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Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
British couple in their 30s buy entire French 'village' in tourist hotspot for just £67,000 after quitting the rat race
A British couple quit the rat race and bought a French 'village' for just £67,000 - so they can retire and have a 'peaceful life'. Ben Pearson, 39, and his husband, Nathan, 31, had always dreamed of moving to France and stumbled across the abandoned farmhouse in Sainte Segros. When they started seriously looking to buy two years ago the property came on the market and the couple were able to purchase the 'village' - which comes with five outbuildings and two hectares of land. They have spent the last two years going through paperwork but finally got the keys in December 2024. Currently the property - which dates back to the 1600s - has no toilet or heating but Ben plans to transform it into a three-bed home all by himself. They hope to eventually turn the outbuildings into Airbnb 's and guesthouses. Ben, a RAF aircraft engineer, from Hull, East Yorkshire, said: 'It's getting out of the 9 to 5 rat race in England. 'There is no way we could afford something like that in the UK. You can barely buy a flat for €80k. Currently the property - which dates back to the 1600s - has no toilet or heating but Ben plans to transform it into a three-bed home all by himself 'It's a nicer way of life - there is no running around. It will be a peaceful life and no stress - once it is built.' Nathan, an English tutor, said: 'When we dreamed of a simpler life, we somehow ended up buying a small village - we wouldn't change it for the world.' Ben's mum, Karen Pearson, 62, moved out to France 10 years ago and the couple stumbled across the farm in her village seven years ago. They loved the house but were not ready to move. Three years ago they started searching for their dream retirement home and initially couldn't find anything but when the farmhouse came back on the market they couldn't believe it. They put in an offer in February 2022 which was accepted but have spent the last two years 'on tender hooks' while the paperwork was sorted. They sold up everything in the UK and are now moving in July to start work on their home. Nathan said: 'It's the oldest property in the little commune. The main house is early 1800s and the farmhouse is 1600s. 'There were old pots and pans, mason jars all left on the shelves.' Ben said: 'It had never been modernised. There is one tap, no toilet. No heating - apart from an open fire.' Ben is retiring in July and the pair will move out to France to start work on the main house. It will need a new roof, septic tank and heating put in. They hope to have a liveable room within six months and will live in a caravan while working. They plan to restore the home in keeping with its history - and even hope to frame some of the old contracts they have found. Nathan said: 'We want to keep the grandeur of it all.' The couple have £100k saved to start with the restoration work but are under no delusion that it will likely cost a lot more. But they can't wait to move and get out of the UK. Nathan said: 'Even when you go to the nearest town the people are friendly and welcoming. 'There is the perception that the French are snobbish but it's the opposite..' Ben said: 'This is the sort of thing we'd been looking for. We never dreamed it would come true.'
The Sun
12-05-2025
- The Sun
We quit rat race to buy entire VILLAGE worth just £67,000 in holiday hotspot – now we'll rake in £1,000s from Airbnb
A BRITISH couple have packed in the 9 to 5 and bought themselves a whole village in France — all for just £67,000. Ben Pearson, 39, and his partner Nathan, 31, struck gold when they bought a rural French property for just £67,000. 5 5 5 The deal included a 17th-century farmhouse, five outbuildings and two hectares of land — more than they ever imagined owning. The couple first discovered the tucked-away treasure while visiting Ben's mum, Karen Pearson, 62, who moved to the same French village over a decade ago. They loved the charming, timeworn property as soon as they saw it seven years ago, but at the time, weren't quite ready to make the leap abroad. Three years ago, they started seriously looking for a retirement escape. To their shock, the farmhouse came back on the market. Ben, an RAF aircraft engineer, said: 'It was like fate. We had looked everywhere and just couldn't find anything like it. "When we saw it was up for sale again, we couldn't believe it.' They put in an offer in February 2022, which was accepted, but the deal took two years to finalise due to complex French property paperwork. The couple finally got the keys in December 2024, and are now preparing to move out permanently in July. The site is full of rustic charm — but needs serious work. We ditched the UK and bought a 200-year-old French village for just £22k The house has no toilet, heating or even running water beyond a single tap. 'There's no way we could ever afford this in the UK,' Ben said. 'You can barely get a one-bed flat for £80k back home. "Over here, we've got land, buildings, peace and a real chance to build something special.' Ben is retiring from the RAF this summer and plans to take on the renovation himself, converting the main farmhouse into a three-bed home. In the meantime, the couple will live in a caravan on the land while getting a liveable room finished within six months. The house, which dates back to the 1600s, has never been modernised. Old pots, mason jars and paperwork were still on the shelves when they moved in. Nathan said: 'It's the oldest property in the little commune. "The main house is from the early 1800s, but the farmhouse is even older. 'There's a real sense of history. "We're planning to frame some of the old documents we found — like the original land contracts.' They hope to restore the property in a way that preserves its heritage — and eventually convert the outbuildings into Airbnbs or guest houses. 'We're not under any illusions — we know it's going to cost more than we've saved,' Nathan said. 'But it's the lifestyle we want.' The couple have set aside £100,000 to start the restoration but admit it'll be a long-term labour of love. Ben added: 'We want to do it all properly — new roof, new septic tank, heating, everything. But we'll keep the soul of the place.' Despite the challenges, they say the move is the best decision they've made. 'There's no running around, no stress,' Ben said. 'It'll be a peaceful life. That's all we want.' Nathan, an English tutor, agreed: 'Even when you go into the nearest town, people are lovely and welcoming. "There's this myth that the French are standoffish — we've found the complete opposite.' The couple have documented their journey from Yorkshire to the French countryside on social media — and are already inspiring others to follow their dreams. Nathan said: 'We came here dreaming of a quieter life. "Somehow, we ended up buying a village. We wouldn't change a thing.' 5 5
