Property for Sale

11140 Joucou
Aude, France

Background

A two-bedroom village house in stone, with terrace and partially-converted attic. Set in a small village in a peaceful wooded valley. Situated on the Plateau de Sault it is reputed to enjoy not less than 300 days of sunshine each year.

Photos

Click here for photos of the house and village.

Dimensions

Living Room/Dining Room/Kitchen: 21ft x 13ft
Bedroom 1: 13ft x 11ft
Bedroom 2: 11ft x 11ft
Bathroom: 5ft7 x 4ft9

Utilities

The house has mains water and electricity.

Location

Joucou is located in the Departement of the Aude in the South West of France and is situated 10km southwest of Quillan.

The nearest airports are:

1 hour 20 mins away at Carcassonne, with Ryanair flights to London Stansted, Dublin, East Midlands, Liverpool and Charleroi (Brussels).
1 hour 10 mins away at Perpignan, with Ryanair flights to London Stansted.
2 hours 15 mins away at Toulouse, with flights to London Gatwick and Bristol.

Click here for a map showing Joucou at a local level.

Click here for a map of France showing the location of Joucou.

Surrounding Area

This is the ideal place for those who love nature. The area is rich in footpaths which offer many opportunities for walking. If you're a birdwatcher, there are larks, short-toed eagle, shrike, nightingale and oriole amongst others. There is a profusion of wild flowers, including orchids. In Autumn one can find edible wild mushrooms such as ceps (porcini).

40 minutes away is the hilltop village of Rennes le Chateau has inspired numerous books, including The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail and, indirectly, The Da Vinci Code.

There are many other stunning castles and historic sites to see in the Languedoc, an area proud of its Cathar heritage. At Carcassonne you will find the only fortified town in Europe still inhabited.

Also in the area there are opportunities for rafting and canoe-kayaking on the river Aude.

In one of the local villages, Esperaza, a dinosaur is being excavated, although normal fossil hunters usually settle for something a little smaller.

Within 90 minutes you can be on a sandy Mediterranean beach or, travelling in the opposite direction, in the mountains of the Pyrenees. It is also 90 minutes to the Spanish border.

Useful Information

General Information regarding the procedure for purchasing a property in France

Once a property has been viewed and the price settled between the seller and the purchaser, here are the stages which follow:

1. Surveyors, as such, do not exist in France. although there are plenty of builders/architects (or foreign surveyors who have moved to France) who will look over a property for you if you feel it necessary - the majority of people will buy a house without a structural survey.

2. Inheritance Laws - The French inheritance laws should be taken into consideration when deciding on how you will buy your house.

3. Gazumping does not exist under the French system. Once a sale has been agreed and the first signing effected it is exceptionally rare that a sale falls through.

4. Both parties will then go to the Notaire (Notary). He will draw up the contract and do all the legal work. In France it is normal that both parties use the same Notaire. Both parties will sign the "Compromis de Vente" (agreement of sale). At this point the buyer will pay a deposit of approximately 10 percent of the asking price - this is non-refundable. The date for the final signing is usually specified at this time.

5. It is the responsibility of the seller to arrange for surveys for termites, asbestos and lead.

6. Approximately 60 to 90 days after the first signing there will be the final signing of the "Acte de Vente" where the contract will be signed again by both parties. The Notaire should show the buyer a copy of the "Cadastre" (land record) detailing the number(s) of the property to be purchased. Also the results of the three surveys stated above. The total amount outstanding will be payable on this date.

Price

55,000 Pounds
approximately 80,000 Euros
approximately 100,000 Dollars

Additional to this will be the taxes and fees payable to the Notaire (lawyer) of approximately 10 percent.

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