Maison - The Uzès & Provence area

19/06/2026

A little glimpse to one of the most popular places to buy in central Uzès, La grande Bourgade.

09/06/2026

People think of France as the place to retire. Why wait to live in a beautiful place when the kids grow up. Move as a family. Whether it is a family or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 100.

It will be a life changing experience, I assure you.

France is super family friendly and of course I hear you, I don’t speak the language. Don’t let this hold you back!

Here are a few tips to guide and reach out if you are thinking of taking the plunge. This is your sign.

08/06/2026

08/06/2026

A lot of Instagram can be about the dream life when moving to France and it really can be but it takes time. However reflecting after my birthday 🎂 weekend has really got me thinking.

The price of community and connection is one of the hardest parts of moving to a new country. I don’t think we talk enough about it.

You leave behind the people who know you, love you, get you, your history, your routines and your support network. Then one day you realise you’re starting from scratch with noone.

This time last year, I didn’t know many people at all. Even after a year living in Uzès, I spent my birthday alone. I was renovating a house, trying to understand life in a new country, and raising a little boy who was still finding his voice.

If I’m honest, I was trying a little too hard.

I desperately wanted a sense of belonging —not just for me, but for Hugo. I wanted him to have playdates, help his speech I think most importantly and a have sense of home. The loneliness was overwhelming. Somewhere along the way, I questioned who I really was.

Fast forward a year, and what a difference time can make.

This weekend was one of those moments that makes you stop and appreciate how far you’ve come. Between the magic of the Fête de la Musique in my local village, watching generations dance together in the square, and a neighbour who is now one of my favourite people kindly opening his home to me and a few friends to celebrate my birthday, I felt incredibly grateful.

Grateful for this little village. Grateful for the people I’ve met. Grateful that I chose to put down roots here.

Some places are beautiful. Some places feel like home. Every now and then, if you’re lucky, they’re the same place.

If you’re building a life somewhere new, be patient with yourself. Community takes time. Connection takes time. Feeling at home takes time.

But every so often, you find those gems 💎—the people, the places, the moments—that remind you why the journey was worth it in the first place. ❤️

02/06/2026

I walked past the apartment I lived in a little over 20 years ago yesterday. On rue la petite Madeline in Aix.

Twenty-something me thought she had life figured out. I owned too many silk scarves and was convinced I was basically French. 🇫🇷

Standing there, I was struck by how much has changed, how much I have experienced since then and how grown up I felt back then. I didn’t have a clue.

Now, with a few more decades, life lessons and birthdays behind me, I realise I was still just figuring it all out.

Yet somehow, that young girl got one thing absolutely right. My future always lied in France.

What started as childhood camping holidays, became a French degree, a summer in Aix, working as a Busy Bee rep, building a career through French, travelling the world and eventually creating a life here.

And honestly, there’s nowhere I’d rather be. ❤️

30/05/2026

🏡 Just a few things out of many I ALWAYS tell buyers to check before buying a home in France:

📌 1. The Valeur Vénale (True Registered Value)
The purchase price isn’t always the property’s registered value. I’ve experienced this myself — a home bought for €450k can end up costing €480k with fees, yet have a registered value of only €427k. This matters when it comes to future resale and understanding what you’re really paying for.

📌 2. Notaire Fees
Don’t just focus on the headline price. Factor in notaire fees from the start and understand how they impact your overall investment. Can be up to 9% plus you are paying the same when you sell.

📌 3. Diagnostics Report & DPE
France is great for mandatory diagnostics, but with older properties I’d always recommend a separate plumbing inspection. Thermal imaging can reveal hidden leaks, blockages, and pipe issues that standard inspections may miss. Plus if you buy a E property there has been recently new government funding for renovation. Check it out.

📌 4. Visit the Mairie
Planning renovations? Meet the local mairie before you buy. You’ll quickly get a feel for how supportive they are and what local regulations may affect your project but also how open they are to internationals

📌 5. Check the Community
Every village and town has its own personality. Look at local events, Facebook groups, and mairie calendars to see how family-friendly, active, and welcoming the area really is. Is it a chasse area. How close to vineyards, atill a lot of pesticide spraying and much more.

A little extra research before buying can save you thousands later. ✨

27/05/2026

Why did I create MAISON?

I travelled the South of France with a two year old and 3 dogs solo, knowing do it now not later & never just settling until it each part felt right.

After 46 house viewings
Over 150 towns and villages checked out to find our “forever” place

Then I found the place and then the “home” for these chapters of our lives here.

Not without many lessons and I wish I knew now what I knew then.

I am enjoying so much helping others not make the same mistakes and waste alot of time & money to find their home in the South of France. I have lived every part of it.

Swipe to the last video to see how it all the began😅Oh the romantic dream of buying a stone house…

Sometimes you just want to make a decision and just do it. Why not that house? Why not that place? Don’t settle or compromise.

My gut always drove me. I didn’t stop until I knew what was right for us.

I definitely didn’t take the easy option but when I wake up and look out my window and woken by church bells, I know it was worth it and we made the right decision. It really is a beautiful life here.

Reach out if you are looking to buy in the South of France, happy to advise and search.

Follow/ Share if you would like to learn more on what not to do, understanding the why and also how I managed the renovation project solo.

BuyingInFrance

25/05/2026

Everyone dreams about Provence… but nobody really talks about what property prices actually look like once you seriously start thinking about moving 👀🇫🇷

So I pulled together a little guide using local market reports, notaires data, agency insights, and just what I’ve seen myself living here.

Because honestly…
€500k in Uzès looks VERY different to €500k in Aix-en-Provence 😅

In many parts of Provence, €500k is often the minimum for a renovated home without major work. You’ll usually get more for your money further inland too, especially around Béziers.

From cute stone village houses with tiny courtyards, to sleek Aix apartments, dreamy Luberon hideaways, and coastal homes — every area has its own vibe, pace, and property market.

One thing I’ve realised?
People aren’t just buying a house here… they’re buying a lifestyle.

Swipe through for:
— average property prices
— what your budget can realistically get you
— the areas international buyers are loving
— and follow for my next one… the things nobody tells you before buying in Provence 👀