Lake Constance Escape to the Continent

I'm standing at one of the crossroads of Central Europe.

Over my left shoulder I have the Swiss Alps

and, over to the right, is Austria.

But I am in neither of those countries.

So where am I? Find out in just a moment.

On today's programme, in the quest for the perfect property,

our house-hunters come face-to-face with some hard facts.

Whether I can find something in my budget that I love, I don't know.

I don't know it's possible.

But we're not ones to give up on love, as the search continues.

I'm a little bit shellshocked.

It's incredible. Absolutely incredible.

Welcome to Escape To The Continent.

We're next to the majestic waters of Lake Constance,

whose northern shore is in southern Germany,

although its 150-mile coastline also touches Austria and Switzerland.

And whereas on the land, the boundaries between

those countries are clear, out in the lake they're not.

There's no binding agreement between the three countries.

So if I sailed out on a raft into the middle of the water

I would be in no man's land.

It's a very popular area for German holiday-makers

but also, increasingly, for British ex-pats.

After all, where else could you wake up and have breakfast in Germany,

cycle into Switzerland for a hot chocolate

and end the day with supper in Austria?

Lake Constance is located in the most southerly part of Germany.

To get here, it's less than a two-hour flight from the UK

to the airport of Zurich, just across the border in Switzerland.

The lake itself spans two German states -

Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg.

Lake Constance is the water's international name

as it's known as Bodensee to the German locals.

It's 39 miles long and over eight miles wide

and is the third largest lake in Central Europe.

Along the shoreline, the towns and villages are steeped in history,

with many boasting castles, abbeys and churches.

Where the River Rhine meets the lake

is the thriving university city of Constance.

Being close to neutral Switzerland during the Second World War,

Constance was spared from bombing, which has preserved

its beautiful cobbled streets, characterful colour-washed houses

and a magnificent 11th century Romanesque cathedral.

Situated on its own island in the eastern part of the lake

is the town of Lindau.

With records dating back to the year 882,

the town has so many historic buildings

that the whole area has been listed as a historic monument.

The lake itself is a centre for watersports, sailing

and, in summer, swimming.

It's also just a stone's throw from the Swiss and Austrian Alps,

whose snow-covered peaks are a great backdrop

for hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter.

All this, along with spectacular rural scenery at every turn,

makes this area an appealing region and a visual treat.

The popularity of Baden-Wurttemberg makes it quite a pricey place

to buy property.

The average detached house here comes in at £247,000,

which makes it one of the most expensive areas in Germany.

That said, it's about £30,000 cheaper

than the equivalent property back home.

The thing to remember about Germany

is that this is not a nation obsessed with home-owning.

Unlike the UK, where two-thirds of us own our own properties,

here in Germany, more than 50% rent, and are quite happy to do so

without any sense that this is a lesser option.

So here we are in Lake Constance, where renting and buying are both

good options, but what has brought our buyers here today?

Let's meet them and find out.

Today's buyer is Sue, who is house-hunting with

her daughter Amanda - one of her three grown up children.

It's just me involved in the move but I'm bringing my daughter Amanda along

just to show me and let me know whether I'm doing

the right thing or not.

I'm probably the most opinionated out of the...me and my brothers,

erm, and the most honest, as I like to call it.

And I will tell Mum if she shouldn't move somewhere

or be realistic with her.

Sue's current home is on the market. It's a three bedroom barn-conversion

in the village of Washford in Somerset -

a beautiful place but one she is ready to move on from.

I have been here seven years now

and I don't tend to live in a house more than seven or eight years,

so I'm ready for a move on now.

Now is the time to do it, before I get too old.

And, erm, would just like to start a new adventure in life.

The decision to go to Germany hasn't come out of the blue.

Sue has lived there once before.

We moved over there when Amanda was six weeks old

and were there for four years.

We actually lived in Immenstaad

and it was a beautiful area then and really liked it.

I don't remember much of living there

but from previous holidays it's been just beautiful there.

Everyone is really friendly

and it's by the lake and the walks are incredible.

Sue currently works as an accountant -

something she plans to continue after she's moved.

At present I have my own business

and I spend two days a week working at home doing that.

The other three days I work in Taunton for a company,

so what I plan to do, because obviously I need some income,

is to give up the paid employment

and take my clients with me across to Germany

and, erm, just carry on doing the same as I do now

because most of it is on the internet anyway,

so they don't actually need to see me.

The idea is to free up much more time for her hobbies,

in particular her passion - sewing.

I've recently got into patchwork and quilting,

so I've got a few quilts on the go at the moment which I'm trying to make.

Also, I like dress-making as well.

But, by moving away, there are big sacrifices to be made.

The biggest concern about me moving over there

is leaving my daughter behind.

Obviously, I won't be able to see her as often as I do now.

Me and my mum are extremely close

so I am going to really miss her when she goes.

We do spend a lot of time together

and she supports me through everything.

We go shopping or we do lots of activities together.

-Spending money!

-Spending money, yeah, that we don't have.

I know she'll never be lonely because she's such an amazing

person that she'll always meet people and make friends,

but I worry that she's going to miss England too much.

And me, obviously.

And for Sue it's a big step but the time is right to take it.

I don't want to be in ten years' time thinking,

"I wish I'd done that ten years ago and now I can't do it."

So now just seems the right time to do it.

Sue wants to be as close to Lake Constance as possible.

Having lived in the small town of Immenstaad in the past,

we're concentrating our hunt along this part of the shoreline.

I'm meeting Sue and her daughter down by the lake

to learn more about her plans.

-Welcome to Lake Constance, you two.

-Thank you.

We're here in November, which is way out of season,

but you probably remember that from when you lived here.

-Yes, absolutely. Hopefully snow next month.

-Yeah.

Amanda, what's your role in the proceedings this week?

Erm, to be the level head, more so.

Mum, you're more of a... romanticise things

and I'm here to be a bit more practical.

Mm, probably. Yes.

Tell me what you're looking for. Tell me the spec of the property.

Well, I want at least two bedrooms.

I want a little bit of outside space, even if it's only a balcony.

I need some sort of outside space.

And it's got to be within walking distance of the lake.

When you say you want to be within walking distance of the lake, how far would you walk?

-A couple of miles, I think.

