Which Expatriates Make the Most of Living in France?

Most people who think about moving abroad want to know as much information in advance to make sure that their move will be a success.  Therefore people read books, research on the Internet, join expat forums and try and find as much as they can to generally help them prepare properly for the relocation.

Well now, thanks to the likes of HSBC International, researching would-be expats have another way of finding out pertinent information that will help them determine whether or not a) they’re cut out for a new life abroad and b) whether the country they have chosen for their expatriation is right for them.

In a recent survey by HSBC into the lives of their expat customers, there is a very clear and distinct group of people who settle well into life across the Channel.  If you’re thinking that maybe France is the place that you want to settle down, in this article we’ll look at which expatriates make the most of living in France.

The Expat Explorer Survey looks in depth at the quality of life international citizens have in their new nation of choice, and when it comes to France, the findings are generally relatively positive…particularly for the over 55 age group.  It was determined by the survey findings that those aged 55 plus are in the majority when it comes to settling in so well that they buy immovable property and set up permanent home in France.

64% of all survey respondents who had expatriated to France had ended up buying a home to live in, and of that 64%, 65% were over the age of 55 proving what many have often thought, and that is that France is a retirement hotspot.  However, not all those who move to France decide to retire, because of all the nations examined by the survey, France was also one of the most popular with expatriates who wanted to set up a business.

According to HSBC, almost a quarter of those who move to France set up a business of some sort or another – so perhaps rather than just retiring to France, expats choose to take a slower pace of life and to control their own destiny by starting their own business.  The average age of respondents in France was just shy of 50 – naturally enough this goes someway to explaining how many of them are in the financial position to be able to afford a home and even a business.  It also suggests strongly that those who do expatriate across the Channel are doing so from a more mature life experience position.

Therefore, the expatriates who make the most of living in France are those who are a little bit older, a little bit wiser and perhaps those who want to establish a more realistic life where a home and a business are part of the equation.  If you have dreams of following in these expats’ footsteps, we suggest you take some time getting to know the region of France you’re planning on living in and making sure that you can settle down to a realistic life abroad.