Claire BROWN's selection of French property for sale

About my area

I live near the town of Saint Maixent L’ecole in the Deux Sèvres, named for the two rivers flowing through the department. We are lucky to be in the 2nd sunniest region in France with great value for money on the housing market. There is lots to see and do in the region - the Deux-Sevres is very charming and known for its lovely rolling countryside and sunflower fields in the summer. While it remains authentically French, there is a nice mix of friendly locals and expats here. There are wonderful weekly food markets, as well as seasonal ones for plants, home-made products and antiques. Lots of French is spoken, and we enjoy a relaxed pace and lifestyle. Popular places to visit in this corner of the former region of Poitou-Charentes include Parthenay, Bressuire, Thouars and Coulon. To the west of Niort is a vast expanse of marshland called the Marais Poitevin; referred to as La Venise Verte, it is criss-crossed by a network of canals which can be explored by boat in a traditional barque.

About me

I moved to France in 2006 with my husband Graham and our dog Tessie, both of us were eager to get away from our long daily commutes and the fast paced life of the UK. We were looking for a more relaxed lifestyle and flexible work opportunities. We, like many others, bought a house in need of renovation with a view to sell it when completed, as often happens, plans change and my husband began working for other people who had a similar idea, and I returned to the UK from time to time to work. We are now living in our 3rd house in France and so have gained a lot of inside experience in both renovating and the house-hunting process! Working for Leggett has been a natural step as I really enjoy meeting new people and helping them find their perfect property in France. I love walking and have in the last 15 years travelled to many parts of France on holiday in pursuit of this hobby as well as being vehicle support for my cyclist husband.