-Oh, right.

-So a 20 minute walk?

-Yes.

Yeah, that seems reasonable.

-Remind us again of your budget.

-£230,000.

So this is quite a buoyant area. Prices went up 4% last year.

-Are you aware of a pressure on your budget?

-Yes.

I know I'm not going to be able to afford a house, it has to be an apartment.

And if you had to compromise, what might be able to go?

Well, I would like a lake view but I know that's probably a compromise...

That's another thing, not a compromise.

You've just added one more thing to your list.

In terms of the actual finances of coming over here,

you've got a property in Somerset which is not sold yet.

No, unfortunately.

Here in Germany, it's much more acceptable

to rent a property long-term.

Would that be an option,

if you kept your property in England and rented here?

Erm, I have thought about it,

but I've lived in a house and owned my own house since I was 19, so...

you think, it's really weird going into rented accommodation.

OK, so we've got all our ducks in a row, as it were.

-Now we just need to find some houses that you like.

-Absolutely.

-We've got four lovely houses lined up, including a mystery house.

-Brilliant.

-So, erm, gehen wir?

-Ja. Naturlich.

With a budget of £230,000, Sue is looking for a property

with two bedrooms to accommodate visiting family,

enough living space to allow for her accountancy work and sewing hobby,

she'd like some kind of outside space

but it's the location which is key,

in a village or small town less than a 20-minute walk to the lake.

We've got a line-up of impressive properties,

all of which offer something different but uniquely German.

And we'll end up with our mystery house,

which could put into question everything Sue thought she wanted.

To kick off our German lakeside adventure,

we're heading to the town of Meersburg,

which sits right on the banks of Lake Constance.

A beautiful medieval town,

it has been attracting tourists for centuries.

It boasts not one but two castles.

The old fortress was originally built in the 7th century,

and the newer one in the 18th century.

There's a majestic baroque palace.

Meersburg's cobbled streets and quiet squares are home to cafes

and shops, which serve the population of around 5,000 people.

It's surrounded by vineyards which produce a rose wine

but the town's real appeal is its position

right on the shores of the lake.

I wanted to show you Meersburg before we look at the house.

-This is where the first house is.

-Wow! Wow!

-Do you remember this from when you lived here?

-Yes, absolutely.

-Was this a premium destination?

-Definitely. It's somewhere we'd always have a day out to.

I love Meersburg. It's beautiful. Really nice.

-Would you be happy leaving your mum here?

-Absolutely.

-Happy coming over to visit me!

-Yeah, exactly.

Let's go and look at the house.

'Just a 15 minute walk from the lake in a quiet cul-de-sac

'in the newer part of the town is the location of our first offering.'

-Here we are, property number one.

-Wow.

-Nice.

-Looks nice.

It is an apartment, not the whole house.

So disappointing!

-It's this ground floor flat here.

-Oh, wow. Brilliant.

-So you've got access to the garden.

-Yeah, exactly.

-Which is nice.

I really like it.

On the first look, it's a really good location for you.

Close enough. Yeah, it's good to be on the ground as well.

-Shall we have a look inside?

-Great. Yes, please.

The building is about 20 years old and is kept in very good condition.

The apartment itself was completely refurbished in 2005

and it's a light, bright space.

-Come in.

-Wow.

It's tastefully decorated.

Very nice, isn't it? Very nice.

-Looks very neat.

-Feels really homely as well.

Mm, it does, actually, yes.

I see there's a little corner around there so maybe that would do for

a desk for office space or something, or my sewing space, of course.

Obviously, this is the kitchen and living room and dining space.

It doesn't seem that crowded, really.

You think, I could see myself stood there in the kitchen.

The thing about the kitchen, you know this strange thing about Germans and their kitchens...

They take them with them. It's very odd, isn't it?

You could buy the kitchen

but it would be an extra, sort of, almost £2,000.

Yeah, for that sort of money, you'd rather go and buy your own.

-What's good about it is it has underfloor heating.

-Ooh.

-Yes, my feet feel warm.

-It makes your feet feel warm.

And, as you know, in German apartments that's all run centrally

so you pay a fee.

It's about £160....

a month.

Let's move over here and we can see this space.

It's actually quite a nice space here.

-This would be a lovely place to work.

-It would, actually.

I could get my desk in here and have it looking outside.

-Your sewing machine as well, maybe.

-Maybe as well, yes.

You do have this lovely terrace

so you can step out and this is all yours.

-This is actually your area.

-Oh, right. That's quite nice.

-There isn't a second bedroom here.

-Oh, right.

If I had two bedrooms, this would be fine, no problem at all,

but when you think about, there's only one bedroom,

you think, I want the children to come and stay and visit me,

and then there's not a great deal of space for that then, is there?

OK, well, let's look at the bedroom.

'There is a reasonably sized bathroom,

'which is next to the one and only bedroom.'

It's lovely, isn't it?

-It's a good size, actually.

-And the fire place.

Huge cupboards as well.

And there's still a lot of space left in the room, even with those.

What sort of... Obviously, if there was a second room

that would be ideal, but in terms of your bedroom, is this about the size you're looking for?

Yes, this would be lovely. Really nice.

I really like it. It's a shame it hasn't got another bedroom,

but this room is really huge.

It is. It's a good sized bedroom.

I thought it would be quite nice to look at the communal garden and also talk about price.

-Ooh, yes.

-Lead the way!

'As is common in many German apartment buildings,

'the laundry is found in the basement area,

'where residents have their own washing machines.

'The final internal facility provided is a lock-up bike store.

'And outside there are more shared areas.'

How do you feel about communal gardens?

Well, normally they're not a problem. You never know with neighbours.

When was the last time you lived in an apartment?

-When I lived here.

-Do you think your mum would be good at dealing with neighbours at close quarters?

Yeah, I think so.

She's a really friendly person so she likes to chat.

It would be a good way of getting your German up to speed.

Yes, absolutely. Having to talk to your neighbours.

At least I have the front garden if I want to be on my own.

What do you think this is on the market for?

Ooh, difficult.

I think I'll go for something like 225.

225. What do you think, Amanda?

-215.

-215?

Well, actually, this is on the market for...

-155.

-What?!

-Just over, yeah.

-Really?!

-Yeah.

