to be one of the greatest construction works of the 17th century.
In general, Agde has great weather almost year round, and it is not far from the larger Béziers or Montpellier.
5. Simple one-bedroom in Saint-Étienne - €49,900
This is a no-thrills flat that has everything you need and nothing more. It is just shy of 60 square metres, has a balcony and a separate kitchen and bedroom.
The benefit is that it is located in the city of Saint-Étienne, which, while it might not be the most attractive city in France, is still a large enough hub of activity. Finding any property for under €50,000 in a city in France is almost impossible.
And if Saint-Étienne is not to your liking, the much larger Lyon is just an hour away by car or train.
6. Spacious four-bedroom home - €50,000
This 85-square-metre home, which comes with 350-square-metres of land, comes in at the upper limit of our budget.
It is located one kilometre from the train station in the village of Sermizelles, in the Yonne department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France.
The closest major city is Dijon, which is a one-and-a-half-hour drive away, so it is a rural property.
But it has everything you need spread over three floors. There are four bedrooms, a courtyard, garden, kitchen, a living room and a dining room.
The decor is somewhat ‘grandmotherly’, and so the property would need a good freshening up.
7. Houseboat moored in Paris suburbs - €32,000
If you want something a little different, you could try this 16-square-metre houseboat, moored in Vigneux-sur-Seine just south of Paris.
It has recently been renovated, has a living area, a bedroom, a bathroom and a fully equipped kitchen space. The advantage is that you do not need to pay property taxes such as the taxe foncière or the taxe d'habitation.
It costs €300 a month to dock the boat.
8. Old country home, exposed wooden beams, a lot of land - €40,000
This charming country home in Brittany has the huge selling point of coming with almost 1,400 square metres of land.
It certainly needs work, but with a bit of effort could be made into a lovely home, with exposed wooden beams and a lot of authentic feel.
The home itself is 71 metres squared and has two upstairs bedrooms. It is located in the village of Moncontour in Côtes-d'Armor.
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