Dan Newton Pro

02/08/2026

10-11 days ago I made the decision to postpone the release of this video.

As the fires around Cap Ferret and Biscarrosse escalated, it simply didn't feel right to publish a video about environmental risks while so many people were losing their homes, and firefighters were risking their lives.

Many of you supported that decision, and I'd like to thank you for your understanding.

I now feel it's the right time to release it.

This isn't a doom-and-gloom look at France. Quite the opposite.
France remains one of the most wonderful countries in the world to buy a home, retire to, or simply enjoy a different way of life.

But as our climate changes, perhaps we need to start asking a few different questions when choosing where to buy.

From wildfires and flooding to water shortages, hail, clay shrinkage and even rockfalls, I explore the real risks, the myths, and why the "perfect property" may simply be in a different location than we once imagined.

🎬 Watch the full video here:
https://youtu.be/M1dA_9qp4zk

As always, thank you for your continued support.
Dan Newton
The French Estate Agent 🇫🇷🏡

France is famous for its beautiful countryside, picturesque village...

25/07/2026

I was due to release my latest YouTube video yesterday.

Ironically, it's about how changing environmental conditions may influence the way we think about buying property in France in the years ahead.

However, in light of the very serious fires currently affecting the Biscarrosse and Cap Ferret areas, I don't feel this is the right time to publish it.

Out of respect for the firefighters who continue to battle these devastating fires, and for everyone who has been forced to evacuate their homes or suffered loss because of them, I've decided to delay its release out of respect for everyone affected.

My thoughts are with everyone impacted, and above all, with the emergency services working tirelessly to protect lives and property.

Stay safe.

22/07/2026

The dollar remains firm but faces a big test on Thursday. The dollar has held onto most of its recent gains, supported by the Federal Reserve's cautious stance on interest rates. However, Thursday's ECB decision could shift the picture. If the ECB signals that further rate rises are coming later this year, the euro could strengthen and the dollar could come under pressure. If the ECB strikes a more cautious tone, the dollar is likely to stay firm.
Now is a good time to book a no obligation chat with a currency broker... just click on the link : https://newtonlinks.com/Currency

10/07/2026

🏰 Why are some French châteaux so unbelievably cheap?

You've probably seen them online.

A beautiful château, complete with towers, parkland and hectares of land... for less than the price of an ordinary family home.

So what's the catch?

Is it falling down?
Is it impossible to sell?
Or is there another reason altogether?

In this week's video, I explain why some French châteaux really are surprisingly affordable, and why the answer has far more to do with where they are than what they are.

If you've ever dreamed of owning a château, or simply wondered how these prices are possible, this one's for you.

📺 Watch here:
https://youtu.be/I1Gbwy7n_do

As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Have you ever come across a château that seemed too cheap to be true?

🏡 If you’re thinking about buying property in France and would like...

09/07/2026

Why are so many French villages built on hilltops?

This is especially noticeable in the southern half of France.

From the Dordogne to the Lot, the Aveyron, Provence, the Languedoc and beyond, some of the most striking villages seem to cling to hillsides, ridges and rocky outcrops.

Today, we admire the views. Historically, the reasons were usually much more practical.

Higher ground gave better visibility. You could see who was approaching, whether that was a trader, a neighbour, a tax collector, or someone considerably less welcome.

It also helped protect villages from flooding, damp valley floors, and in some areas, the health problems linked to stagnant water and marshland.

Then there was defence. In more unsettled times, being on a hill made a village easier to protect and harder to surprise.

Of course, the downside is obvious to anyone who has ever walked back from the boulangerie with shopping bags in July.

Beautiful? Absolutely.

Convenient? Not always.

Would you rather live in the hilltop village with the views, or down in the valley where life is a little easier?

08/07/2026

🏡 À vendre | Bignan (56) | 185 000 €

Vous recherchez une maison avec du potentiel, dans un environnement calme tout en restant proche des commodités ?

Située dans un petit hameau de la campagne de Bignan, à seulement 3 km de Locminé, cette maison de 1984 est implantée sur un terrain de 1 357 m².

✨ Elle comprend :
✔️ Un salon/séjour avec cheminée
✔️ Une cuisine à aménager selon vos envies
✔️ 3 chambres
✔️ Deux greniers offrant la possibilité de créer une salle d'eau et une 4ᵉ chambre
✔️ Un sous-sol complet avec garage et caves

La maison est parfaitement habitable, mais quelques travaux de rafraîchissement permettront de lui redonner tout son potentiel. L'assainissement individuel sera également à prévoir.

📍 À seulement 5 km de la voie express, proche des commerces, écoles et services, elle constitue une excellente opportunité pour une résidence principale comme pour un premier achat.

🎥 Visite virtuelle 360° :
https://tour.giraffe360.com/15d87e4fb6a94cf2a73440e30a5598c2

💶 Prix : 185 000 €

📞 Pour plus d'informations ou organiser une visite, contactez Agence NEWTON.

Virtual tour

06/07/2026

Did you know there is a house in France covered almost entirely in broken plates, cups, glass and pottery?

Maison Picassiette, in Chartres, was the work of Raymond Isidore, a municipal cemetery worker who began decorating his home with pieces of discarded crockery he found during his walks.

What started as a small personal project slowly became an entire world of mosaics - walls, floors, ceilings, furniture and even the garden.

It is eccentric, obsessive, strangely beautiful, and very French in the best possible way: one person's odd idea taken far beyond what most people would consider reasonable.

A reminder that architecture is not always about grand châteaux and famous cathedrals. Sometimes it begins with a broken plate and a man who simply refused to stop.

Genius, madness, or a bit of both?

04/07/2026

🇺🇸 Happy Independence Day to all our American friends! 🇫🇷

As the United States celebrates its 250th Anniversary today, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to share a fascinating piece of history that many people have never heard.

Did you know that Brittany played its own part in the story of the United States?

From Benjamin Franklin arriving at Saint-Goustan in 1776, to the Statues of Liberty in Brittany, and the remarkable story of Gourin's emigrants, there is a unique Franco-American connection that deserves to be remembered.

🎬 This Short is just a taster. If you'd like to discover the full story, you can watch the complete video here:

https://youtu.be/_Mk75dxsy-0?si=48eOklD938UkcqJy

I'd love to know in the comments... which part of the story surprised you the most?

Happy 4th of July! 🇺🇸🎆🇫🇷

02/07/2026

Not quite a château, but definitely more than a farmhouse.
Many people use the words château and manoir interchangeably, but they are not the same thing.
Traditionally, a manoir was the residence of a local lord or wealthy landowner. Smaller than most châteaux, it was designed as a home rather than a military stronghold.
Across rural France, thousands still survive, often hidden behind trees, stone walls or village streets.
For many buyers, a manoir offers the character and history of a château, but on a more manageable scale.
If given the choice, would you choose a château or a manoir?

29/06/2026

Can you imagine sharing a castle with six other families?
Hidden in the forests of Corrèze stands one of France's most unusual medieval sites.
The Tours de Merle were not a single castle but a collection of fortified towers occupied by several noble families at the same time.
Rather than one lord controlling the entire site, different families built their own towers on the same rocky outcrop overlooking the river below.
The result is a dramatic skyline of ruins that almost resembles a medieval apartment block.

Can you imagine trying to share a fortress with six neighbouring noble families?