-Oh, wow.

-Wow.

-So you would have a lot of money to play with.

-Wow!

But, obviously, that's not quite what you wanted.

-But just to get your bearings.

-It's a lot, lot cheaper.

I didn't think it would be under 200.

-Wow. Amazing.

-Go and have a look and I'll see you out the front.

Thank you.

For around £75,000 under budget,

this is an impeccable ground floor apartment.

There may only be one bedroom but the space is very generous.

It comes with private and shared gardens,

is located in a beautiful medieval town

and is within Sue's limit of a 20-minute walk to the lake.

I really like the property. It's got a lovely feel to it.

Mum wouldn't have to do any work which would be nice.

She could just move in and live here and it's close enough to shops and the lake.

It's a perfect location as well for her.

I really like this apartment. It's really nice.

It's just a shame it doesn't have that second bedroom.

I mean, the price is definitely a consideration.

You think, ooh, with the money I could pay for the children

to stay places, but I don't know, I really don't know.

It depends what else we see, really, I suppose.

I think it will probably be ruled out. The size is a bit of an issue.

It's just a little bit too small for what Mum needs.

-All done?

-Yeah.

-Didn't get lost?

-No.

Definitely not.

-Right, let's go.

-OK.

For Sue, the move to this area is not a step into the unknown,

rather a return to a place she knows pretty well

as she lived here 26 years ago.

Amanda was just a small child at the time

but, together, they've been back and visited over the years.

Ooh, it's nice being back in our favourite bakers in Immenstaad.

I know. It's nice.

-Oh, danke.

-Danke schoen.

You probably don't remember but, when we lived here,

I used to cycle down here quite often in the mornings

with you on the back of my bike and get some nice bread...

for either breakfast or lunch or whatever meal was coming next.

-Lovely.

-Yeah, really nice.

Are you a bit nervous, though?

Erm, yeah.

You're bound to be, it's such a big change, isn't it?

And, obviously, I'm so used to having you around,

which you're not going to be,

and it's going to be all different... it's going to be very different from

what I'm used to at the moment.

But I just feel the need for an adventure.

-It's exciting though, coming over.

-Yes, it is.

-I am going to miss you a lot though.

-I know.

I'll miss you too.

-But at least I can come here a lot.

-Exactly.

You'll have to come for lots of long weekends.

Yeah, try and get rid of me!

I'm moving too.

For our next property, we're heading further east

along the shores of Lake Constance to the town of Friedrichshafen.

It's a bustling town with a population of 58,000,

so it's bigger and busier than the places Sue will be used to

but it's a great option.

Right on the shores of Lake Constance,

running out of its port are ferry services

to towns further up the lake and across the water to Switzerland.

With all the amenities you would need and just a five-minute walk

back from the water's edge is a modern residential estate

which is the location of our next offering.

So this is the property, this is the block, and it's on the second floor.

It looks fine. It looks well looked after again, doesn't it?

-Do you know the area?

-Not very well but we used to come here shopping.

It's not a small village like Immenstaad and Meersburg.

It's not as nice as Meersburg, obviously,

-but it's still near the lake so...

-Yeah, true.

Yes, we were inching you closer to the lake.

Everything that comes with that.

OK, let's go in.

'Built in 1982, this modern block is in good condition

'but there's no lift in the building.

'Access is up two floors of stairs.'

Come in.

-It's not on the ground floor.

-No, definitely not on the ground floor.

-Is it OK being up a couple of flights of steps?

-Yeah.

-What do you think of the living space here?

-It looks quite good.

There's room for everything you'd need, isn't there?

I like it. It's a nice, good space

and it's pretty blank so you could do what you want with it.

Yes, absolutely.

Also, you've got more space to eat and drink

so you've got a dining room here and then a kitchen...

Oh, yes, that's nice, isn't it?

-I expect that will be going.

-No, the kitchen is included.

-Ooh, that's good.

-Astonishingly.

Through here you've got a separate wing that's got an office,

which could also be a double bedroom and its own bathroom.

'Just like the guest bathroom, the en-suite to the master

'is slightly dated in its avocado decor

'but in a two-bedroom apartment it's a real bonus

'to have a second bathroom.'

-This is your bedroom - the master.

-Oh, nice.

A good size, isn't it? Very bright.

There's a lot more space. I can see where I'd put my office desk.

And also my sewing desk.

-Yeah.

-So that works.

Is it ringing your bells in terms of, I love it?

No, no. There's no, "I love..." about it.

It's practical, it would work fine, but I wouldn't say I loved it, no.

Whether I can find something in my budget that I love, I don't know.

-I don't know if it's possible.

-It should be a head decision but with a bit of heart as well.

-If you can capture both, then...

-She's very practical, isn't she?

Absolutely!

Let's go to the back and you can see what you can see.

'There is plenty of space within this property and there's also

'further storage space in a lockable room down in the cellar.

'In terms of fulfilling Sue's request for outside space,

'what this apartment has is a large balcony.'

You've got a balcony with real grass. Not quite real, but...

-Could you imagine having breakfast here?

-Yes.

-Sundowner?

-Yes.

What do you think this is, budget-wise?

Well, it's a lot bigger than the last one so it's more than that.

Erm, 210?

-195?

-195. Well, if you split the difference, you're about right.

-It's actually on the market for just a shade over £204,000.

-Oh, right.

-Seems about right.

-But it doesn't seem it's really plucking your heartstrings.

-No.

-No, I'm sorry.

-That's the most emphatic "no" I've ever heard.

Go and explore the other rooms. It might win you over.

Maybe.

Priced at well under Sue's £230,000 budget limit

and offering the spec she's after with two bedrooms,

good living space and a separate kitchen and dining area,

it also offers a nice balcony.

The property is just a five-minute walk from Lake Constance

but it is in a larger town.

I could see her living here but I'm not sure if she would

live in Friedrichshafen.

I think a smaller town would be more suited.

Erm, from a practical point of view, it works.

There's plenty of space.

Whilst it works, I don't think, this is great, I'd love to live here.

Obviously I need to think about it

because I need to know what my budget will get me.

Whether I can get the heartstrings as well.

But if all I can afford is the practical, then this does suit.

I'm very on the edge.

It would depend on the next two places that we view.

