Castles, or chateaux, dominate the French countryside. They are visible high on hills, majestic-looking, surrounded by beautiful grounds. It’s easy to forget that many of them are occupied. It’s even easier to ignore the fact that you could also be living in one.

Although it may seem unrealistic at first, you and your family could move to an early nineteenth-century French chateau. A significant number of these properties are on the market. You can find sellers online or locally in France.

Of course, buying a castle is usually a bigger commitment than purchasing a townhouse. There are some important considerations to make sure that your fairytale doesn’t turn into a nightmare.

Here are 10 top tips for anyone thinking about buying a French chateau.

 1. Before you begin looking at chateaux for sale, ask yourself some important questions.

Do you want to own a chateau for the status associated with a grand property, or do you want somewhere to put your extended family in your favourite vacation destination?

Will you be living in the chateau? If so, will you do so year round or for a few weeks of the year?

Do you want to move in right away, or are you interested in a renovation project?

Have you thought about turning a chateau into a fabulous, rental property or a venue?

2. Work out your budget. Then stick to it. Consider how much you’re willing to spend to purchase a property. Then think about how much you’re willing to set aside to maintain or renovate it.

3. If you’re thinking of renovating, make sure you have the necessary skills and/or ample funds. Such a project can be costly and challenging, especially if structural work is required.

Refurbishing a castle by adding such elements as kitchens, bathrooms and heating, might cost 400 to 800 euros per square meter. If you’re renovating or rebuilding a ruin, you might spend double that.

Unless you are a particularly competent or keen renovator, you might find it significantly cheaper and easier to buy something that’s already in good shape.

4. You’ll find chateaux all over France, so you’re not too limited by location. Decide where you want to be, taking into account the population and the landscape and how you’ll get there. Then look at the chateaux available in that area.

5. While there is no shortage of chateaux in France, some places are selling them more cheaply than others. When you’ve made a shortlist of places you’d like to own a chateau, do a comparison between those areas.

Then comes the time to consider regions that are not on your list. You might be willing to make some sacrifices to get hold of a more affordable chateau. If you’ve done your homework, you’ll know what you might be sacrificing and whether it’s worth it to you.

6. The definition of a chateau is possibly wider than you think. It’s not all about turrets and trebuchets. The term chateau includes grand manor houses and impressive stately homes.

7. There are many options for turning a chateau into a profitable business. When they have adequate grounds, they make great locations for businesses associated with outdoor activities, such as horse riding, hunting, walking and sports.

The grounds might also include a working orchard, olive grove or the potential to create a vineyard.

Chateaux also make spectacular sites for events, including weddings.

With the right property, you could consider running a luxurious hotel and restaurant. Such a venue could attract visitors from all over the world.

8. Use local agents near to your desired chateau location. Gives them as much detail as you can about what you want, what you need and your budget.

A good agent will alert you to properties that match your needs as they come on the market.

9. The prospect of owning your very own castle can be overwhelmingly exciting. Resist the temptation to buy the very first chateau offered to you.

Look at several suitable properties before making your choice. You might think you’ve found the perfect property, but there are so many fantastic buildings around that something better might be around the corner.

10. Be realistic about your expectations. Chateaux are typically very old buildings. Even if you’re not interested in fixing one up, chateaux are likely to need some repairs and refurbishment.

In general, shy away from properties that need structural repairs. Avoid having to work on roofs. Don’t be coy about modernizing or decorative work though. It would be a shame to miss out on a good deal, because relatively light work was necessary.

If buying a place in the French countryside is not for you after all, perhaps you’d consider purchasing a Mediterranean villa or even your own island?

If you’re still interested in chateaux, then buying one of these buildings can give you the home, holiday property or business opportunity of a lifetime. Be bold. Remember that you’re not alone. Agents and pragmatism will help you pursue your dreams of luxurious living in France.

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