Chemillé-sur-Dême - this is the one!

After such a depressing series of houses, we ended the day on the 12th August seeing this house.

Une petite maison de bourg, avec beaucoup de caractère et très charmante.

It was found by the same agent who had sold the house in Chahaignes, and who had become personally involved in our situation since she felt bad about us "losing" the other house. She had called us as soon as she had the house, before listing it.

14, Place de l'Eglise, Cemillé-sur-Dême.

Right on the church square, which is right in the centre of the little village (575 inhabitants). So we'll be able to hear the church bells.
So yesterday we bought it!

Jupilles - no character, less charm

12-Aug-2006: Right next to the church (won't have any problems hearing the bells chime) but small, with no character, and even less charm. Another non starter.
 

Jupilles - "American Kitchen"

12-Aug-2006: This one had a cuisine americain - yes, that's it in the picture, all of it! Talk about poetic licence. Not a starter 

Jupilles - looks more like it!

12-Aug-2006: This is a definite possibility. A small house stuck onto another one, the owner subdividing a large block of land. Nice beams and fireplace. The town was a little "dead" though. Still, looking good.. 

Beaumont Pied de Boeuf

12-Aug-2006: Character and charm, right across the road from the church (I did say I wanted to be able to hear the church bells), but oh dear! Look at the bathroom, and it went downhill from there.
 

Chateau du Loir - maybe

12-Aug-2006, This looks a little more like it, although not actually fitting the bill. Would have to lose the chandelier I think.. 

Chateau du Loir - maybe not?

20th August 2006: Some houses we visited in Chateau du Loir - how depressing! Lots of "potential" but...

 

A house in Avoise

On the 29th July 2006 we visited this house in a small town called Avoise. It's right on the Sarthe river with a huge garden going up the hill behind the house. Sounds good on paper, but it was not to be - too much land (and therefore work!) and the place had a LOT of work to do to make it nice.