An overseas property guide for anyone looking to buy in Normandy. Plus, find property in the rest of France.

Normandy is a region of northern France situated along the south coast of the English Channel between Brittany and Picardy.

To find property in Normandy and more French property, visit: www.justoverseas.co.uk/propertyinfrance

It is divided into two administrative regions, Basse-Normandie and Haute-Normandie.

Current figures indicate that the population of the region is around 3.26 million and that the major towns of the area are Rouen (518,316 people), Caen (370,851), Le Havre (296,773) and Cherbourg (117,855).

Rouen is well-noted for its Notre Dame cathedral and its famous butter tower. Both were the subject of a number of paintings by impressionist artist Monet. The city also boasts a number of excellent museums, including the Musee des beaux-arts de Rouen, the Musee maritime fluvial et portuaire and the Musee des antiquites.

Meanwhile, Caen is home to a beautiful castle, the Chateau de Caen, and a pair of fine abbeys.

Outside of these urban areas, the region is very agricultural, with numerous small towns and villages. This means that the quality of the region's food, especially its apples, cheeses and cattle, is famous through the country.

Seafood is also superb and some of the region's most celebrated dishes include tripes a la mode de Caen, andouilles, teurgoule and mussels cooked with apples.

Pros to Buying Property in Normandy

With superb transport links with both the rest of France and the UK, the region has long attracted people looking for second homes and holiday properties.

While the region does have a sizable car manufacturing and petrochemical sector, it is unlikely that these are going to expand to such an extent that the rural idyll of much of Normandy is affected for the worse.

In fact, figures from france-property-and-information.com suggest that prices in the region were healthy at the end of 2006.

The website suggested that the average property price in the Basse-Normandie region was 1,735 euros per square metre - slightly lower than in the neighbouring Bretange and Pays-de-la-Loire regions, but higher than the Centre area.

Prices in Haute-Normandie are slightly higher, with a home typically costing 1,901 euros per square metre.

These prices reflect the fact that the region has long been popular with both people from the UK and the French looking for second homes.

Website shelteroffshore.com recently claimed that it was still possible to find some bargains in the region. It highlighted the town of Avranches on the coast as a particularly good spot for people looking for a new home.

In contrast, the town of Deauville lists a number of film stars and celebrities as its residents as it is much more exclusive and expensive.

The site added: "Location is always going to be a primary factor when choosing to buy your French property in Normandy… As a rule of thumb the closer you get to Paris the more expensive the property prices will become."

However, cheap properties are still to be found throughout the region, especially for people prepared to renovate or live away from the main urban areas.

Cons to Buying Property in Normandy

There is some concern that the election of Nicolas Sarkozy as president in 2007 could have an impact on investment in the country.

During his campaign, Mr Sarkozy said that he wanted France to become "much more property owner-oriented". While the government policies could attempt to deter foreigners buying properties, the predicted increase in demand might mean those who already own homes see values rise.

In fact, the latest figures indicate that price inflation has slowed and in fact house prices reduced slightly in the two months to September. Experts believe that the country may experience single digit house price growth.

What You Need to Know to Buy Property in France

People who buy a property in France will initially have to sign an initial contract which sets out the price, terms and conditions of the sale. After various legal checks have been carried out, a final contract is exchanged.

In addition, deposits on French properties are always paid to the Notaire or to a bonded estate agent, not the buyer.

Finally, contracts are subject to a seven-day cooling off period. This means that buyer can cancel the contract at any point during this period.

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