A farmhouse is a former agricultural property comprising a dwelling house, outbuildings (stables, barns, sheepfolds, sheds, etc.) and a small area of land. The age, style and size of each property vary considerably. The land, generally less than 10 hectares, will often be classified as farmland for planning purposes.
Unlike a farm, where the main purpose is to grow crops or raise livestock, a farmhouse is primarily used as a dwelling.
The habitable surface area of an old farmhouse is often very large, which opens up a wide range of possibilities but can also require a significant renovation or maintenance budget.
The names of the properties themselves vary enormously. You'll find farms, farmhouses, barns, farmhouses, farmhouses, etc. in this category of properties. The typical character of certain regions of France also often qualifies them: Gascon, Vosges, Bresse, Bearn, Comminge, Flemish, Gers, Lauragais, Medieval, etc.
There are many advantages to buying a farmhouse. Situated in a rural area, whether in a village or completely isolated, it offers peace and privacy for your future home that you won't find in a city, town or housing estate.
Located at a distance from other dwellings, it generally has a larger plot than a town house, and outbuildings that can be used to develop a large main or second home.
The size of the plot means you'll have the space you need for a swimming pool, fruit trees, a vegetable garden and pets.
The presence of outbuildings offers numerous opportunities for storing vehicles, building a workshop, etc.
However, before you buy this type of country estate, there are a number of disadvantages to consider. Being at a distance from your nearest neighbours is also synonymous with isolation, which is not for everyone. The distance from amenities (shops, schools, services, etc.) also means that you have to travel more often by car, which in some cases can represent a significant annual budget.
Farmhouses for sale can be located in the countryside, in the mountains or near the sea. These are areas popular with tourists. Depending on the character of your property, the size and condition of the outbuildings, the size of the land, etc., you may have the opportunity to develop a tourist activity. Fitting out a gîte in an old barn, creating guest rooms in an attic, setting up unusual accommodation or a campsite are just some of the projects you may be able to develop.
Be careful, however, to comply with town planning regulations before developing your tourist accommodation project in an area classified as agricultural.
You can also use the various outbuildings of your future home to create stalls for your horses and thus set up your equestrian property. You could even develop an equestrian centre, an owner's stable or even a stud farm if the plot is large enough.
If your land includes meadowland, the presence of footpaths or the proximity of woods or forests are significant advantages for an equestrian project.
Buying a smallholding therefore opens up a wide range of options for developing equestrian activities, which from a rural point of view are considered to be agricultural activities and will pose few difficulties from a town planning point of view.
If the farmhouse is no longer used for agricultural purposes, there is nothing to prevent it being returned to its original purpose. Certain agricultural activities require a relatively small area of land, such as market gardening, horticulture or certain specialist crops. Dog or cat rearing also requires a small area, but must be kept well away from neighbours to avoid any disturbance.
The outbuildings of a farm for sale can also be given a new lease of life by converting them into commercial premises for the direct sale of agricultural products.
When it comes to old buildings, investing in a farmhouse requires careful planning.
If a recent renovation has already been carried out, there is little risk of unpleasant surprises, and the various compulsory surveys will give you valuable information about the work that needs to be done.
If the farmhouse you are buying is in ruins or has been derelict for many years, you will need to consider major renovation work. You'll need to check the solidity of the walls, roof structure and roofing before considering any interior work. Any alterations to openings (doors, windows) or the roof will require planning permission.
The house will rarely be connected to the mains sewage system, so you'll need to install your own sewage system.
Finally, changing the use of outbuildings (originally for agricultural purposes) to create a new room, a gîte or simply an extension to your home will require planning permission. Please see our article on building on agricultural land. The heritage or historic character of the farm will make it easier to obtain these permits.
You should therefore seek the advice of building professionals (architects, project managers) and contact the planning department of your local town hall before embarking on any work.
As with any house, maintenance work is required if you wish to buy an old farmhouse. But the presence of annexes and the surface area of the land mean that more work is required.
So it's best to be a bit of a handyman and have the time available to keep your rural property in good repair.
As you can see, you can sell a renovated farmhouse or a farmhouse in need of renovation. The desire for peace and quiet on the part of many city dwellers, coupled with the possibility of telecommuting, offers real prospects for capital gains. Demand from buyers is still strong for this type of beautiful property.
Location is the number one criterion for property investment, and makes it easier for you to sell your property in the long term. Proximity to main roads, an airport (to attract international customers), major conurbations or tourist destinations are all criteria that can make selling your beautiful rural property easier or more complex.
You can publish your advertisement for the sale of a farmhouse on ma-propriete.fr and benefit from the high visibility we provide.
ma-propriete-touristique.fr offers you a large number of ads for farms, barns and mas for sale in every department and region of France. You can use our search engine to select properties by category, location, price and surface area. You can build your main or second home, or develop an agricultural, tourist or equestrian activity.
We can also put you in touch with property professionals (estate agents, solicitors, etc.) free of charge. You tell us the details of your farm purchase project and, after analysing them, we'll pass them on to the property professionals we've selected.