It is, for me at the moment, a little bit of a no.

-Let's draw a line under that one, shall we?

-Yes, I think so.

Now, it's time for you to find somewhere

to lay your head this evening.

And I know that you really wanted to be by the lake.

Ah, yes?

So how are we going to make that happen?

Follow me and let's see.

Back in Immenstaad, we've arranged for Sue and Amanda to stay

in a lakeside holiday apartment during our time in southern Germany.

Here we are.

-BOTH:

-Wow!

The sun has just about set over the lake.

-Yes.

-Incredible.

-Wonderful.

-And this is where you're going to be spending the week.

-Oh!

-That's amazing.

-I hope you're very happy there.

Yes, I'm sure we will be. It'll be brilliant.

Sadly, it's not something Sue's budget would stretch to buying

but the apartment can be home for the week.

The view's amazing. It will be better in the morning when it's light.

You can still see across the lake, can't you?

-Are you really excited to move back?

-Yes.

I am, really, yeah.

-Here's the new chapter in your life.

-Absolutely. Thank you.

It's the morning of our second day in Germany.

Our house-hunter Sue is planning to move here from Somerset

and, with her daughter, we're searching for a property

near their beloved Lake Constance.

Sue's £230,000 budget is a little tight for a lake view

but at least their rented apartment has one.

Day two on the shores of Lake Constance and I've come back

to Immenstaad to pick up Sue and Amanda from their rental property.

Ladies, are you ready to go?

It's a bit of a tease, giving them this apartment,

because this amazing view is exactly what Sue's budget won't stretch to

but I'm hoping today's house will give them a lot of what they want.

-Hello.

-Did you sleep well?

-Absolutely.

Very good. Well, time to get back on the road.

-We've got other houses to visit.

-OK.

'For our next option we're heading back to the town of Friedrichshafen.

'It's the commercial and industrial hub of the area

'and is world famous for one very notable export - the Zeppelin.

'At the turn of the century, Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin

'set up a factory here and produced the first airships.

'The industry all but ended around the time of the Second World War

'but, today, Zeppelins offer tourists

'pretty spectacular flights over the lake.

'On a road heading out of town is our next property.

'I'm starting our tour in the quieter gardens in the rear.'

Oh, I'm excited about this one.

Wow! Oh, that looks lovely.

-This is a historic property.

-Yes.

It's all been rebuilt in the '80s

but, actually, it's a late 19th century mill.

-Really?

-It was the flour mill.

And because this brook splits just behind there,

there's a mill race that flows underneath the building.

Wow. It's lovely. I didn't expect to find anything like this here

because you don't normally see very many historic places.

But, no, it looks lovely. It looks really nice.

-The setting is lovely out here.

-Amanda, what are your thoughts about the location?

Yeah, I think, next to the road is a problem,

but this bit makes up for it, I think, massively.

It would have to depend on if it's quiet up there or in the apartment.

-The apartment I want to show you is at the top.

-Oh, my goodness.

It's going to keep you fit because there's quite a lot of stairs.

Oh, my goodness.

'This converted mill has been made into three huge apartments,

'each taking up a whole floor.

'The one we're looking at is the entire top floor, up in the eaves,

'and is unfurnished.'

-Look at this hall!

-Look at the size of it! It's huge!

Look at these doors as well. Oh, wow!

Come on to the balcony.

-This is incredible.

-Amazing, isn't it?

I wanted to bring you out here first.

Oh, that view.

Up here, on a clear day, not today, you can see the Alps.

-Oh, how wonderful.

-Not quite a lake view but as good as.

-Yeah.

It's just wonderful.

Better than I thought I'd ever see here.

-It's perfect.

-I didn't expect to find anything like this.

-No?

-Not at all.

The main room here is the one right in front of you

and it's got that lovely... what they call a kachelofen,

which is like a tiled oven.

It acts like a huge radiator.

You stoke it up with fuel and it just radiates heat.

But what's interesting about this property is,

you've got underfloor heating throughout

-and that's supplied by the solar panels on the roof.

-My goodness.

-And the electricity is supplied by the turbine from the mill.

-Wow.

-That makes it cheap to run.

-Cheap to run and very green.

One of the other great things about this flat is it's huge.

Oh, my goodness.

'The floor space of this apartment is over 1,500 square feet,

'which is around the size

'of an average four-bed detached house in the UK.'

Oh, wow!

-This is a big old kitchen.

-It's huge!

Look at the nice cupboards as well.

-And...they're staying.

-Are they?

-Wow.

-It's just beautiful.

-And nicely done.

-It is. It's really nice.

Is it the sort of place you could imagine living?

Absolutely. Absolutely.

Really. It is absolutely stunning.

You'll probably be more pleased to know

-this flat has not two bedrooms but three.

-Really?!

-Probably even four.

-What?!

Wow.

Two of the bedrooms are of a similar size and have skylights,

making them big, bright and airy.

All the bedrooms are served by a large WC

and a spacious family bathroom.

Upstairs, there's an enormous loft, which could give more storage,

an area for sewing or become the fourth bedroom,

but we're going to take a look at the master.

This is nice as well, isn't it?

Absolutely amazing.

I didn't think I'd find anything with this sort of feel or character

and the space as well.

Yeah, I'm a little bit shellshocked at the moment. It's incredible.

-Absolutely incredible. And it is... it's made for you, I think.

-Yeah.

Absolutely. It feels...it just feels right.

Just brilliant. It's going to be out of my price range, isn't it?

Let's talk about that later.

There would certainly be space for the family to stay.

Yes, which would be really nice. They could have a bedroom each.

You wanted some outside space. Boy, do we deliver out here.

-What, even more than the balcony?

-Even more.

'This property is set in large, mature gardens which are beautiful

'but must be looked after by the apartment owners.'

The garden is divided into three between the three apartments

and each one has its own little summer house.

-You're this little bit, including this rather nice box garden.

-Yeah.

-Amazing, isn't it?

-You weren't expecting this, were you?

Absolutely not.

It's huge, isn't it?

-It's the apartment that keeps on giving.

-Yes, absolutely.

How much do you think this is on the market for?

Erm, I would say about 250.

I think, yeah, 265. A little bit more maybe.

Wow. Look at the pain on your face.

