IN TODAY'S ISSUE

📍HIDDEN GEM: Agen — a sunny riverside hub with a walkable old town, a legendary market, and one of France’s coolest “bridges”… for boats.

🏡 AFFORDABLE FINDS: A stone house with a gîte and pool near Agen or a city-center apartment with a wraparound balcony.

📜 TAX, VISA, HEALTHCARE: U.S. Social Security isn’t taxed in France—and if SS is your only income, you may owe $0 in the U.S., too.

📺 FRANCE MUST-WATCH: See Agen in 4K with this stunning walking tour video.

👋 PERSONAL UPDATE

The initial Retirement Retreat survey results are in—and they’re very telling.

Your top four dream regions (in order) were:

• Southwest France (Bordeaux/Dordogne)
• Côte d’Azur (Nice area)
• Provence (Aix/Avignon)
• Loire Valley

Paris had a strong showing too, plus a dozen+ write-in “wildcard” picks (which I love—keep those coming).

Two big takeaways jumped off the page:

• Almost 50% of you want a fully hosted retreat.
• And you clearly prefer a city-center hotel setup—somewhere you can walk out the door, explore, and feel independent (with plenty of guidance when you want it).

I’m going to use all of this to shape next year’s retreat lineup.

American To France Conference (Paris)

There was also some interest in a conference-style retreat… which sparked an idea:

What if I hosted a conference in Paris and brought in my favorite expat + expert friends to speak? (Baguette Bound, Ben Small, Johnny Benoit, Valerie Aston, other American expats, etc.)

You’d get to:

• Meet other Americans who are planning the move (your future France friends)
• Attend deep-dive sessions on the stuff that matters—visas, taxes, housing, healthcare, and more
• Hear real, unfiltered stories from recent expats who’ve actually done it

Then—conference done—you hop on a train or plane and spend a few days exploring the city or region you’re considering. Plan the ideal trip for you. Paris as your launchpad.

Thanks for your input!

Alright, on to the newsletter...

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📍HIDDEN GEM - Agen

​Agen sits in southwest France in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, right on the Garonne River—roughly between Bordeaux and Toulouse.

It’s a prefecture city (think: regional “county seat” vibes), but with a friendly pace that feels more “liveable” than “touristy.”

What makes Agen quietly special is its blend of old-town charm + everyday French life: arcaded streets, cafés that take their time, and a food culture that doesn’t need to shout to impress you.

Landmarks & local flavor:

• The Pont-canal d’Agen is the headline act—an aqueduct that carries the canal over the Garonne (yes, boats crossing a “bridge,” which never gets old). It’s about 539 meters long and dates to the 1800s.
• Agen is also famously tied to the pruneau d’Agen (Agen prunes), a protected regional specialty.
• And if you want the pulse of the city, start at the Marché Couvert—right in the center.

Get outside (without “training for Everest”):

If you like cycling (or easy, flat walks), you’re in luck: Agen sits on the Canal de Garonne greenway, part of the Canal des 2 Mers à Vélo route.

One popular stretch runs Damazan → Agen, bringing you into town via the pont-canal.

Translation: you can do a gorgeous ride, stop for lunch, and still be home in time for apéro.

Accessibility & day-to-day vibe:

Agen is well positioned for exploring bigger cities without living in them: the train to Toulouse can be as quick as about 1h 08m.

The center is compact and very “errands-on-foot” friendly—especially if you choose housing near the historic core and markets.

Affordability (and why retirees like places like this):

Agen hits a sweet spot: it’s a “real” French city with services, healthcare, trains, and culture—but without the sticker shock of the major hotspots.

If your goal is to stretch retirement income (and still enjoy France daily), cities like Agen belong on the shortlist.

