THIS LINK IS GOOD FOR THE REGION PROPERTY

www.1st-for-french-property.co.uk , go to 'property for sale' then click franche comte on the map.
Most of the properties in the area are dealt with by an agent called Didier, whos name and details will be below each property as a contact. Didier was great, genuinely helpful and a real challenge to my british cynicism. He helped us along an uncomplicated path and helped us with several after sales care matters such as getting water and electricity back on line, chasing some home insurance for us and continued support. I had heard rumours that there were good guys like this out there.
He has given permission for me to post his details here - contact him if you would like to find out details of available properties in your price range etc.
"Oh! And I also agree with you most importantly...Didier Laurent is an absolute star. He helped us way beyond the call of duty and is still helping more than a year after our purchase..." (qoute from another customer of Didier)

didier.laurent44@wanadoo.fr


The site has several properties on, for example, this one for £15,000 and another for just 7,000. However, you could have bought this above property for around 8 or 9,000 just 2 years ago and with a bit of spit and polish, have it back on the market. Not what we plan to do, but some folks like that kind of thing.
ONE REAL BONUS of the areas properties:
Many are farmhouses, in fact, most villages are made up of farm houses. Unlike England where you will have some land and one farmhouse, here you have miles of land, and a village of houses.
Oh yeah - the good bit - the house is often built inside of an integral barn. Let me explain. Our house has a lounge /kitchen and two bedroom above and to the side with a cellar underneath. To the side of the living room is huge barn space, behind is also barn space as is above. and also above the bedrooms. The house part is all properly separate, but its all under one roof.......which means, you can pretty much make all of it living space without planning permission. Its always good to ask, but if an area, say, above your kitchen is properly boarded like a floor, this is basis for another room and will probably be included anyways in you local taxe de habitation. Now i can build away in the rest of the HUUUUUUUUGE barn space for lots of open planned living, but probably need to get this looked at as it will increase my tax by a few pounds. But when your taxes for just about everything are only a few hundred pounds a year - this probably wont be much of an increase. If you ever want to clarify any details or plans you might have, this is a great forum for just about any france home and living issues: www.totalfrance.com
But Hey = dont skimp taxes - i feel good that my taxes are helping in these rural communities. It really is benefitting You and the person next door to you.