How to begin?

Unlike North America, France does not have a Multiple Listing Service!  So, how to find those first listings and the agencies which list properties near the area of my dreams?  Fumbling around the internet, I found some helpful property internet sites:  Green Acres  (www.green-acres.com)   is run by Immo France, posting private and agent-listed properties. Les Cles de Midi (www.lesclesdumidi.com) has listings for SW France.   Each shows houses by 'sector', ie a broad range of geographic area.  You can send a message the listing agent. They may or may not answer!

Then you find out that the agents won't tell you where the property is located!  That's a challenge, eh?  You've got to sign a viewing paper...which you can only do in person!

You might ask why.  I did!  Well it seems that sellers can list their properties with multiple agents at the same time!  

And, to make things even more difficult, most agents do NOT put signs on houses for sale.  You might find a sign for a private sale, with a faded cell phone number, but my French makes telephoning a terrifying experience...so what next?