Buying in France: Some foreign property buyers are opting for luxury mobile homes in 'parcs', often beside lakes or the sea, where there are all sorts of facilities on offer, writes Mary Wilson.

Fancy owning a holiday home in France, but can't see how you can afford one? Perhaps you'd like to buy a house somewhere in the French countryside, not far from an airport, so it's easy to reach. However, prices for this type of property are now more than €100,000, so for many people the idea seems like it will remain an idle dream.

But there is another way. You could buy a luxury mobile home on one of the many 'parcs' around France, which are owned and run by Siblu Exclusif. The sites are in pretty areas, often surrounded by woodland or close to the sea and with leisure facilities such as swimming pools, tennis courts,

social clubs and restaurants. Plot sizes range from 100 to 250sq m (1,077 to 2,690sq ft), depending on the site, so there's plenty of room around your home to set out the deck chairs and barbecue.

Residents tend to be half French and half English with a good smattering of Irish, which makes a nice cultural mix and the attractive mobile homes with two or three bedrooms can be bought for as little as €26,825, cheaper if you buy one second hand. The bigger, more luxury versions will set you back €65,250.

There are also annual service charges to pay.

The homes have washing machines, modern kitchens, living and dining areas and fitted wardrobes in the bedrooms. Some will have en suite facilities and covered terraces.

Siblu Exclusif has been running holiday 'parcs' in France for 25 years and now has 12 sites in Normandy, Brittany, Vendee, Loire-Atlantique, Charente Maritime, Aquitaine and the Languedoc, with their latest, Le Montourey, just opened in the Cote d'Azur.

Even in this ritzy location, near Frejus, you could buy a two-bedroom home for €36,250. And at Domaine du Litteau, which is another new site near Bayeux in Normandy, prices start at €26,825.

Jim and Angela Molloy, who live in Delgany, Co Wicklow, have three mobile homes at Le Lac des Rêves in the Languedoc, south west France.

"We had some friends who had a place there and 12 of us went out for a holiday in 1991.We had never been in a mobile home before, but we loved it," says Angela.

"The site has lovely swimming pools, a nice restaurant, shop, bar and lots of play areas, including a Tiger Club for children. We have four children and five grandchildren, so that was important to us. It's also got tennis, table tennis and boules.

"You have the choice of doing nothing or doing everything, it's a very relaxed way of living. It's also a really lovely area and there are lots of places to visit including the mountains, which are not far away."

The Molloys bought their first three-bedroom home 15 years ago and another two three years later. "We loved it so much, we thought if we bought two more our children and grandchildren could visit too, but we wouldn't be living on one another's ears.

"We don't rent our home out, but we do let the other two," she says. "You wouldn't buy this sort of home to make money, as they do depreciate in value, but if you rent them out you should be able to cover your costs and it's a lovely way of having a holiday abroad. We all get great pleasure out of them."

The Molloys say they've introduced about 10 other families to the area, so there's a good smattering of Irish people on the site. "There are some very good musical festivals in Carcassonne and two theatres in Montpelier, which is great for us as we love music. I think it's marvellous value and we go quite a few times a year - Easter, June and September. We probably spend about two and a half months there.

"We've made lots of friends, French, English and Irish, and always have a get together on St Patrick's Day. It's like being at home, but in France," she says.

Le Lac des Rêves, as the name suggests, is beside a lake, which is home to flamingos and chameleon frogs and is about 10 minutes from the beach at Carnon.

There are all sorts of water activities including waterslides and waterchutes, plus aquafit in the summer.

Other activities include crazy golf, beach volleyball, a multi-sports pitch and pool tables. And there are also three children's clubs for all ages, a launderette and internet access in the bar.

With regular flights from Dublin to Carcassonne, it's easy to get there.

New two-bedroom parc homes at Le Lac des Rêves cost from €38,500 with the most expensive models costing €66,203.

There's an annual charge of around €4,000, which includes Sky television, insurance, communal maintenance charges plus water and electricity usage between March and October.

Siblu Exclusif  www.sibluexclusif.com