Property for Sale - Le Clos du Serpolet

11190 Sougraigne
Aude, France

Background

Built in 1880 in the pretty village of Sougraigne, Le Clos du Serpolet is a charming and comfortable residence set in a peaceful wooded valley. Being located at the edge of the village the house offers the option of being part of the community, whilst also enjoying the privacy of its detached position.

Situated on the edge of the Corbieres wine region, it is reputed to enjoy not less than 300 days of sunshine each year.

It would make a lovely family home or, with its six bedrooms, three bathrooms and swimming pool, a successful Bed and Breakfast business.

Guided Tour

Click here for a pictorial guided tour through the house and grounds - The tour contains 38 photos, is 3MB in size and may take a little time to load.

Dimensions

House

First Floor

Dining room - 6.5m x 4m = 26sqm (21ft x 13ft)
Kitchen - 4.5m x 4m = 18 sqm (15ft x 13ft)
Back kitchen - 4.8m x 3m = 14.4sqm (16ft x 10ft)
Laundry room - 4.5m x 2.5m = 11.25sqm (15ft x 8ft)
Toilet/washroom - 3m x1.5m = 4.5sqm (9ft x 4.5ft)

Access to terrace from both the dining room and kitchen
Terrace - 13m x 4m = 52sqm (42ft x 13ft)

Second Floor

Salon - 7m x 6m = 42sqm (23ft x 19.5ft)
Bedroom (five) - 4m x 3.5m = 14sqm (13ft x 11.5ft)
Ensuite bathroom (three) - 4.5m x 3m = 13.5sqm = (14.5ft x 10ft)
Bedroom (six) - 4m x 4m = 16sqm (13ft x 13ft)
Ensuite toilet/washroom - 1.3m x 1m = 1.3sqm (4ft x 3ft)

Third Floor

Bedroom (one) - 4m x 4m = 16sqm (13ft x 13ft)
Bedroom (two) - 4m x 3.5m = 14sqm (13ft x 11.5ft)
Shower/toilet room (one) - 3m x 2.5m = 7.5sqm (10ft x 8ft)
Bedroom (three) - 4m x 3m = 12sqm (13ft x 10ft)
Bedroom (four) - 4m x 3m = 12sqm (13ft x 10ft)
Shower/toilet room (two) - 3m x 2.5m = 7.5sqm (10ft x 8ft)

Utilities

The house has mains water and electricity. Cooking facilities are gas and electric. There is gas central heating as a wood burning stove. The gas is supplied by Butagaz.

Furniture

Included within the price are:-

The grand piano.
Kitchen equipment, cooker, fridge, dishwasher and the like.

The remainder of the furniture can be purchased if required.

Land

There are 5 hectares (about 12 acres) of land, both adjoining and independent of the property.

The garden consists of approximately 1,000 sqm. Additionally there is a small vegetable garden adjacent to the main garden with a lean-to and henhouse.

There is a piece of land, suitable for picnics, just across the road from the main garden which leads down to a stream.

The remainder of the land is woodland non-adjacent to the main plot, where there is the remains of a barn/bergerie (four walls but no roof).

Location

Located in the Departement of the Aude in the South West of France.
Situated 15km southeast of Couiza.

The nearest airport is 50 mins away at Carcassonne with Ryanair flights to London Stansted, Dublin, East Midlands (March 2006), Liverpool (March 2006) and Charleroi.

Other airports within easy reach are Perpignan and Toulouse.

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).

Within 5 minutes of Sougraigne you will find the Spa village of Rennes les Bains with its warm thermal waters.

A little further 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.

There is a horse riding school in the village and a municipal tennis court.

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

In one of the local villages 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

400,000 Euros, or near price

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

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