Character 5 bedroom house for sale with countryside view in Cognac, Poitou-Charentes

798,000 EUR 686,280 GBP 861,840 USD

Reference: 244778

Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 4
Floor Size: 470 m2
Plot Size: 1.39 hectares / 3.45 acres

Features

Private Pool
Original Features
Possible Extra Dwellings
Countryside View
Quiet Area
Parking
Traditional Style
Good Condition

Details

Stunning 5 bedroom stone built barn conversion, which is ideally set on the edge of a small hamlet, yet just a 15 minute drive from the historic town of Cognac.

Wjith very substantial living accommodation, heated swimming pool, substantial outbuildings and plenty of land.

Main house:
Ground floor: large entrance hall opening onto a huge open-plan kitchen/dining room with a wall of floor-to-ceiling glazed doors overlooking the south-facing garden and the vines beyond. Off this room is an equally large living room. Games room/bar, 2 large en-suite double bedrooms and a laundry room.

First floor, which is accessed via an impressive bespoke staircase: large mezzanine (plenty of space for a home office and library). A corridor provides access to 3 more bedrooms (the master suite having a dressing room, a shower room and access to a roof terrace overlooking the garden). In addition to this there is a family bathroom.

The level garden is mainly left to lawn and enjoys far-reaching views. To one side is a walled garden that houses the heated swimming pool. Beyond this is a 2 bedroom mobile home. The property also comes with substantial outbuildings with the possibility of conversion (subject to necessary permissions).

The house benefits from double-glazing and underfloor heating. The 2 ground floor bedrooms can be completely independent of the main house, with possible potential as a gite business (subject to the necessary permissions).

Just a short drive from Cognac and only an hour from Royan and the Atlantic coast, this large property is in a great location and offers income potential if desired.

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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.