It is not just the world economy that is slowing down the overseas market place – It is the weather!

Whilst the world's financial worries are disappearing giving positive vibes about the up turn in prime locations in the overseas property market, one thing that was not accounted for when predictions were being made at the beginning of January 2010, was the effect of the weather.

For instance Unique Living, a company dealing with high end premium properties from £750,000 up to £22 million, have reported that in the South of France there has been a dramatic decrease in new homes coming onto the market.

“We normally expect to take instructions of between five and ten properties a week along the French Riviera in January and February. This has dropped to around two per week”, says Serge Cowan, MD at Unique Living.

“The difficulty is the prolonged and intense rain and snow that has been sweeping across Europe almost ceaselessly since Christmas. Owners are unwilling to market their homes when the weather does not encourage sales and of course when their homes are not set against an Azure blue sky. Sadly this has had serious ramifications for those house hunting - our stock is far lower this time of the year than it normally is.”

According to the BBC weather centre the average rainfall in Marseille in January is around 43 mm dropping in February to around 32 mm. with the average number of wet days being eight in January and only six in February. This general trend has been totally smashed this year with days of unremitting precipitation.

Added Serge, “The market place along the South of France, from Nice to Cannes, was far improved in 2009 against 2008, so we were expecting an influx of new properties early in the year; but this has just not happened. It snowed for the first time in Cannes for 30 years at the beginning of February and as clients from the UK usually select Southern European locations to avoid snow - this has not helped!

Many homes in the South of France have been valued and owners are ready to market but such extreme weather for this normally sun kissed region, has naturally dented their will to market until the sun arrives. As a business person I can only hope that shortly Spring will arrive and then we will be inundated with new, exciting and glamorous homes”, concluded Serge.

Unique Living does however, still have over 700 properties currently available in the South of France including some advertised openly and others discreetly, through their network of prestige partners including:-

Mougins, French Riviera.
Four bedroom villa in Florentine style. Built in recent years, it offers around 280 sq m of living space. The property has beautiful, dark wooden floors, large balcony, handsome and a colonnaded portico for shady dining overlooking the good sized pool. The well tended grounds are landscaped and level and sheltered by established trees. The property is located in a residential area.
3,450,000 euros /£3,050,512 approx.

Valbonne, French Riviera.
This residence is located in a quiet residential area within a short walk of the Village of Valbonne. The property has views of beautiful countryside and a landscaped garden of 5.000m² plus a main house of 300m².The property offers 4 main double bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, an independent studio with shower room, large entrance hall, living room with fireplace and dining area. There is a Provencal kitchen with adjoining laundry room and two garages. The stunning outdoor living areas include a very large overflow pool, several terraces and sitting areas, alarm, watering systems,
air conditioning and central heating. 25 minutes from Nice Airport.
2,300,000 euros/ £2,026,943 approx.

Unique Living also has prestige homes for sale in Southern Cyprus, Costa Del Sol, The Algarve, Mallorca, Ibiza and the French Alps.  The company is also about to launch its exceptional Italian Collection.

Unique Living
0208 416 0230
www.uniqueliving.com