LAUGHTER

Well, again, if you split the difference,

-it's actually on just over 257.

-Oh, right.

That's quite a bit over your budget

but it's been on the market for a while and the vendor

is open to offers, one, and, two, the turbine belongs to the property

and there are other people in the house who would be interested

in buying it off you so that could offset the price.

If I could get it down low enough.

I'm sorry it's not like a super bargain, but...

Yes. I didn't expect it to be.

Why don't you go inside and have a look or explore the garden

-and I'll see you out the front.

-Great.

'So it's over budget by £27,000 but there are negotiations to be had.

'This is a characterful millhouse conversion

'which delivers on so much of what Sue wants.

'It has up to four bedrooms, huge living spaces

'and a balcony with views out to the Alps,

'but it is a little further from the lake.'

Wow. Look at all this space.

Wow. It's huge.

It's massive.

You could all come and stay together at the same time

-and plenty of space for all of you.

-Exactly.

This apartment is absolutely wonderful.

The kachelofen and beautiful kitchen.

What doesn't it have?

Yes, this apartment has massively sucked me in as well.

It's just beautiful.

Everything about it is perfect for her

and it's like it's been made for her.

Very impressed.

The price could be a bit of a challenge.

But I am very interested in it. I love the place.

Aside from the price, everything seemed exciting about this house.

-Are you still excited now that you've seen upstairs?

-Absolutely.

And hopefully, with negotiation, you can find some way.

-There's always a way if there's a will.

-Maybe. Maybe.

-It would be awful to give up on the place.

-Exactly. Don't give up.

Come with me.

'Even though Sue has lived in Germany before,

'making this move on her own is a big step

'but it's one many Britons have already taken.

'There are currently over 100,000 ex-pats now calling Germany home.

'One of them set up a social group for English-speaking residents

'in the Lake Constance area, which now has over 250 members.

'She knows a lot about people's experiences settling into this area

'so I'm taking our house-hunters to meet Amanda Davies.'

So we're almost in Austria here, are we?

We are. We're really close to the border.

Right on the German-Austrian border.

You're an expert because your partner's Austrian.

He is, and I've been in Germany for 17 years now.

You've brought us here. This is a fabulous looking structure.

-What is it?

-It's called the Skywalk.

It's quite a recent attraction in this area.

You can walk around and get some fabulous views.

-Are you scared of heights?

-I hope not.

-I hope not too!

Let's get on the top and we can talk some more.

'The Skywalk in Allgau is essentially

'a long suspension bridge 40 metres up in the air.

'14 poles support 3,000 metres of steel rope,

'creating a platform through the tree tops

'with views across three countries.'

Ah, so high up!

Amazing. Great views.

-You might notice it's quite cold up here at the moment.

-Absolutely.

One thing that I really like about living here is the climate.

In summer you get a real summer. Really hot.

It can get up to about 35 degrees no problem.

All of the towns come to life, all of the cafes are open

and you have this very Mediterranean feel to the towns around the lake.

But in the winter you get a proper winter and you get snow.

Most people here have a set of winter tyres and summer tyres

and a lot of British people have never heard of switching tyres. I hadn't when I came over.

-So which way is the lake?

-The lake is just over in that direction.

-You can just see it, yeah.

-And this is Germany spreading out behind us.

And then, in front of us and all around, it's Austria

going towards...then the Swiss Alps after that.

Wow. That's what I like about this area.

You can travel to so many different countries

just in an hour's car ride or whatever.

It makes it really interesting.

We go over the border into Austria to buy our petrol.

It's literally ten minutes down the road and it's about

15 to 20 cents a litre cheaper than it would be in Germany.

Amazing to be so close and yet so different.

And in the other direction, the Swiss and the Austrians come to

Germany to the supermarkets because it's cheaper than where they live.

So there's a lot of coming and going.

-It's getting quite nippy. Shall we head down?

-Yes, please.

-She's going a bit blue. Shall we find somewhere a bit more hot chocolaty?

-Yes!

After you.

'This easy cross-country living is thanks to the Schengen Agreement

'which abolished international borders between member states.

'26 countries across Europe are signed up, including some that

'are not part of the European Union, like Switzerland.

'It's one of the many things that has changed

'since Sue last lived in the area over 20 years ago.'

What changes have you noticed, because you've been here quite a while now?

One thing that immediately springs to mind

is that there was no real Internet connection when I first came over.

You couldn't Skype or e-mail like you can now.

Is the internet good everywhere or do you have to be careful?

I think you do. There's still some outlying villages where the coverage

isn't quite as good or as fast as you possibly need

-when you're going to be working.

-Definitely. Yes.

-That's a big consideration when you move here.

-Yes.

What else would be your tips for integrating?

I'd say it was crucial at the beginning, when you come here,

to get to grips with the language.

It will really enhance your experience.

That's perhaps your priority.

You can prepare for that in the UK by doing evening classes.

That's what I did before I moved here.

Whilst I speak some German, I'm not fluent.

And...you can...I can go and talk to people, I can go in the shops,

no problems at all, but when it comes to getting to know people,

you need more conversation and more language than I actually have.

If you've got existing hobbies and interests,

the Germans do love their clubs and societies, so I would suggest

getting involved with different groups of people

who have the same interests as you.

You will soon find they accept you as one of their own

and you'll soon find your feet.

They're very nice people and they're not deserving of the reputation

they sometimes have amongst British people.

They're much, much warmer and friendlier.

So my brother lives in Berlin and I've noticed quite a difference

between the people in northern Germany to southern Germany.

Do you think there's a difference between the locals here or...?

I've only ever lived in the south but I have visited the north.

I would say the southerners are a lot more relaxed.

The Bavarians, anyway, have got a reputation for being very...

relaxed and almost like party people, really,

compared to the rest of Germany.

They do like their tradition, but most small communities over here

do have their own local wine fests and beer festivals as well,

and the big festivals do draw out just about everybody from a town.

'And when Sue does come over, there are a few other

'logistical details she'll need to think about,

'particularly as she wants to continue working as a self-employed UK accountant.

'UK earnings must be declared to the German authorities

'but there is a double taxation agreement

'so you avoid paying tax twice.

'But it's a complex area so worth getting professional advice on.

'Medical insurance is compulsory for all residents.

