The French are selling their chateaus for cheap. Americans are discovering why.

[Zorro]

Three years ago, when Mark Goff and Phillip Engel had their first viewing of Château Avensac in the south of France, only one thing prevented the California couple from putting in an offer: Was it old enough?

The gate tower, supporting walls, and stone bridge at the estate's entrance date back to the original medieval castle built in 1320. But the main building — a 48-room château with sweeping views of the Gers, the rural, foie-gras-producing region of southwest France — was rebuilt in the 1820s. "The idea of the royals and the nobles, to us, is a very romantic idea," Goff says. "That's why we love 'Bridgerton.'"

In the end, they decided there was "just enough 14th-century château stuff going on" to fulfill their fantasies and make it their new home. The place was certainly big enough to host weddings and artist retreats, a business the couple was counting on to help pay for the extensive renovations that would be required. By the fall of 2021, Château Avensac was theirs for $1.2 million.

That's when reality set in.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/french-selling-ch-teaus-cheap-093601030.html

[irisblue]

1. I'm fretting about costs for a 21st cent HVAC & roof. That much money for upgrades & renos is amazing to me

Thanks Zorro, I had a moment of zen in seeing those photos

[Baitball Blogger]

2. Stupid is, as stupid does.

[fairfaxvadem]

3. Clearly they didnt see that reno show...

Forget the name but follows a couple that did the same thing. No easy task and whew, the expense. I think they tried to DIY as much as they could.

[BobTheSubgenius]

4. The NIcholas Cage Starter Kit.

It would be amazingly cool to spend time there - a summer, or perhaps repeatedly but intermittently. Not as a steady diet. This place, and others like it, are jaw-dropping, but you need staff, which makes it a deal-breaker for me. Too busy, too little privacy.

This article is a nice companion piece - "9 French Chateaux for the price of one Vancouver tear-down." Granted, the property, while not literally one-of-one, it is one of a very, very few, but see for yourself.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/9-jaw-dropping-french-chateaus-for-the-price-of-1-vancouver-tear-down

[skypilot]

5. I will never be in a position...

...to buy a chateau but if I were it would seem obvious to me that something old, historic, "royal", and "noble" would cost me a lot of money either on the front end or the back.

[Sky Jewels]

6. It boggles my mind that there are that many old grand chateaus in France.

The renos and upkeep would overwhelm me, even if I could afford it (HAH!), but I do love watching "Escape to the Chateau" and videos about people who are taking them on.

[Pacifist Patriot]

7. Oh FFS! I'm looking at a renovated 1850 farmhouse in VA..

And know enough to factor in upkeep to my purchasing decision.

No sympathy. At all!!!

[Demobrat]

8. An Italian friend of mine was telling me about

homes for sale in remote villages in Italy for $1. He is from Italy and would never do it. Same deal. The houses are virtually free, but the renovations cost millions.