France: from €101,660 The Westbury Hotel off Grafton Street is the venue for a French leaseback property exhibition being staged this Saturday by Hamilton Osborne King's overseas division.

The two schemes on offer are four-star and beautifully-located - one in Haut Provence, the other near Bergerac in the Dordogne region. Le Paradoux is a purpose-built residence between Baux de Provence and the Alpilles. This is in the Bouches du Rhone Department, part of scenic Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur.

Completions are expected in early 2007 for 69 one, two and three-bedroom apartments at Le Paradoux. Prices range from €148,430 for a 32.2sq m (346sq ft) one-bedroom unit, €170,002 for 36.7sq m (395sq ft) two-bedroom apartments and €264,459 for three-bed apartments of 73.6sq m (792sq ft).

The leaseback purchase allows for a fixed annual rental return of 4.3 per cent.

Buyers interested in the Dordogne - a favourite with Irish holidaymakers - can take a look at Les Clos des Vignes, a scheme of 58 townhouse-style apartments in Bergerac-Perigord.

These come fully furnished and will have a pool and fitness centre.

Prices start at €101,660 for a one-bed of 33.8sq m (364sq ft). Two-bedroom apartments of 39.6sq m (426sq ft) cost from €117,770. Three-bedroom apartments of 51.85sq m (558sq ft) are from €152,394. Completions are scheduled for the end of 2006.

Leaseback purchasing is a growing trend in Irish circles. This is particularly useful for those who want a modest return on their overseas investment, with perhaps a week or two for their own use each year.

Irish-based France Residence is holding an exhibition at the Burlington Hotel this weekend to launch a new three-star leaseback scheme on Ile d'Oléron off France's western coast. Prices start at €76,000 for a 23sq m (247sq ft) studio unit and range up to €134,000 for a 44sq m (474sq ft) three-bed apartment. They come furnished and offer 5.21 per cent rental return.

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Studios and one-bedroom apartments in two Dubai developments, International City and Discovery Gardens, are amongst a number of properties which will be on show at an exhibition being run by UK-based agents, Homes Dubai in the Westbury Hotel, Dublin, this weekend, April 23rd and 24th. Prices start at €52,000 for 45sq m (480sq ft) studios and €75,000 for 67sq m (720sq ft) one-beds.