📍 Fast Facts: AGEN - Agen Town Website​
👫 Population: 32,801 (commune, 2023) and 101,727 (Agglomération d’Agen, 2022)
​🚉 Train Station: Gare d’Agen — ~1h 08m to Toulouse
✈️ Nearest Airport: Toulouse–Blagnac Airport (TLS)​
🏥 Hospitals (in/near region): Centre Hospitalier Agen–Nérac (site d’Agen) — Avenue Schumann, Agen
👣 Walkability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (compact center; easiest if you live near the old town/markets)
🧺 Weekly Markets: Yes — Marché Couvert (daily except Monday, mornings + some afternoons)
🌦️ Climate: mild winters, warm summers, rain spread through the year

Anything underlined is clickable 🔗

AFFORDABLE-ISH FINDS 🏠

€499,000 (~$577,000) - Stone House Outside of Agen with Pool and Gîte

Looking for the “country estate” version of southwest France—without being truly remote? This fully renovated stone manoir sits about 10 minutes from Agen, surrounded by greenery with open views over the rolling hills and no close neighbors.

Inside the main home, you’ve got a showstopper living room (~69 m²) with a wood-burning insert, plus a kitchen–dining space built for long lunches. Upstairs are three large bedrooms and a full primary suite (bedroom + en-suite bath + dressing room), plus an additional shower room and dressing space—so guests can visit without everyone sharing one bathroom (a small miracle).

The bonus is the independent gîte, set up perfectly for visiting family, hosting friends, or seasonal rental income: living room with balcony, modern kitchen, one bedroom, updated shower room, and a private terrace. There’s also a garage and workshop on the lower level.

Outside, the fenced, landscaped grounds include a well, a pool with pool house, and that kind of peaceful countryside view that makes you forget your inbox exists. And even better: you’re still only about 2.5 km from everyday amenities.

Hyper-Center of Agen: €159,000 Apartment With Balcony and Elevator

Want “lock-and-leave” convenience right in the middle of town? This T3 apartment in Agen’s hyper-centre sits in a highly sought-after residence with an elevator and a rare bonus: a long wraparound-style balcony (“balcon filant”) that gives outdoor access from every room.

The layout is practical and flexible: an entry with built-in dressing, a fully fitted kitchen, and a living/dining setup where the séjour can be converted into a second bedroom if you want a true 2-bedroom configuration. You also get a large main bedroom, a shower room, and a separate WC.

Comfort upgrades are already done: double glazing, electric roller shutters, and air conditioning—and the listing says no work is needed. Monthly building charges are reported at ~€100/month (about €1,200/year).

TAX, VISA, OR HEALTHCARE TIP 💡

Good news: U.S. Social Security isn’t taxed by France.

Under the U.S.–France tax treaty, Social Security benefits paid by the United States to a resident of France are taxable only in the United States.

That matters because there are dozens (maybe hundreds) of smaller French cities, towns, and villages where a couple can live comfortably on two Social Security checks—especially if you like a simple, local lifestyle (markets, walking, cycling, and hiking).

And here’s the tax-free setup: in the U.S., Social Security can be completely tax-free if your other income stays low enough (the IRS looks at “provisional income,” which includes half your Social Security plus other income).

If you’re living mostly (or entirely) on Social Security and you don’t have additional income pushing you over those thresholds, you can enjoy life in France and potentially owe $0 U.S. federal income tax on your Social Security and €0 French income tax on it.

Win, win. Or should I say wine, wine.🍷

FRANCE MUST-WATCH 📺

AGEN: Fall in Love with France Again, Spectacular Walking Tour [4K/60fps]

Agen is a commune in the south-west of France, prefecture of the Lot-et-Garonne department, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.

The name of Agen is commonly associated with prunes, whose production area is mainly located in Lot-et-Garonne and was once shipped from the city's port on the Garonne, as well as with rugby union by its emblematic club, SU Agen, which holds eight French championship titles.

Agen has a long and rich history, traces of which can be observed both in the city itself and in its museums, as well as in historical records from different eras: the Neolithic, Gallo-Roman period, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the modern era.

That's it for this week's issue.

À bientôt,

Tommy

PS - 153 people already raised their hand 🤚. Don't forget to join the France Fast Track™ waitlist. A week of education and interaction with other aspiring expats. Coming soon...