Character 3 bedroom House for sale with countryside view in Matha, Poitou-Charentes

499,000 EUR 429,140 GBP 538,920 USD

Reference: 247228

Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2
Floor Size: 195 m2
Plot Size: 0.42 hectares / 1.04 acres

Features

Terrace
Garden
Private Pool
Fireplace
Countryside View
Quiet Area
Parking
Traditional Style
Good Condition

Details

In excellent condition throughout and full of character and charm, this superb barn conversion is set on over 1 acre of land with a heated swimming pool and situated right in the heart the village.

The front door opens into a huge dual-aspect farmhouse kitchen (40m2) with tiled floor, exposed beams, fitted kitchen units, double-height ceiling and glazed doors to the enclosed courtyard and pool to the back of the house. This room is easily large enough for a distinct kitchen, sitting and dining areas. Off the kitchen is the boiler room. To the right of the kitchen a wide passage leads to the sitting room. Off this passage is a good-size shower room (walk-in shower, wash basin and WC), which also has plumbing for a washing machine. The large sitting room (47m2) has a tiled floor, exposed stone walls, exposed beams, an attractive limestone Charentaise fireplace and a glazed door to the front garden. To the far side of the sitting room a doorway leads to a ground floor bedroom (12m2 - with tiled floor and high ceiling with exposed beams) and a room currently used as an office (17m2 - with tiled floor, exposed stone wall and sliding patio doors to the garden). It would be a simple matter to convert this room for use as a bedroom.

A wooden staircase rises from the kitchen to the first floor landing. To the left a bridge links the landing with a mezzanine room (14m2 - potential 5th bedroom). To the right the landing leads to a bedroom (14m2) which has an en-suite WC with a washbasin). At the end of the landing a door opens to the dual-aspect master bedroom (28m2) with wooden floor, exposed stone wall and exposed beam ceiling. Off this bedroom is an en-suite bathroom (free-standing bath, walk-in shower, washbasin and WC).

The house sits on a 4,197m2 plot. A drive leads from the village lane across the front garden to the house where there is plenty of parking space. To the back of the house is a prettily landscaped enclosed courtyard garden in which is the heated swimming pool. The far side of the courtyard is bounded by a large stone barn. Gates from the courtyard open to the rest of the garden which wraps around the side of the house and meets up with the garden to the front. There is a second access to the garden from another village lane.

This is a very attractive property which has been carefully converted.

Double glazing throughout the house also benefits from underfloor heating on most of the ground floor.

Show Map

France Property Buying Guide

1. Signing the Agreement (Compris)

On finding a property you wish to purchase you will need to negotiate the terms, price and conditions of the sale with the owner.

The next step, once you are in agreement, is to sign the preliminary contract (Compromis de Vente). This is a legal document and after ten days will be binding on both parties. Rules change frequently in France and it is best to consult with your notary about when this period starts. Generally the compris will be signed in France with the Agent.

Variants can be included in the compris, for example an Acte (clause) can be added if the name or names to go on the title deed have not been finalised. If a mortgage will be required to purchase the property, the details for this, including the name of the mortgage company, must be on the compris.

2. Paying the Deposit

Generally the deposit will be 10% of the agreed purchase price. This will normally be paid to the notaire. There are exceptions to this, if the agent holds a carte professionelle, is bonded and fully registered then you may pay them, but do not hand over the deposit to anyone else. If for some reason the purchase does not go through, for example, if you write to the notaire and the agent that you do not wish to go continue with the purchase before the contract is binding (within seven days of signing the compris), then your deposit would be repaid. This would also apply if a condition had not been met, or the mayor or S.A.F.E.R. (a government agency that has the right of first purchase on most rural property that comes onto the market in France) could oblige the purchaser to give way. If you decide after the seven days 'cooling off' period that you do not wish to complete the purchase and pull out of the sale you would lose your deposit. If however the vendor pulls out of the sale then you will receive your deposit back plus the same amount from the vendor.

3. On Completion

Generally it will take around two or three months to complete the purchase.

During this time the balance of the purchase money must be paid into the account of the notaire, this must be done well ahead of the completion date. The notaire will prepare the documents, check that the deed of sale (Acte de Vente) is in order and have the legal title ready to be signed over. It is possible to have someone sign on your behalf if you give them power of attorney. An interpreter may be of use at this point if your French is not very good and many Notaires will suggest (or insist) that an interpreter is with you.