Americans are taking a greater fancy to homes overseas thanks to the rise of the U.S. dollar and relatively cheaper home prices, an article in CNNMoney said.

The U.S. dollar is still strong and the economy is good and the rest of the world is a little softer, said Jason Kumpf, a real estate specialist at USForex. It’s a great time to increase your pieces on the international Monopoly board.

Property prices in some European markets fell 40-50% during the financial crisis and haven’t fully recovered, according to global real estate consultancy Knight Frank.

In particular, Americans are eyeing France

According to the article, the number of clients buying properties in France increased nine-fold in 2014 from 2013 at USForex. And it only looks to grow more this year.

High-net-worth buyers have been circling around properties in the south of France for the last couple of years, said Dan Conn, CEO of Christie’s International Real Estate. It’s an incredible time to buy.

Check out the article for the other top cities and countries Americans are buying homes in.

Contact Keith Katzman: 925.376.7776

Looking to buy or sell a home in the Lamorinda community? Contact Keith Katzman–a Moraga native with more than 30 years of industry experience.