La Résidence combines the expertise of two independent firms which, between them, cover most regions of France. Christine Hilton is the Principal of La Résidence North, with offices in the Oxfordshire town of Wallingford, covering Normandy, Brittany and the Pas de Calais, while Stephen Hilton heads up Oxford-based La Résidence South which specialises in the regions south of the River Loire.
Stephen and Christine met while both members of the British Diplomatic Service. Following a successful career which included a number of overseas postings and culminated in his appointment in the Foreign Office as First Secretary with responsibility for Anglo/French relations, Stephen joined the family property business as a Partner. It was from this base that La Résidence was founded in 1985. Since that time, the firm has gone from strength to strength and La Résidence is now widely regarded as one of the most respected French property companies in the UK whose opinions are regularly canvassed by property correspondents commenting on the French market.
Having themselves owned a house in France for many years, Stephen and Christine have much personal experience to add to their professional expertise. Together with their French colleagues, they have successfully arranged and overseen many hundreds of transactions, and it is now rare for them to come across a situation not previously encountered.