'Usually, this is arranged by your employer

'so self-employed workers like Sue must arrange it themselves.

'It's highly recommended to use an independent broker

'to advise on the many options.

'The rental sector in Germany is huge.

'As rents are controlled and tenancies long,

'for many it's the preferred option.

'As a consequence, however, there's much less housing stock available

'in the sales market.'

'It's the morning of our third day

'here on the shores of Lake Constance in Germany.

'Our house-hunter Sue from Somerset, accompanied by her daughter Amanda,

'is looking for a property within her budget of £230,000.

'But as well as house-hunting, Sue and her daughter are also

'exploring the area for activities she could involve herself in

'as she plans on making the move here alone.

'As Sue is keen to devote more time to her quilting and patchwork hobby,

'we found an atelier in Friedrichshafen for them to visit.'

-Hello. I'm Laura.

-Hi. I'm Sue.

-Come in and let me show you around.

-Wow. Brilliant.

'Laura Comer has lived in Germany for over 30 years,

'settling down by Lake Constance in the mid '80s.

'16 years ago, she opened her quilting and patchwork atelier.

-I've got a little bit of fabric here.

-Wow!

That's amazing! All that fabric.

-I do have a weakness for fabric.

-Me too. I just love it.

'Laura's shop is a treasure trove of fabrics, ribbons and threads.

'She also runs courses in machine quilting.'

-Would you like to have a go at it?

-As long as you can help me.

-I'll do my best.

-Thank you.

-I've prepared a sample.

-OK. Brilliant.

'Quilting involves sewing two or more layers of fabric together

'with the needlework being both functional and decorative.'

Some people do this amazingly quickly.

I can't, I have to do it slowly.

But you do get used to the sound of the machine and...the speed.

'In free machine quilting, rather than the machine moving the fabric,

'it's done by hand and is tricky to perfect.'

Not very curvy curves, are they?

As you're doing it for the first time, it's not really surprising.

That's really good.

-You've got to try and keep moving it at the same...

-Try to keep moving.

It's a bit like driving a car. After a while you know

what the sewing machine sounds like at the speed you like.

Ooh!

-Lost control there.

-You have to go home and practice 100 hours.

Absolutely, yes.

'Developing her hobbies will be a great way for Sue

'to begin integrating when she finally makes the move here.'

Well, it was really nice that you were here

-and I hope you'll come back again.

-Oh, I'm sure I will.

-OK.

-It's been absolutely brilliant. Thank you so much.

-Thank you.

That was so much fun. I really enjoyed that.

Our choice of Mystery House

goes against everything Sue thinks she wants.

We're heading inland to the village of Heiligenberg.

Rather than a 20-minute walk,

it's a 20-minute drive from the lake,

but along that drive, the prices do drop.

Up in the hills, the picturesque village is dominated

by the Von Furstenberg family castle.

Dating back to the 13th century,

it was overhauled in the 16th into an impressive Renaissance palace.

Heiligenberg is known locally as the viewing terrace of the lake,

and on a clear day, the views are spectacular.

I've brought Sue and Amanda to a cafe in the heart of the village

to talk Mystery Properties.

Now, can you guess why we might have brought you here

-for the Mystery House?

-I can't walk to the lake from here.

You cannot walk to the lake from here

but I've taken you up to a very, very charming town.

This was the first place in Lake Constance to have a tourist hotel.

-Ooh.

-Wow.

Is there a property that takes your fancy?

Well, I quite like the turrets on that building over there.

Ah, you have a very discerning eye, because that, in fact,

-is the first hotel.

-Oh, the first hotel, really?

That is... That is the hotel, built in 1806.

-Wow.

-And it is also...

-possibly your home.

-Really, really?

-Not the whole thing but...

-LAUGHTER

This is your Mystery House

because you get a lot more for your money, up here in the hills.

So take a final set of your coffee,

because we are going to explore

-the beautiful hotel house.

-Mmm, amazing.

The building is, of course, no longer a hotel.

In the 1970s, it was converted into luxury apartments.

There are 15 of them,

and the one we are looking at is up on the first floor.

It was refurbished three years ago, and is currently unoccupied.

Look at the size of this hall,

-it's even bigger than the last one.

-Yes, it's huge.

-Wow.

-LAUGHTER

This was built in the flourishing of what they called Jugendstil,

which was the German version of Art Nouveau,

and you can see this beautiful, kind of, stained-glass window.

-Yeah, beautiful, isn't it?

-Mmm.

-And a lot of the details

are from that period,

including the panelling, and these fabulous floorboards.

-Yeah, yeah, look at the size of them. They're huge.

-Yeah, amazing.

This wood is actually similar to

what wood you have in your house now.

Yes, it is, actually, yes.

Is it your sort of style?

Could well be.

Like most properties in Germany,

-the heating is governed by the whole house.

-Mmm.

-So you pay a service charge of about £300 a month.

-Great.

But that also includes a sink fund for any repairs and stuff.

Oh, right, so that's everything.

-Yeah, but that's for heating and water, and everything.

-Yeah.

Come on through here,

-and I want to show you the balcony.

-Ooh, balcony.

'Next to the living room is the dining room.

'This has access to the front balcony,

'which overlooks the pretty square.'

-Ha-ha.

-Wow.

-It's a nice view, isn't it?

-Yeah, it's very pretty, isn't it?

See the nice statues over there, as well.

-It's just really nice.

-Mmm.

So we've got this lovely wrought ironwork in the Jugendstil style,

and the shutters, but I do need to flag up,

this is a... This is what they call Denkmalschutz,

-so this is what we would call listed in the UK.

-Mmm, yeah.

And the facade is up for a renewal.

-Oh, right.

-So that will cost quite a lot, a bit,

-so you need to budget about £10,000.

-Ooh.

-Yeah, but I think you're being very unfair to me.

-Unfair?

Well, I wanted a place next to the lake,

and I wasn't going to have anything that wasn't next to the lake.

And now you bring me up here, and I'm thinking,

-"Well, it's so nice up here."

-Ah.

Ha!

-It's not fair.

-Well, that's the idea of the Mystery House, really,

-is to just maybe...

-Yeah.

-Because obviously, the lake is very expensive.

-Absolutely.

