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SEE COUNTRY HOUSES FOR SALE WITHIN THIS BUDGET THAT ARE READY TO MOVE IN TO  Did you know that the dream of settling down in a rural French cottage could be achieved for less than €100,000?

While the average cost of a country house in 2023 was €202,000, rural property prices in the centre of France are generally less expensive than in coastal departments. Information provided

by the Société d'Aménagement Foncier et d'Etablissement Rural (Safer) in a recent publication showed the average price of country houses in 2023. The results are displayed in an

interactive map, including the 97 departments of mainland France and Corsica.  Safer’s data shows that you can buy a country house for under €100,000 in Allier (€99,000), Nièvre (€94,000),

Cantal (€94,000) and Cher (€93,000).  Three departments fall below the €90,000 mark: Indre (€82,000), Haute-Marne (€77,000) and Creuse (€76,000). Read also: Properties: see what you can buy

in Orne in rural France for €40,000 and €1.123m Safer defines a country house as “a well-built property used as a residence (principal or secondary) sold with agricultural or natural land of

less than 5 ha, free of lease, purchased by non-farmers.” It states that the average price of a country house in 2023 decreased by 4.1% compared with 2022. The number of property purchases

(90,750) also declined by almost a quarter.  However, the property market is showing signs of recovery, with rural houses again leading the way. Read also: Hidden defects cause legal row for

€1 house in France RURAL PROPERTIES FOR UNDER €100,000 At the time of writing, the following country houses were available to buy: CREUSE  Ref : 3414  This country house in the peaceful

Saint-Sulpice-le-Guéretois is on the market for €55,000. The property has a spacious living room, modern kitchen, two bedrooms and a practical bathroom. It comes with 1,469m² of land, a

garage and barn. ALLIER Ref: 22963  This traditional house in the heart of Haut Bocage is on the market for €58,500.  It has one attic bedroom and a large 57m² living room with a period

fireplace and exposed beams. As well as a kitchen and shower room, it also comes with a traditional bread oven and a small 30m² garden.  The property has wood and electric heating. CHER Ref

: 18223 This detached property in Santranges is ready to move into and on the market for €94,000. The house has a living room, kitchen, two bedrooms and a toilet/shower room on the ground

floor. There is a third bedroom and second bathroom on the first floor. The property also includes a large attic and cellar. The house is surrounded by wooded grounds of 1,218 m² with a well

and fruit trees. CANTAL  Ref: 7776 This house, located in the mountains of Pailherols, dates from 1811. It is on the market for €99,000. This property features a kitchen and dining room

with a wood-burning stove in its original fireplace. It also has a living room, two bedrooms and shower room, and comes with 638m² of land. MOST EXPENSIVE RURAL PROPERTY AREAS Safer also

found that in 2023, the most expensive departments for buying a country house were: * Val-d'Oise (€358,000) * Alpes-Maritimes (€441,000) * Vaucluse (€447,000) * Var (€449,000) *

Yvelines (€466,000) * Haute-Savoie (€469,000) * Bouches-du-Rhône (€575,000) Property prices are generally highest in areas surrounding Paris or in the South of France and also Haute-Savoie

which borders Switzerland in the east.  Read also: Buying a property in France may cost more from April as ‘notaire fees’ allowed to rise