Houses in France are often built of bricks or concrete, rather than wood as in North America. While 18th century stone farmhouses are still in use, most new construction dwellings are made of concrete for durability. Brick or concrete block buildings are generally found in rural areas where wood is too scarce to build substantial structures.
In cities, houses tend to be made of steel or glass, but they also can be built with concrete. There are many different designs of concrete houses. Some have very flat roofs while others have peaked roofs. Concrete houses can be anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to several thousand dollars depending on the size and style.
There are also townhouses which are similar to apartments except that they usually have their own parking space. In big cities like Paris, these come in the form of skyscrapers with a number of separate entrances for each apartment. In smaller towns, you will more likely find them built around an inner courtyard. They can cost anything from $150,000 to $500,000 or more.
Finally, there are villas which are large country houses built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when large estates were developed with luxury homes built by famous architects. These days, they are mostly used as private family resorts but some remain in private ownership while others have been converted into hotels.
The majority of dwellings in France, whether in a village or a metropolis, are rental flats. Rows of four or five-story buildings with huge wooden or metal doors adorn French streets. Each door has a number which determines what floor it opens to. The higher the number, the farther up the building you go.
In addition to renting their homes, many French people also own penthouses or maisonettes that they live in alone. These can be found in large cities such as Paris where small one-bedroom apartments are often too small to be useful for anyone but a single person.
French people usually have a preference for living in places where they can walk to all the shops and restaurants they need. This means choosing areas with good transport links over those where there is only one shop or restaurant per street. It's also important that schools are close by. If you plan to move to a new area then ask yourself if there are any schools where your children will be able to attend without having to travel long distances.
Housing prices are generally high in France. This is because most properties are owned by investors who rent them out. As well as being expensive, this scheme also helps to keep rents low. Only people who can't afford to buy a house would be willing to rent instead.
Apartments: The Preferred Residence The majority of dwellings in France, whether in a village or a metropolis, are rental flats. These are apartments, and they are where most people who can afford to pay for space live.
Houses: Also known as "maisons", these are the traditional form of residence for farmers and craftsmen. Typically, houses in rural areas are owned by the farmer who lives there, while those in cities are usually rented. Even though houses come in many sizes and shapes, they all have three rooms: a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. Most also have one or more outdoor toilets called "cabines".
Villas: Originally from Italy, villas are large houses with at least six rooms, some even having their own gardens and swimming pools. Today, they are found mainly in wealthy suburbs, but they used to be common all over France. If you walk through the small town of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, for example, you will see many large villas.
Condos: Another term for apartments that are sold before being built. In Canada, these are called "townhouses" and in the United States they are called "condominiums".
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