So you could either have something

-that doesn't really give you what you want, by the lake...

-Mmm.

..or you could come up here, and have this enormous apartment.

-Live in the lap of luxury.

-But let's continue with the interiors.

-OK.

There are two generously-sized bedrooms in this apartment,

that continue with those stunning original floorboards,

and there's a main bathroom, which has a modern finish,

and is fully fitted.

The same can't be said for the kitchen...

-As you can see, the kitchen is not here.

-Oh.

-It's a, sort of, nod to a kitchen.

-Yes, slightly.

But you would install your kitchen. I mean, all the plumbing is here,

-but it's just in terms of... put one in.

-Yeah.

-Mmm, yeah.

The same is true of the en-suite.

The master bedroom has an en-suite already there

-with all the plumbing, but no actual en suite.

-Ah.

-It's a good size, you could get a nice kitchen in here, couldn't you?

-Mmm.

I suppose the question is, in here, does it feel you?

Not sure at the moment.

I think I need to, sort of,

wander about, and sit down and have a think about it and see how I feel.

But I'm a bit overwhelmed at the moment,

-cos it's not what I expected to see.

-Mmm.

But it is quite difficult to imagine,

because it's so blank at the moment, but it is a huge space,

which would mean you could bring all your stuff with you.

-Wouldn't have to downsize.

-Obviously, yes.

-Which would be nice.

-Yeah, very nice.

-It is lovely, but it's just a bit overwhelming at present.

-Mmm.

-Well, let's go out the back and I will tell you the price.

-Right.

The style of this apartment is called Altbau,

which is the old German style of high ceilings,

big doors and large spaces,

and out the back, there is an extra outdoor area.

-So this is all yours, this area at the back.

-Oh, wow.

-Wow, it's huge.

Nice little extra space, you could have a barbecue here.

Oh, easily, yes. You could have a few tables, couldn't you?

I think this is the sort of place that you need to wander around

-and imagine what you could do in these spaces.

-Yes,

yeah, absolutely.

-Cos it is a lot of space.

-Yeah.

How much do you think it costs?

Well, it's going to be cheaper than being down by the lake,

so that brings the price down, but then, it's a listed building

and it's very big...

So I would say about 215.

Erm, about 200, 205?

In this instance, you're both wrong,

because it's on at 210.

-Oh, right, wow. A surprise.

-That's amazing.

So, well under budget,

-and there's a bit of space for negotiation, perhaps.

-Yes.

-Yeah.

-It's been on the market for a year.

-Mm-hmm.

-And you do have to budget in the things like

-putting in the kitchen, putting in the bathroom...

-Yeah, so...

-Mm-hmm.

-..and also that facade money.

-Yes.

-Yeah.

So that would probably take you up to your budget.

-Yes, it would, wouldn't it?

-Mmm.

-But at least there's enough in the budget to cover it all.

-Yeah.

-Think so?

-Yeah, which is good.

So it's doable.

-Yes, absolutely.

-But is it... Is it desirable?

That's what you have to decide.

Well, go inside and get more inspired.

Perfect. That is like a perfect Mystery House.

You see, it's not what Sue wanted

but it might be what she begins to want.

For £20,000 under budget,

this huge Art Nouveau apartment

offers almost twice the space

of a similar-priced flat

down by the lake.

With two large bedrooms

and two living rooms,

there's space for guests,

an office and a sewing area.

It needs kitchen and bathroom

units fitting,

but there is money in the budget for that.

The two outside spaces

have nice views,

and whilst it's not within

walking distance from the lake,

it is located in a beautiful village.

I like the character of it.

I mean, there's the lovely stained glass, the huge rooms,

the beautiful floorboards...

And it's just full of character and it's got loads of space.

I think, practically,

this apartment is the best apartment we have seen so far,

although, it has massively thrown a spanner in the works for her.

The only problem is that it's not walking distance to the lake.

-So this is the master bedroom?

-Mm-hmm.

-Nice panelling.

-It's a huge space.

Could fit your huge bed in here, also.

-My huge German bed.

-Yes, yeah.

-LAUGHTER

-Amazing.

-And this is the en-suite.

-Mmm.

-Bit of a shortage of bath and sink, and whatever, but...

-Yeah,

-yeah.

-Plenty of space to put them in, though.

This apartment does have some downsides, of course.

It's not totally ready to live in, so it would be extra work to do,

and it's not by the lake,

which obviously is the biggest downside of it.

But it is a beautiful apartment, so it sort of...

is a lot if I start to think,

"Maybe I could live here. Maybe this could be the one."

I'm just totally confused.

I know I have thrown eine katze among the pigeons

-with this one but...

-Absolutely, yes.

..it is the last property I've got to show you

-so we can find a place to get a little kaffee...

-Mm-hmm.

..and think things through.

-Mmm, good idea.

-Right, got lots of thinking to be done, I think.

-Mmm.

-Good, follow me.

Lake Constance is home to three main islands,

the largest of which is Reichenau.

With a population of 3,500,

it appears a largely agricultural place,

but in the year 2000, it was inscribed as a World Heritage Site,

due to its important religious and artistic past.

Reichenau means "blessed land", and in the Middle Ages,

it was an influential Benedictine monastic base.

Known for its scholastic and cultural significance,

the religious order was founded here in 724,

and in the 200 years that followed,

it became a world-famous centre for painting illuminated manuscripts,

something that has become known as the Reichenau School Of Painting.

The monastery operated for 1,000 years,

until it was closed in the 19th century.

I'm meeting guide Gunther Anders to learn more about this special place.

Gunther, so you get a good view of the whole island, 360?

-Ja.

-Ah...

-GUNTHER LAUGHS

So just get my bearings here, what's that over there?

Well, that's Switzerland.

-Oh, so Switzerland's that way, and so that's Germany over there.

-Ja.

So tell me, when was the, kind of,

the great historical flourishing here?

Well, that was at the turn of the eighth and ninth century,

but the foundation of the monastery goes back to 724.

And what sort of activities did they do?

At the beginning of the ninth century,

they started wine-growing here.

Is there a, kind of, monkish liqueur that they...

-No, no, no.

-No Benedictine?

Not... Not here, no. No, they were just interested in...

in wine-growing, here. Ja, probably.

