Most popular businesses for foreigners to be involved in, is in the tourist industry. Many started a bed and breakfast, gîte, campground, bar or a agricultural business as a vineyard. It is good to start something that you know of and not to big to handle. If you are thinking of a bed and breakfast, it is best not to start with a huge castle and happily intend to renovate with the income of the business. Many foreign investors lost their savings because they started with too big of a project. There are many foreign entrepreneurs in the tourist industry and they almost always want to tell you about their experience.
There are hundreds, if not thousands of ancient buildings for sale in France. You can buy them in any phase of renovation. If you are not a professional in construction, you may want to look for a building that is at least partly renovated. These castles were built for different purposes than today's standards. It was merely a place to hide from canon balls and arrows, which is less of a threat in today's France. The walls are often more than 4 feet thick and it requires a little more effort than to move a wall of sheet rock.
If you are renovating a building with historic meaning, you may want to consider to list your property as such.
Even though it will restrict you in your efforts to renovate the building, it also protects you in a way. Castles have proved to be a excellent marketing tool to advertise for amusement parks and campgrounds. Chances are that if you are done with renovating, you will get a campground or tourist trap as a neighbor. If they purchased the grounds legally, there is not a whole lot you can do about it. Unless your castle is listed as a historical building...
Spain :
- Legal, Visa, taxes, importing, legal help,wills, taxes in real estate, double taxation ,
- Health and Insurance, property insurance, health insurance, pets,
- Real Estate in Spain, location, buying process, finance ,
- Financial services, banks,
- Living in Spain, moving to Spain, clubs
- Education, Learn Spanish in Spain
France
- Legal, Visa, taxes, importing , wills, taxes in real estate, double taxation
- Area Information, The Provence and Côte d'Azur
- Health and Insurance, property insurance, health insurance,
- Real Estate in France, location, buying process, financing , clubs, running a B&B,
- Financial services, banks,
- Download page: Visa application, building permits etc.
- Education, Learn French in France
