The central Bank of France anticipates that the country’s economy will see growth of 0.8% during the second quarter, doubling the rate from the first part of 2011. French consumer spending also increased, as did hiring. Bloomberg also reports that the number of jobless surveys completed reduced.

Continuing its eight year reign as the most visited country in the world, France yet again claimed the top spot in the annual survey by the UN World Tourism Organization with 78.95 million visitors. Paris was the most visited city in France.

The top four most visited countries in the world in 2010 were:

1. France
2. United States
3. China
4. Spain

• French property values increased sharply in 2010 and have continued the upward trend through the beginning of 2011. The Ile-de-France region has seen the most significant increases, though the rest of France has too seen property values increasing. The rising values in 2010 were more consistent across old homes than across old apartments, though both property types increased in value.
• The French real estate market is returning in strength to the volumes of the 2000 – 2007 period, with nearly 800,000 transactions in 2010.
• The first half of 2011 is anticipated to be busier than the second half of the year due to rising interest rates, next year’s presidential elections, and proposed inheritance tax reforms.
• French properties in the historical districts of major cities in France are expected to increase in value by 10% or more in 2011.
• The real estate market overall, while expected to continue to rise in value, will not be as explosive as in 2010, with more moderate price increases already observed in the first quarter of 2011.
 

Key French tax deadlines to note for 2011

30/04/2011 is the deadline to submit :

• 2010 VAT declaration for French leasebacks
• 2010 income declaration for furnished French rental property
• 2010 French income tax declaration for French "Société Civile Immobilière" or “SCI”s

15/05/2011 is the deadline to submit the 2010 declaration of foreign company shareholders (or be subject to the 3% tax)

31/05/2011 is the deadline for French residents to submit their 2010 income tax declarations

15/06/2011 is the deadline to submit your 2010 declaration for the French “Impot sur la fortune” or “Wealth tax” if you are a French resident

30/06/2011 is the deadline for non-residents to submit their French income tax declarations for 2010

15/09/2011 is the deadline to pay your 2010 income tax bill

15/10/2011 is the deadline to pay your 2010 property tax bill or "Taxe fonciere"

15/11/2011 is the deadline to pay your 2010 occupation tax or “Taxe d’habitacion”

15/12/2011 is the deadline to pay your 2010 professional tax or “Taxe professionelle”

If you’re interested in buying or investing in French real estate, hiring a French mortgage broker will help you demystify how home finance works in France and save you time and money. Expert mortgage brokers have built and maintained strong relationships with numerous French mortgage lenders, so they can provide you with a comprehensive overview of which mortgage products are most suitable for your needs. A French bank will only present the products they are selling to you which may not be suitable. Further, most clients don’t have time or language skills needed to shop around 4 or 5 banks to get a clear picture of a competitive quote. Throughout the entire process of applying for, securing, and finalizing your mortgage option, your French mortgage broker will serve as the intermediary between you and the banks.

It’s possible to handle the entire mortgage application process on your own, but the primary reason that French mortgage brokers are hired is to reduce the time and effort needed to secure a French mortgage. Your mortgage broker will help you save significant amounts of time by providing you various mortgage quotes from different lenders, informing you of the missing documents that are needed to complete the application, and advising you on the pros and cons of each product.