Now, of course, they had vegetables,

they had gardens and it's the first herbal garden here.

This herb garden actually is a model.

In many monasteries,

you find the kind of garden with 24 plants,

mostly medicinal plants, ja.

So essentially, it was a centre of learning.

Ja, I'm going to show to you.

Since the monastery's foundation in the eighth century,

25 religious buildings were built on this sacred island,

and a few are still standing.

One of them is the ninth-century church of St George,

and it's what's inside this building that is most significant.

These murals are the oldest wall paintings north of the Alps,

and it's almost a miracle they have survived.

Gunther, these are amazing. And it's incredible, all the colours.

Has this been restored, or has this always been this bright?

Well, in 1878, the paintings were rediscovered.

They had been whitewashed over in the baroque period,

and the baroque period, wanted to have more light.

-So they whitewashed all over the paintings?

-Ja.

-These are incredible, the colour and the detail is amazing.

-Ja.

The intensity of colours is not so good as it was, of course.

-It's still pretty striking.

-Ja.

Erm, the images are depicting what?

What's the story?

-Well, the north side shows us Christ's miracles.

-Right.

Also, one of the most striking things are these...

This very, kind of, abstract... the sort of, three-dimensional

kind of detail all the way around the bottom.

Ja, now this is a meander, a decoration, ja,

which dates from early Greek art,

and was, in the Carolingian Renaissance,

was brought back to Europe.

OK, it's very striking.

But the Reichenau monastery wasn't just about art and learning.

The monks cultivated the land

and granted fishing rights to the vast lake.

'When it closed, the Reichenau fishermen inherited rights

'to their section of the lake,

'and today, fishing is still a part of the island's economy.

'I'm meeting local fisherman Urs Riebel.'

-Urs, hello.

-Hi.

-Hi.

I see people are fishing already.

Yeah, I think they are fishing pikes.

So this is the bit of the Bodensee where you can still fish?

-Right, right.

-Ah.

But here's just an area for the people who live on Reichenau.

What about if you were a pleasure angler, if you wanted to

come and just do some fishing on the lake, is that a possibility?

-Sure, yeah, sure, that's possible.

-Is that popular?

-Yeah.

How is the current, kind of,

-situation for fishermen on the island?

-Yeah, it's getting harder.

100 years ago, it was about 200 fish here,

and now it's about 40.

-Did you grow up on Reichenau?

-I grew up here, yeah.

-Ah...

And my dad, my grandpa, and everyone.

So it goes back how many generations?

-I don't know, nobody knows.

-Ah...

-It's...

-Maybe even back to monastic times.

Maybe.

-Anyway, thanks very much, I'll let you get back to fishing.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Thanks, bye.

'As I leave this holy island,

'with its traditional local industries and artistic treasures,'

we are coming to the end of our time here on Lake Constance.

Tomorrow will be our final day.

It's our last morning on the shores of Lake Constance,

and time for Sue and Amanda to leave their lakeside apartment.

-It's a glorious view, isn't it?

-Mmm.

-It's been such a great week, though.

-Ah, I've really enjoyed it.

Yeah, but a shame the mountains haven't appeared on our last morning.

-Mm-hmm.

-But never mind,

-it's been just absolutely wonderful.

-Mm-hmm.

Ah, well, bye-bye, Immenstaad, and bye-bye, Lake Constance.

-Till next time.

-Yes.

All that remains is to pack up and think about

what are the next steps in making Germany Sue's future home?

We're almost at the end of our adventures

looking for property around Lake Constance,

and although we haven't found Sue that beautiful property

right on the lake, cos it's just too expensive,

I think we've got two strong contenders.

I'll be interested to see how she and Amanda feel this morning.

Well, we managed to get you to the lake one more time.

Sadly, not a property on the lake. Sort of a foregone conclusion,

-cos we knew the budget was not quite there for that.

-No, definitely not.

But of the properties that we showed you, which ones are the contenders?

-I have an idea.

-I'm sure you do.

It was the mill property, cos that was wonderful,

and of course, the Mystery House.

-Mmm, so the Mystery House really threw a cat among the pigeons?

-Yes.

Right, and any clear winner of those two?

Oh, I don't know, I've been, sort of, thinking about it half the night

and I just can't quite get my mind around it, really.

The mill was beautiful, but I think practically, the garden was too big.

Really, so the garden was too big in the mill property?

Well, I mean, it would take an awful lot of work,

cos it was huge, wasn't it?

And whilst I'm hoping to have more time,

I don't really want to spend my time gardening.

-I'd rather spend it sewing.

-Mmm.

And I think the Mystery House is

definitely a more practical option for you.

Yeah, it was a bit too far away. It's...

We're back to that same dream again,

and that is part of the dream, is to be near the lake,

so that would be giving up one part of the dream, moving out there.

Amanda, having spent some time looking at properties,

I mean, are you a bit worried about your mum coming out on her own?

At the beginning of the week, I was a little bit more worried

but after meeting Amanda, it was quite nice

and it shows there's a lot of other English people here, as well.

And at least you've got people that you can talk to,

-and, you know, join in to clubs, and...

-Mmm.

I think it really shows that it is feasible that you can move here,

and I think there's a lot of different options.

And it's shown us different areas, as well,

that we wouldn't have necessarily looked at, I think, which is good.

I still love the area,

and we've met some really nice people this week,

and talked to other people.

And you'd think, "Oh, right, OK, I still can do it."

-It is possible.

-It feels like the right place?

Yeah, it still feels like the right place to come.

I might not be able to find anything for a little while,

but it is possible, there are places out there.

-So the dream is still alive but it's just a little slower, perhaps.

-Yes.

Yes, yeah, it's going to take a bit longer, I think.

It's been lovely showing you around this area,

and I do hope that when you get home,

there'll be a phone call saying "Your house is sold...

-We can only hope, can't we?

-"..proceed to Germany."

-Wow, yes.

-Vielen Dank.

-Bitte schon.

Even in winter, with the Alps still stubbornly hidden from view,

Lake Constance has proved a delightful place to

look for property, and I do hope Sue finds a way of squaring the circle

and getting her house by the lake -

either by rental or by selling her home back in Somerset.

And I hope that you stay tuned

and watch us next time on Escape To The Continent.