Buying A French Chateau Can Cost Less Than A Los Angeles Teardown

With Los Angeles home prices hitting stratospheric levels, some buyers are looking elsewhere. For the same price they might spend on a teardown, buyers are considering authentic properties, estates, and timeless mansions worldwide, including France.

Looking for prime real estate abroad is a time-honored tradition. In 170, Malcolm Forbes purchased and restored the 17th-century Chateau de Bellerory in Normandy. The Forbes family would own the property for close to five decades.

Buyers will be surprised how far $2 million or so will go in the French countryside. In West Los Angeles, about half that amount will buy you a single-family, 996-square-foot teardown on a 6,190-square-foot lot. Two million dollars is also about the median listing price in Santa Monica, according to Realtor.com.

With the world working remotely and international travel restrictions being lifted, think of the possibilities. It may even be a worthwhile investment in addition to five-star real estate cocktail party bragging rights. Do educate yourself on buying and owning property in France by working with knowledgeable local real estate professionals like Forbes Global Properties Member Groupe Mercure.

Here are several interesting French chateaus around France currently on the market.

Renovated Chateau in Dordogne: US $2,197,988

Consider this renovated chateau in the Dordogne Valley in the Southwest of France. A wooded park-like setting is perfect for this 4,844-square-foot chateau and 1,722 square foot guest house on the property. The renovation and interior design are top-shelf. The property hosts a total of seven bedrooms and seven bathrooms. As if that is not enough, there is a gym, spa, sauna and a heated swimming pool to enjoy.

South of France: 17th – 19th Century Mansion: US $1,306,912

For the price of Beverly Hills condominium, you can be the proud owner of this mansion in the South of France, which was originally used as a wine estate. This property has a long history dating back to the 13th century. Surrounded by well-tended gardens, the three-story mansion has 5,381 square feet of living space, an independent apartment, and a guest or caretaker’s house.

The property is 20 minutes inland from the Mediterranean between the villages of Montpellier and Nîmes. Montpellier is the third-largest city in France near the Mediterranean Coast. The medieval city of Montpellier attracts visitors from around the world. The city’s Opera Comedie dates to 1888.

West Of France 19th Century Chateau 150 Miles from Paris: US $1,366,317

This 19th-century, 10-room chateau, located about 150 miles from Paris, is on over 12 acres and is surrounded by mature landscaping and a pond. There are 4306 square feet of living space spread out over four floors. Marble fireplaces and authentic wood flooring add to the chateau’s inherent elegance. Five bedrooms welcome guests and family alike. The chateau is in “excellent condition.”

Sablé-sur-Sarthe, where the chateau is located, is in the Pays de Loire region of western France. It became famous in the 19th century for its marble quarries.

Gracious Estate: The Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region: US $1,372,257

Built in the 18th century with a caretaker’s cottage, this property has been fully renovated. Authentic stone and parquet wood flooring, interior wood beams, and fireplaces throughout create a 9-bedroom 4-bath estate. Park-like grounds surround the property, and a heated swimming pool completes the appeal. Nouvelle-Aquitane is the largest region in France with its largest city, Bordeaux.

Groupe Mercure is a founding member of Forbes Global Properties, a consumer marketplace and membership network of elite brokerages selling the world’s most luxurious homes.